DISH Network Satellite Television Brings Local TV Channels to Spokane

Cable TV and Satellite TV Debate is Heating Up

Littleton, Colo., Dec. 12, 2002 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) is pleased to announce that its DISH Network™ now offers four local channels ABC Ch. 4 (KXLY), CBS Ch. 2 (KREM), NBC Ch. 6 (KHQ), FOX Ch. 28 (KAYU-TV), WB Ch. 22 (KSKN) and PBS Ch. 7 (KSPS) by satellite television to Spokane.

This is the first time DISH Network has offered local TV channels on digital satellite TV in the Spokane area, providing a better alternative to local cable TV service. Local channels will be for $5.99 per month for DISH Network customers in the Spokane area. A Dish 500 antenna is required to receive these channels.

"Consumers in Spokane will now have a more complete alternative to their local cable provider," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of programming at EchoStar. "DISH Network now provides local news, weather and sports in 100 percent digital quality to viewers who should not be left with cable service as their only choice for local television."

DISH Network offers local channels to Spokane in the following Washington counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens and Whitman. Spokane local channels are also available to Lincoln county in Montana, Wallowa county in Oregon and the following counties in Idaho: Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone.

With the addition of Spokane, DISH Network offers local channels to a total of 53 cities and their metro areas nationwide.

DISH Network makes satellite TV simple and affordable. The DISH Network "WOW – Free Satellite TV" promotion offers consumers the lowest all digital TV channel package in America at only $22.99 per month for over 50 channels and a professionally installed satellite TV system for free, after equipment credits.

For more information on DISH Network's "Wow – Free Satellite TV" offer, visit www.dishnetwork.com, call 1-800/333-DISH (3474), or contact your local DISH Network retailer

For downloadable, print quality images of DISH Network equipment, installations or the DISH Network logo, visit www.dishnetwork.com/content/aboutus/presskit/print/index.shtml.

DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, as well as advanced hardware and installation. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. DISH Network currently serves 8 million customers.