DISH Network Satellite TV Now Offers National Basketball Association's NBA LEAGUE PASS Package; DISH Network to Soon Carry NBA TV Channel With New Live Game Coverage
LITTLETON, Colo., Oct 30, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) and its DISH Network™, a leading direct broadcast satellite television provider, is pleased to announce a multi-year agreement to offer the National Basketball Association's NBA LEAGUE PASS to DISH Network subscribers.
DISH Network will carry NBA TV, the league's 24-hour television network, in conjunction with NBA LEAGUE PASS.
NBA LEAGUE PASS offers up to 40 out-of-market regular season games each week through April 16, 2003.
DISH Network will offer its customers a free preview of NBA LEAGUE PASS from now through Nov. 11, 2002. An early bird price of just $159 for the package is available to DISH Network customers through Nov. 11.
NBA LEAGUE PASS is located on channels 561 through 571 and can be ordered for $179 after Nov. 11. DISH Network customers may also subscribe to a half season package beginning Jan. 13, 2003, for $99. DISH Network customers may also choose to pay in three monthly installments.
DISH Network is also excited to announce a multi-year agreement to expand its carriage of NBA TV when NBA TV begins offering live game coverage later during the 2002-03 NBA season. NBA TV will televise live NBA and WNBA regular season and playoff games, real-time statistics, scores, news, highlights and vintage games.
"The NBA is thrilled to extend the reach of NBA LEAGUE PASS and NBA TV to the more than 7 million DISH Network subscribers from coast to coast," said Ed Desser, President of NBA Television.
"NBA LEAGUE PASS is the ultimate viewing experience for basketball fans," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of programming at EchoStar. "We are pleased to bring over 1,000 NBA games to DISH Network customers."
To order NBA LEAGUE PASS, call 800/333-DISH (3474). Blackouts may apply. A DISH 500 antenna is required. DISH Network commercial customers are also eligible to offer NBA LEAGUE PASS to patrons. For more information, call 800/454-0843.
DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View offers premiere movies and a variety of special events, from concerts to boxing to wrestling. For more information on how to get NBA LEAGUE PASS or your DISH Network satellite TV system, visit your local DISH Network retailer, www.dishnetwork.com or call 800/333-DISH (3474).
About NBA
Since its founding in 1946, the NBA has become a global phenomenon that transcends national boundaries. With 29 teams in the United States and Canada, NBA games and related programming are broadcast to more than 210 countries in 42 languages. The NBA is one of the largest suppliers of sports television and Internet programming in the world. Through NBA Entertainment, the league's award-winning production and programming division, the league produces NBA TV, a 24-hour television network, weekly television shows, and exclusive content for each of the NBA's team Web sites, and the league's official sites, NBA.com, WNBA.com and NBDL.com. The league has partnered with the leading Internet content and technology providers, including America Online, IBM, RealNetworks, USA Networks, and Yahoo! to bring the game experience even closer to its fans worldwide. For more information on the NBA, visit www.nba.com
About EchoStar
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 fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant 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 over 7.46 million customers.
CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corporation Marc Lumpkin, 303/723-2020 [email protected] or NBA Laura Traynham, 212/407-8095 [email protected] URL: http://www.businesswire.com Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.
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