DISH Network Satellite TV to Broadcast "My Big Fat Greek Wedding”in High Definition on DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View

Littleton, Colo., April 9, 2003 – DISH Network™ (NASDAQ: DISH), the fastest growing U.S. direct broadcast satellite television company, announced today that it is now featuring the Oscar®-nominated "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" in high definition television (HDTV) from Home Box Office (HBO) on DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" will be available to DISH Network HDTV customers on channel 9428 for only $5.99 per showing. HDTV offers the highest resolution format of digital television with the best picture clarity available.

This romantic comedy centers on a young Greek-American woman, Toula Portokalos (Nia Vardalos), who falls in love with and marries outside of Greek tradition. As her loving, yet overbearing family struggles to accept her non-Greek fiancé, Ian Miller (John Corbett), she herself comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was a box office smash last year becoming one of the top grossing films of 2002. Filmed for just $5 million, the movie has earned more than $236 million in U.S. theaters so far and was nominated for an Academy Award® for Original Screenplay.

"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" will also be available to DISH Network customers in standard definition premiering on channels 507-509 for $3.99 per showing.

Other DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View movies offered on HDTV include "Road to Perdition" and "The Tuxedo" in April.

DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View offers premiere movies and a variety of special events, from concerts to boxing to wrestling. DISH Network also offers hit pay-per-view movies in HDTV from studios including New Line Cinema and Artisan.

To order "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and other movies, customers can simply highlight the event in the on-screen guide and push the "Select" button on the remote control, or call 1-877-DISH PPV (347-4778) ($1 fee for phone orders). For more information, visit www.dishnetwork.com/ppv .

DISH Network customers can receive high definition channels using the DISH Network Model 6000/6000u receiver. A second dish antenna may be required to receive HD programming.

The Model 6000/6000u is an integrated satellite television receiver capable of receiving DISH Network's HDTV programming in addition to its full complement of standard definition digital satellite TV channels. The Model 6000/6000u receiver turns home entertainment into a movie-theater-like experience with its wide-screen format and superior picture quality. The Model 6000/6000u also is capable of receiving local off-air HDTV signals through an optional off-air tuner cartridge.

DISH Network is the U.S. leader in offering the most high definition channels on a nationwide basis including: HBO-HD, SHOWTIME-HD, CBS-HD, Discovery HD Theater, DISH On Demand Pay-Per-View HD movies and a 24-hour HDTV demonstration channel.

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its DISH NetworkÔ, is a leading U.S. provider of satellite television entertainment services to homes and businesses with more than 8.18 million customers. DISH Network delivers advanced digital satellite television services, including hundreds of video, audio and Interactive TV channels, personal video recording, HDTV, sports and international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service.