DISH Network Campaign Targets Consumers Facing Rising Cable Rates; ``WOW - Free Satellite TV'' Campaign Offers Lowest, All Digital TV Channel Package in America

LITTLETON, Colo., Aug 1, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) and its DISH Network™, a leading direct broadcast satellite television provider, announced today an extensive marketing campaign to demonstrate to consumers nationwide that they do have a choice when it comes to skyrocketing cable TV rates.

The DISH Network "WOW - Free Satellite TV" promotion available starting today offers consumers the lowest all digital TV channel package in America at only $22.99 per month for 60 channels and a free professionally installed satellite TV system. The marketing campaign will reach consumers with an extensive nationwide schedule of print, radio and television advertising.

DISH Network's marketing campaign is aimed at consumers facing cable rate increases, especially since average monthly rates for cable TV have shot up 44.7 percent between February 1996 through June 2002, according to a July 24, 2002, press release from Consumer's Union, the nonprofit consumer organization that publishes Consumer Reports magazine. During this time, inflation rose 16.5 percent, which means cable rates have increased nearly three times as fast as inflation.

DISH Network is responding by offering new customers a $12.50 equipment credit per month for an entire year when they purchase a DISH Network Dish301 satellite TV system for only $149 and subscribe to America's Top 50 programming package for only $22.99 per month. After one year, that's a FREE satellite TV system! This lowest-priced all digital TV service in the nation features 60 of the most popular channels, such as CNN, Disney, USA Networks, and Discovery Channel.

For consumers who wish to watch TV in two rooms, DISH Network is also offering new customers a $17 equipment credit per month for an entire year when they purchase two Dish301 receivers for only $199 and subscribe to America's Top 50. After one year, that's a free satellite TV system! (An additional $4.99 monthly fee for programming activation of the second receiver is required.)

The DISH Network "WOW - Free Satellite TV" promotion includes free standard professional installation and no long term commitment. DISH Network also provides local TV networks in 43 metropolitan areas nationwide for only $5.99 per month.

"In a time of ever-increasing cable rates, DISH Network is making it easy for cable customers to stop paying these inflated prices for their television programming," said Soraya Cartwright, executive vice president for DISH Network. "This offer makes it simple to switch to a first-rate, all-digital television service that offers more programming at affordable prices."

The "WOW - Free Satellite TV" promotion is also available with the personal video recorder DishPVR 508 (MSRP $349), a powerful satellite TV receiver that gives viewers control to record up to 60 hours of TV without videotape, pause live TV, create instant replays and skip ahead 30 seconds during prerecorded programming. With the DISH Network "WOW - Free Satellite TV" promotion, the DishPVR 508 is only $199, a $150 savings after the monthly equipment credits.

The monthly equipment credits also apply to consumers choosing to subscribe to DISH Network's expanded programming packages: America's Top 100 at $31.99 per month and America's Top 150 at $40.99 per month, featuring more than 30 commercial-free, CD-quality music channels. DISH Network also features the nation's best premium movie packages from HBO, Showtime and Cinemax.

DISH Network is also introducing the new DISH Pak -- a convenient one-price, discounted movie package that includes America's Top 50, local channels package (where available) and the Starz Super Pak for only $39.99 per month.

For more information about DISH Network, visit your local DISH Network retailer, www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800/333-DISH (3474).

For downloadable, print quality images of the Dish301, DishPVR 508 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 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 7.16 million customers.

CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corporation Marc Lumpkin, 303/723-2020 [email protected]

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