DISH Network to Add HBO Latino Channel to HBO The Works Premium Movie Package

LITTLETON, Colo.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2000--EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH, DISHP) announced today that beginning Dec. 13, HBO Latino, a new all-Spanish-language movie channel from Home Box Office, will be available at no additional charge for DISH Network™ customers who use a DISH 500 satellite television system and subscribe to HBO The Works premium movie package.

HBO Latino features U.S. premieres of Spanish-language films and documentaries from North America, Latin America, and Spain, as well as original programming and music videos featuring today's biggest Latino artists. The channel also features the best Hollywood movies and original programming from HBO's main service, and, for the first time, it will broadcast live ringside Spanish commentary of "World Championship Boxing."

"Spanish-speaking customers are sure to be satisfied by the extensive programming line-up and quality entertainment that HBO Latino offers," said Michael Schwimmer, vice president of programming at EchoStar. "The addition of HBO Latino further guarantees DISH Network's commitment to offering a great line-up of Spanish-language entertainment for every member of the family. The channel also compliments our two Spanish-language programming packages, DISH LATINO™ and DISH LATINO DOS™."

Including HBO Latino, DISH Network's HBO The Works programming package now offers eight premium commercial-free movie channels for $11.99: HBO East, HBO West, HBO Comedy, HBO Family, HBO Plus East, HBO Plus West, HBO Signature. HBO HDTV channel is also available to customers with a second dish.

"HBO Latino provides a valuable entertainment source for the Spanish-speaking population throughout the U.S.," said John Ovrutsky, vice president of Direct Broadcast for HBO. "Therefore, we are thrilled that EchoStar is adding HBO Latino to DISH Network's channel line-up. HBO Latino is an exciting addition to the HBO The Works package, servicing an important and growing part of our audience."

DISH Network also offers an extensive line-up of dedicated Spanish-language programming with DISH LATINO. DISH LATINO is the only exclusively Spanish-language programming package offering 22 of the best, all-digital, Spanish-language news, sports, movies and music channels from popular networks in Mexico, South America, Spain and the United States for only $19.99 per month. DISH LATINO includes: TV AZTECA, Discovery en Espanol, Univision, Galavision, Telemundo, GEMS, Television Espanola, TV Chile, SUR, Cine Latino, HTV, Telemundo Internacional, MTVS, Gran Canal Latino, FOX Sports World Espanol, DISH CD Latin (six channels) and Playboy TV en Espanol (optional).

For customers who also desire English-language programming, DISH LATINO DOS provides an additional 22 popular family, entertainment, news and kids channels for only $29.99 per month, which include: TNT, TBS, Discovery, Home & Garden Television, Food Network, E! Entertainment, A&E, History Channel, Travel Channel, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon (east and west feeds), CNN, CNN/Headline News, MTV, TV Games, plus others.

DISH Network also offers a Spanish Language Audio option free of charge for Cartoon Network, EWTN, DISH-On-Demand Pay- Per-View movies and premium movie channels including Cinemax, HBO, Showtime and STARZ!/Encore.

New DISH LATINO DOS customers have the opportunity to get a FREE DISH Network satellite television system, FREE basic installation and FREE HBO The Works with HBO Latino FREE for three months! For more information about DISH LATINO and DISH LATINO DOS, visit your local retailer, www.dishnetwork.com, or call 1-800/333-DISH (3474). Bilingual customer service agents are available for assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Home Box Office is the premium television programming division of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., providing two 24-hour premium television services, HBO and Cinemax. Together, both networks reach nearly 36 million subscribers in the United States via cable and satellite delivery. Home Box Office's international joint ventures bring HBO branded services to more than 45 countries around the globe.

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 satellite TV receiver hardware and installation. DISH Network was ranked number one in overall customer satisfaction among cable/satellite TV subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates in 1999 and 2000. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX). DISH Network currently serves over 5 million customers. For more information, contact 1-800/333- DISH (3474) or visit www.dishnetwork.com.

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