Dish Network Satellite TV to Offer New Soccer Network -- GOL TV -- in Spanish-Language Programming Packages

LITTLETON, Colo. & MIAMI, Feb 17, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that its DISH Network™ satellite TV service will add GOL TV™ to its Spanish-language, DISH Latino programming packages on Feb. 20 at no additional charge.

GOL TV is a new 24-hour, Spanish-language channel dedicated strictly to the world's most popular and passionate sport: Soccer. GOL TV will also provide 10 hours of original programming each day, including major international soccer news and events, including "Super Estadio," a live one-hour show broadcast from Mexico City which provides the most in-depth analysis of Mexican soccer. GOL TV offers hundreds of games each year from Mexico, Italy, El Salvador, Guatemala and . Additionally, GOL TV will broadcast programming from the Real Madrid TV Channel and the 2004 qualifying soccer matches from UEFA Cup, CONCACAF and EUROCOPA.

"Our customers will be pleased to know that DISH Network is the first to offer GOL TV nationwide," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of Programming at EchoStar. "GOL TV complements DISH Network's expansive lineup of programming for Latinos, and brings hundreds of professional soccer games from around the world into the living rooms of soccer fans in the United States."

DISH Network will offer GOL TV on channel 632 in all three of its popular DISH Latino programming packages at no additional cost. A DISH 500 antenna is required to receive the new channel.

"We are particularly pleased to be introducing GOL TV on the DISH Network platform," said GOL TV Senior Vice President , who is also a former professional soccer player from the Uruguayan National Selection and a living-legend of the game. "DISH Network's commitment as the leader in delivering Spanish-language programming to the U.S. Hispanic audience is a natural choice for GOL TV. We are delighted to offer GOL TV in each of DISH Network's Latino packages."

GOL TV is a subsidiary of , . The GOL TV signal, which is dedicated to all-soccer programming, is broadcast 24-hours x 7 days per week and is distributed across the United States.

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH), through its DISH Network™, is a leading U.S. provider of satellite television entertainment services to homes and businesses with more than 8 million customers. DISH Network delivers advanced digital satellite television services, including hundreds of video, audio and Interactive TV channels, personal video recording, HDTV, international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service. For more information, visit EchoStar's DISH Network at (www.dishnetwork.com) or call 800/333-DISH (3474).

CONTACT: GOL TV, Inc. Enrique Carrillo, 305/864-9799 [email protected] or EchoStar Communications Corporation Marc Lumpkin, 303/723-2020 [email protected]