DISH Network Satellite Television Brings Local TV Channels to Anchorage, Alaska

Littleton, Colo., Aug. 28, 2003 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today that its DISH Network™ now offers local TV channels by satellite television to Anchorage, Alaska. The following local TV channels will be offered: ABC Ch. 13 (KIMO), CBS Ch. 11 (KTVA), FOX Ch. 4 (KTBY), PAX Ch. 33 (KDMD), UPN Ch. 5 (KYES) and PBS Ch. 7 (KAKM).

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This is the first time local TV channels are available by satellite TV in the Anchorage area, providing an alternative to local cable TV service from General Communication Inc. (GCI) Cable. Local channels will be offered at a $1 per month discount to the regular price of $5.99 per month for DISH Network customers in Anchorage until the local NBC station is added to the package. Seattle NBC channel 5 (KING) will be offered to eligible subscribers in Anchorage in September who reside in an area unserved by local broadcasters. For those customers eligible to receive NBC Seattle, the regular local TV package price of $5.99 per month will take effect.

Dish antenna sizes may vary depending on the location.

“DISH Network customers now have a more affordable alternative to cable in Anchorage,” said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of Programming at EchoStar. “DISH Network provides local news, weather and sports in 100 percent digital quality to viewers who should not be left with cable service as their only choice for local television.”

DISH Network offers local channels via satellite to Anchorage customers in three Alaska boroughs: Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula and Matanuska-Susitna.

With the addition of Anchorage, DISH Network offers local channels in a total of 71 cities and their metro areas nationwide.

DISH Network offers consumers the lowest all digital TV package price in America at only $24.99 per month for more than 50 popular TV channels such as ESPN, Discovery, CNN and the Food Network. DISH Network guarantees the lowest all digital TV price through January 2005. DISH Network also offers new customers three free months of its DISH Network Value Pak with HBO and Cinemax, a savings of approximately $150. The DISH Network Value Pak of America's Top 100 channel package provides more than 120 channels of America's most popular programming, including premium movie channels from HBO and Cinemax for $49.99 per month.

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

For downloadable, print quality images of DISH Network equipment, installations or the DISH Network logo, visit www.dishnetwork.com/content/aboutus/presskit/print/index.shtml.