DISH Network Satellite Television Brings Local TV Channels to Knoxville, Tenn.

Cable and Satellite TV Debate is Heating Up

Littleton, Colo., May 22, 2003 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today that its DISH Network™ now offers local TV channels by satellite television to Knoxville, Tenn.. The following local TV channels will be offered: ABC Ch. 6 (WATE), CBS Ch. 8 (WVLT), NBC Ch. 10 (WBIR), FOX Ch. 43 (WTNZ), WB Ch. 20 (WBXX) and PBS Ch. 15 (WKOP).

For the first time, local TV channels will be available by DISH Network satellite TV in the Knoxville area, providing an alternative to local cable TV service. Local channels will be offered for $5.99 per month for Knoxville DISH Network customers. A Dish 500 antenna is required to receive the local channels via satellite.

“DISH Network customers now have a better alternative to cable in Knoxville,” 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 Knoxville customers in 19 Tennessee counties: Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Hamblen, Hancock, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier and Union.

Knoxville local channels are also available to customers in Bell, Harlan and McCreary counties in Kentucky.

With the addition of Knoxville, DISH Network offers local channels in a total of 66 cities and their metro areas nationwide.

DISH Network now 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 132 channels of America's most popular programming, including 13 premium movie channels of 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.

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its DISH NetworkTM, is a leading U.S. provider of satellite television entertainment services to homes and businesses with more than 8.53 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.

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