DISH Network Satellite Television Brings Local TV Channels to Jackson, Miss.

Cable and Satellite TV Debate is Heating Up

Littleton, Colo., May 13, 2003 – EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced that its DISH Network™ now offers local TV channels by satellite television to Jackson, Miss. The following local TV channels will be offered: ABC Ch. 16 (WAPT), CBS Ch. 12 (WJTV), NBC Ch. 3 (WLBT), FOX Ch. 5 (WAGA – Atlanta) and PBS Ch. 29 (WMPN).

For the first time, local TV channels will be available by satellite TV in the Jackson area, providing an alternative to local cable TV service. ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS and FOX (Atlanta - for eligible subscribers) will be offered to Jackson area customers at a price of $5.99 per month.

A FOX TV station from Atlanta will be offered to eligible customers in the Jackson area. For those customers ineligible to receive FOX Atlanta, a $1 per month discount will be taken off the regular price of $5.99 per month. A Dish 500 antenna is required to receive the local channels via satellite.

“DISH Network customers now have a better alternative to cable in Jackson,” 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 Jackson customers in 24 Mississippi counties: Adams, Attala, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Madison, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Simpson, Smith, Walthall, Warren and Yazoo. With the addition of Jackson, DISH Network offers local channels in a total of 65 cities and their metro areas nationwide.

The 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.

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 NetworkÔ, 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.

More info on Dish Network | More News