Dish Network® Outlines Upcoming Hd Launch Schedule

[Scott Greczkowski]

DISH NETWORK® OUTLINES UPCOMING HD LAUNCH SCHEDULE

Englewood, Colo., March 18, 2008 – DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), the nation’s third-largest pay-TV provider, today confirmed that plans to enhance its HD programming line-up this spring remain on track, despite the launch anomaly experienced by the AMC-14 satellite on March 14.

Over the next two months, DISH Network will increase its local HD offering by more than 60 percent with the addition of HD broadcast networks in the following markets:

April

· Abilene, TX
· Austin, TX
· Baltimore, MD
· Columbia, SC
· Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI
· Ft. Myers, FL
· Greensboro, NC
· Milwaukee, WI
· Orlando, FL
· Providence, RI
· Tampa, FL
· West Palm Beach, FL

May

· Beaumont, TX
· Burlington, VT
· Grand Rapids, MI
· Green Bay, WI
· Greenville, SC
· Huntsville, AL
· Knoxville, TN
· Norfolk, VA
· Richmond, VA


“DISH Network customers can be reassured that the expansion of our HD programming over the next few months will proceed as planned,” said Charlie Ergen, Chairman, CEO and President of DISH Network. “We are fortunate to have two more satellites scheduled for launch later this year to continue our HD rollout and reach our year-end goal of 100 local HD markets and 100 national HD channels.”

Upcoming national HD announcements may include the addition of ABC Family HD, AMC HD, BET HD, The Biography Channel HD, Bravo HD, Cartoon Network HD, CMT HD, CNN HD, Disney Channel HD, ESPN News HD, HBO2 HD, IFC HD, MGM HD, MoreMAX HD, MTV HD, Nickelodeon HD, Sci-Fi HD, Smithsonian Channel HD, Starz Edge HD, Tennis Channel HD, Superstation WGN HD, The Weather Channel HD, Toon Disney HD, USA Network HD and VH-1 HD.

For more information about DISH Network, call 1-800-333-DISH (3474), visit DISH Network -- Home, or visit your local DISH Network retailer.

[LASooner]

Now we know what's coming SOON


Upcoming national HD announcements may include the addition of ABC

[ScoBuck]

I was one of many that thought that only a small percentage of the public would even be that aware of the goings on at these big TV providers - mostly limited to the people on this and similar forums. I now see just how strong the boards (led by SatGuys of course) really is.

However the speed with which DISH has responded to the AMC-14 situation and the very public attempts at putting out this word so quickly shows to me that they are concerned that news (or misinformation regarding this) would spread quickly and have a real effect on their current sub base and ability to attract new business.

I salute their prompt response to the situation. I hope they get AMC-14 back on track ASAP.

[darrencp22]

hrmm cleveland missing from that list too.. i guess Cleveland doesnt rock

[nlk10010]

Notice, the national HD announcements are upcoming (not necessarily the channels) and, as you say, they may include....

At least it's not any more general than it was before the launch failed....too bad they are not as specific with national HD as they are with LIL, but that is their customer base, after all.

[stuart628]

Originally Posted by nlk10010

Notice, the national HD announcements are upcoming (not necessarily the channels) and, as you say, they may include....

At least it's not any more general than it was before the launch failed....

you need to go back through Scotts statements, He put that they cant announce those channels as coming without a proper press release. If they have that list there you can be assured they are signed or are VERY close.

[markd]

We'll Memphis is not on the list anymore Oh well, I get all my locals fine OTA. It just would be nice to be able to record/watch two locals at the same time. Can't do that with OTA.

[stuart628]

Originally Posted by darrencp22

hrmm cleveland missing from that list too.. i guess Cleveland doesnt rock

sadness has overcome me, we were uplinked and everything I am hoping this is all misprints!

[nlk10010]

Originally Posted by stuart628

you need to go back through Scotts statements, He put that they cant announce those channels as coming without a proper press release.

I'm not sure I understand you: what is a "proper press release" and why do they need one? Do they need one of these "releases" to announce HD LIL?

If they have that list there you can be assured they are signed or are VERY close.

Why? On what do you base this statement?

[Scott Greczkowski]

Correct they "may include". A few of those channels don't have HD versions yet, and some of those channels they dont have signed contracts for, but negoations are almost complete for them.

I guess they can't announce channels officially until they are launched which is why press releases about new channels come out after the channel launches.