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DISH Network Introduces Lowest Priced One-Stop Shop for High-Definition TV System

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2004--

HD Leader Rolls out Everything You Need for Living Life in HD:
Monitor, Satellite TV Receiver, Delivery and Installation
for Less Than $1,000

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NasdaqISH) announced today at the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that the company's DISH Network(TM), a leading American satellite subscription television service, is offering the most affordable high definition television (HDTV) package in the nation.

The DISH Network HDTV System provides consumers with everything they need to start enjoying HDTV: a 16:9 HD television monitor, an HD satellite TV receiver, a satellite dish, home delivery and standard professional installation, all for less than $1,000.

Further establishing itself as the leader in high definition TV, DISH Network offers a package of popular HD channels, including ESPN HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet and HDNet Movies for $9.99 per month or $109.89 annually, the lowest prices in the industry.

DISH Network also offers high definition channels such as CBS-HD, HBO-HD, Showtime HD, and DISH-On-Demand pay-per-view HD movies.

Offered to new and existing residential customers through a special promotion through Jan. 31, 2004, the DISH Network HD System includes a DISH 811 HD satellite TV receiver/decoder and the customer's choice of a 34-inch CRT or a 40-inch rear-projection wide-screen HD monitor, all for only $999. Delivery and installation are included. Customers must agree to purchase at least America's Top 60 programming package (formerly America's Top 50) for $24.99 per month and the HD package for $9.99 per month for one year.

For new customers who already have an HD monitor, DISH Network offers a promotion making the DISH 811 HD satellite TV receiver available for free. This is a savings from the MSRP of $399.

DISH Network has further strengthened its HD product line with the introduction of the first-of-its-kind high definition digital video recorder (DVR). The DISH Player-DVR 921 is available now for a $600 upgrade when customers purchase the DISH Network HDTV System. The DISH Player-DVR 921 features a 250-gigabyte hard drive capable of recording up to 25 hours of high definition video or up to 180 hours of standard definition content, or a combination of both.

The state-of-the-art DISH Player-DVR 921 contains all the features of DISH Network's complete line of DVRs, plus a dual tuner that allows the user to record two different shows while viewing a third pre-recorded show. The DISH Player-DVR 921 also includes a picture-in-picture feature for standard definition on any TV. No other pay TV company offers the innovative combination of HD and DISH Video on Demand features -- including fast-forward/reverse, pause, and 30-second skip-ahead -- as the DISH Player-DVR 921.

Honored as "Best of Show" by the CES Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2003, and recognized as best product of 2003 by Business Week magazine, the DISH Player-DVR 921 also offers:

-- The highest level recording quality which is identical to the
original broadcast

-- Electronic program guide with keyword search capability and up
to nine days of listings

-- The ability to record off air digital broadcasts

-- Supports output of 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i resolutions

-- Slow motion and frame-by-frame replay

-- HD connectivity includes DVI-HDTV, RGB (via DVI) and component
video

For information on DISH Network and its products or services, call 800-333-DISH (3474), visit www.dishnetwork.com or contact a local DISH Network retailer.

About EchoStar Communications Corporation

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NasdaqISH) is the owner of DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of satellite television entertainment services with 9 million customers. DISH Network delivers advanced digital satellite television services, including hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, digital video recording, HDTV, sports and international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 800-333-DISH (3474).

For print-quality images of DISH Network's new products, visit http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/aboutus/presskit/print/index.shtml.


CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corporation
Marc Lumpkin, 303-723-2020
303-378-2366 (cell)
marc.lumpkin@echostar.com
or
Steve Caulk, 303-723-2010
steve.caulk@echostar.com

SOURCE: EchoStar Communications Corporation