DISH Network Introduces `DishFAMILY' Programming Tier

[Scott Greczkowski]

DISH Network Introduces `DishFAMILY' Programming Tier; DISH Network Becomes Provider of Choice with Lowest Priced, Most Robust Family TierENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2006--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) today announced that its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service will offer "DishFAMILY," a new "family-friendly" programming package with approximately 40 channels. With the launch of a new tier of programming options, DISH Network gives consumers the most choice among pay TV providers when it comes to designing a TV package that meets the needs of their family and budget.

Available Feb. 1, "DishFAMILY" will offer channel choices for everyone in the family such as sports, news, children's programming, lifestyle, hobbies, shopping and public interest. With DishFAMILY, customers will get valuable, family-sensitive content at the low price of $19.99 per month ($24.99 per month with local channels). This is an approximate $12 savings over the average cable company family tier. This low-priced package further establishes DISH Network as the lowest all-digital TV provider in the nation.

Other pay-TV providers have introduced "family" packages but with fewer channels and with a requirement that customers must purchase the "family" package along with a basic cable package that could be full of "inappropriate" family material. DISH Network offers DishFAMILY as a stand-alone package and with the most robust "family" package lineup. In addition, DishFAMILY is available with a free satellite TV receiver and free professional installation for up to four rooms.

"With the introduction of DishFAMILY, DISH Network becomes the pay-TV provider of choice among parents who want the most parental control and the largest package of family-specific TV channels, all at the lowest cost," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for DISH Network. "DishFAMILY is a package our customers have requested, and we are pleased that congressional hearings and the FCC have played a key role in encouraging programmers to agree to give DISH Network the rights to offer a family pack."

"DISH Family" channel lineup will include the following:
Animal Planet
EWTN
Outdoor Channel
The Biography Channel
Food Network
RFDTV
Bloomberg TV
Fox News Channel
Shop at Home
Boomerang
Great American Country
ShopNBC
BYUTV
CNN Headline News
The Science Channel
C-SPAN
HSN
The Weather Channel
C-SPAN-2
NASA
TBN
CSTV
Nickelodean East
TV Land
Discovery Kids
Nickelodean West
QVC
Discovery Times
Nick Games & Sports
Do It Yourself Network
NickToons
(More to be announced soon.)

DISH Network, an advocate of family values, has been a pioneer in advanced parental controls technology available to customers at no additional cost. DISH Network's extensive parental controls include password protection, lock-by-ratings and extended ratings, system and channel locks, and DISH Network's own Adult Guard and Hide Adult Programming features, which when activated remove adult content and channel descriptions from that specific customer's program guide. Also, for customers who subscribe to DishFAMILY, adult channels and their content descriptions will be unavailable in the program guide.

Customers can contact DISH Network at 1-800-333-DISH (3474), or their local retailer for more information on how to subscribe to DISH Network. To learn more about DISH Network's programming offers, visit www.dishnetwork.com.
About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 12 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

 

[Petrovich]

If E* adds more toon channels (like Toon Disney) for my kid, I'll switch. I don't watch 80% of my current Top 120 anyway.

 

[dlsnyder]

This sounds like a pretty decent lineup to me. If they could squeeze in the Disney channels and HGTV I would drop AT180 for the Family Pack. Then again, maybe that's what they are afraid of!

 

[riffjim4069]

I think this is very good news...

 

[SatinKzo]

I like that package, looks like a pretty decent lineup.

 

[Mr Tony]

quite interesting that CSTV is in there

oh wait..they show sports...not like ESPN who shows Competive eating and poker

 

[SatinKzo]

I am a bit confused on one thing. If you sub to this package, are you prevented from adding say HD or movie packs?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

There is no HD pack like we have today after February 1st.

 

[Mr Tony]

thats the big question satinkzo

Can you add stuff or is it a "as is" and all you could add is locals to the package?

 

[jbcheshire]

Wow!!!! I might drop my AT180 to go with this one!!! Would cut my bill by more than half!!!! Since the only things we really watch are our network shows (which I usually DVR them), and my 3 yr old's cartoons. The only things that would be a plus would be the Disney channels and HGTV.... ESPN would be nice, but oh well... can't have everything...

If they make a good offer for the new HD pack, then I might pick it up... guess we will know more about that in less than two weeks, huh??....

 

[syphix]

Here's a comparison chart I made between D* & D* "Family Plans". Odd to see no Disney Channels on E* lineup...too expensive??

 

[Paradox-SJ]

if the put in tlc is a done deal

 

[Mr Tony]

Here's a comparison chart I made between D* & D* "Family Plans". Odd to see no Disney Channels on E* lineup...too expensive??

I thought Direct's was 31.99 before locals? Locals on Direct are only 3 bucks more

 

[SatinKzo]

There is no HD pack like we have today after February 1st.

I realize that and orignally was gonna ask if there was a DishFamilyHD pack or something. I mean it could be as simple as just wanting to add the superstations.

 

[angiecopus]

1 question, would those who have the top 180 be able to still watch the channels that are on the family pack? this is very confusing. because there are stuff on the top 180 i watch too.

 

[SatinKzo]

1 question, would those who have the top 180 be able to still watch the channels that are on the family pack? this is very confusing. because there are stuff on the top 180 i watch too.

The family pack is not removing channels from other packages, it is just a seperate package at a discount for a narrow scope of channels that fit a family viewing situation. It is not an add on package.

 

[syphix]

I thought Direct's was 31.99 before locals? Locals on Direct are only 3 bucks more

Corrected and updated. *whoops!*

 

[Jeff_R]

It's an interesting lineup, but without the actual Discovery Channel, Disney Channel, and ABC Family, is it a truly "family" package? Interesting that most of the channels in the package are the "value added" channels from carriers, and not the main channels. Food Network and DIY, but no HGTV? No Disney at all?

It's mostly a good lineup, but several very noticable missing channels.

 

[jerryez]

I have been looking at the difference between at60 and at120(which I get) and Lifetime is the only major difference in channels that I watch. I might drop to at60 and drop cmax next month when the raise there rates.

 

[CPanther95]

Nothing at all "Family" about "ABC Family" since ABC took it over. It's mostly just an outlet for ABC reruns - the pro- family groups wouldn't consider Alias children's programming.