Dish Network in the News

DISH Network Passes Five Million Customer Milestone

EchoStar Celebrates 20 Years of Providing Satellite Television

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 2000--EchoStar Communications Corporation announced that its DISH Network(TM) digital satellite television service passed the five million customer milestone in November, less than seven months after reaching four million subscribers, continuing EchoStar's lead as the fastest-growing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television provider in the United States.

EchoStar added approximately 455,000 net new DISH Network customers in the third quarter of 2000, and DISH Network's customer growth in the first nine months of 2000 was 31 percent greater than the number of net new customers added in the first nine months of 1999, a record for DISH Network.

``The rapid growth of DISH Network is a clear indicator that consumers continue to be dissatisfied by rising cable rates, and we're pleased consumers are choosing DISH Network as their television provider,'' said Charlie Ergen, chairman and CEO of EchoStar. ``DISH Network was ranked number one in overall customer satisfaction among satellite and cable TV subscribers by the J.D. Power and Associates studies in 1999 and 2000, proof that DISH Network's more than 5 million customers, and more than 12 million viewers, enjoy the lowest prices for programming, the most technologically advanced hardware, and the best customer service. We're proud to celebrate 20 years at EchoStar by reaching this important milestone.''

``In addition, our dominant channel capacity has positioned us as the first television service with the capacity to offer over 500 channels, including local channels, high-definition television, interactive TV services and high-speed Internet access,'' Ergen added.

EchoStar had its humble beginnings in 1980 in Denver, Colo., under the name of EchoSphere when Charlie and his wife, Candy Ergen, and his friend, Jim DeFranco, now executive vice president of EchoStar, began installing large c-band satellite TV dishes in the backyards of mountain homes in rural Colorado. The three entrepreneurs worked from a small store located near its present-day headquarters in Littleton, Colo. As the demand for satellite TV in rural communities increased, the company grew from a small distributor of satellite TV equipment to become the first company to design UHF, radio-controlled remote controls and satellite dish positioning devices. EchoSphere soon became a multimillion-dollar business. Always a visionary, Ergen surprised the satellite TV industry when he announced at a trade show in 1987 that EchoStar would launch its own satellites and begin delivering programming to its customers using 18-inch satellite dishes. After filing for orbital slots with the Federal Communications Commission, EchoStar was on its way toward its goal of placing a ``dish in every home, school and business in the nation.''

Ergen's dream of distributing both equipment and programming came true in 1995 when the EchoStar I satellite was successfully launched on a Chinese rocket. This event paved the way for a fleet of six high-powered satellites from which DISH Network now offers over 500 channels of popular entertainment, news, movies, sports, educational, and local channel programming. EchoStar continues to be a leading force in designing new technologies, such as the first to offer an integrated satellite TV receiver, Internet web browser and digital video recorder. Today, EchoStar has over 10,000 employees worldwide serving over 5 million customers and more than 23,000 DISH Network retailers. EchoStar strives to provide a solid competitive force against cable TV while becoming the fastest-growing satellite television provider and a leading innovator in the 21st century.

EchoStar Communications Corporation includes three interrelated business units:

• DISH Network(TM) is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, including Dolby Digital sound, interactive television and data services to consumers across the United States, all on a single dish, as well as offering fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. DISH Network was ranked number one in customer satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers by the J.D. Power and Associates 1999 and 2000 Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction studies.
• EchoStar Technologies Corporation designs, distributes and oversees the manufacturing of DBS set-top boxes, antennas and other digital equipment for DISH Network and various international customers, including Bell ExpressVu Canada and the Via Digital system in Spain. ETC has also provided construction oversight and project integration services for customers internationally. ETC also oversees EchoStar Data Networks Corporation in Atlanta, a designer of broadband IP streaming products and services for DISH Network.
• Satellite Services provides the delivery of interactive video, audio and data services to business television customers and other satellite users. These services include satellite uplink, satellite transponder space usage, business solutions and other services. Satellite Services also oversees the design and delivery of interactive television services and satellite equipment.