Dish Network Offers Zee Gold; Limited-Time Free Preview of South Asian Movie and Music Channel Now Available

Business Wire, Dec 20, 1999

Entertainment Editors & Writers

LITTLETON, Colo.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1999

EchoStar Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH, DISHP) is pleased to announce today that DISH Network(TM) is offering one of the most popular South Asian movie channels, Zee Gold, for a FREE preview until Jan. 15, 2000, to all DISH Network customers who have a satellite dish pointed at 61.5 degrees West Longitude. After Jan. 15, Zee Gold will be available for $12.99 per month to DISH Network customers who also subscribe to DISH Network's Zee TV or TV Asia at 61.5 degrees W.L.

Already the leading provider of international TV programming, DISH Network is proud to offer the South Asian-American audience Zee Gold, a 24-hour channel featuring a wide variety of South Asian language movies, from black-and-white classic films to contemporary blockbusters. Zee Gold also provides the best in South Asian music videos, featuring such artists as Daler Mehandi, Mika, Sunita Rao, Alisha Chinoy and more.

Zee Gold is available with the purchase of the Zee TV or TV Asia programming packages. Zee TV is 24-hour multi-language channel with a mixture of Hindi and programs from South Asia, featuring films, news, children's programming and sports. Highlights include cricket matches from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. TV Asia is a 24-hour entertainment and information channel for the Indian community featuring news, educational programs, dramas, music and movies in Hindi, English and Gujarati.

"DISH Network is excited to bring the rich South Asian cinema and music culture to our U.S. customers," said Michael Schwimmer, vice president of Programming at EchoStar. "DISH Network offers the most complete programming for Americans from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The addition of Zee Gold, plus a one-month free preview, greatly enhances our Zee TV and TV Asia programming packages."

"Zee is very pleased to provide two great services to DISH Network subscribers," said Dheeraj Kapuria, vice president and head of Zee TV USA, Inc. "Both Zee TV and the new Zee Gold provide the very best in South Asian entertainment."

Zee Gold is now available from the EchoStar III satellite at the 61.5 degrees West Longitude orbital location and starting in 2000 at the 148 degrees W.L. orbital location.

Customers can also order popular U.S. programming with EchoStar's new DISH 500 satellite receiver system. DISH Network offers a vast selection of all-digital programming with packages starting at $19.99 per month. Call 1-800/333-DISH (3474) for more information or visit www.dishnetwork.com.

DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system that offers customers over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. EchoStar V, EchoStar's newest, high-power direct broadcast satellite, launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket on Sept. 23, 1999. EchoStar V allows DISH Network to offer 500 channels, including high definition television, Dolby Digital surround sound, and high-speed interactive television and data services. DISH Network serves approximately 3.25 million customers and is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation.