DISH Network Satellite Television Brings Local TV Channels to Greater Area of Grand Rapids, Michigan; EchoStar's DISH Network Now Offers Alternative to Cable

Business Wire, May 23, 2002

Business Editors

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2002

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) is pleased to announce that tomorrow DISH Network(TM) will offer local channels including ABC Ch. 13 (WZZM), CBS Ch. 3 (WWMT), NBC Ch. 8 (WOOD), FOX Ch. 17 (WXMI), ABC Ch. 41 (WOTV), PBS Ch. 35 (WGVU) and Ch. 54 (WTLJ) by satellite television to 14 counties in the greater area of Grand Rapids, Mich. Channel 54 (WTLJ) will also be offered on DISH Channel 8720 and can be accessed via a second installed satellite dish free of charge. Call 1-800/333-DISH (3474) for more information.

With the addition of Grand Rapids, DISH Network offers local channels via satellite TV to a total of 37 cities and their metro areas nationwide, including Detroit. The local channels are available for a price of only $5.99 per month to DISH Network customers.

This is the first time local TV channels have been offered on satellite TV in the greater Grand Rapids area, providing an important competitive alternative to local cable service. EchoStar wants to acknowledge the efforts of the entire Michigan Congressional delegation, with special thanks to Congressman Fred Upton, who in his capacity as Chairman of the Telecommunications and Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee has worked tirelessly to promote competition and consumer choice in all telecommunications sectors.

DISH Network offers local channels to Grand Rapids in the following area counties: Oceana, Newaygo, Montcalm, Ionia, Barry, Calhoun, Branch, St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Allegan, Ottawa, Kent and Muskegon.

DISH Network makes satellite TV simple and affordable. For more information on how to get a free satellite TV system or three months of free programming, visit www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800/333-DISH (3474).

DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, as well as fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. DISH Network currently serves over 7.16 million customers.