EchoStar and Caribbean Media Corporation to Broadcast ICC 2003 Cricket World Cup to Caribbean Nations

Business Wire, Jan 29, 2003

Business & Sports Editors

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 2003

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that it has reached a sublicensing agreement with the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) for the re-broadcast of the 2003 Cricket World Cup across the Caribbean through television and radio outlets.

EchoStar is the exclusive distributor for the International Cricket Counsel's (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2003 via television, radio and the internet to countries within North, Central and South America. Terms of the agreement are not disclosed.

CMC, which represents Caribbean broadcasters, has acquired rights to distribute the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 via television and radio. Live coverage of the 54-match tournament will kick off with a two-hour opening ceremony from Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 8, 2003, and is scheduled to conclude with a closing ceremony honoring the world champions immediately after the final match from Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on March 23, 2003.

"EchoStar is pleased to have reached a sublicensing agreement with CMC, allowing for the television and radio distribution of the Cricket World Cup to cricket fans across the Caribbean," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of Programming. "The Cricket World Cup is an important and popular international event which is closely followed by people who reside within the cricketing nations, especially those living in the Caribbean."

The agreement reached with CMC and EchoStar will enable CMC to broadcast the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 to the Caribbean territories of Anguilla, Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Croix, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. John, St. Thomas, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands. In 2007, the Caribbean will play hosts to the Cricket World Cup.

"This is good news for Caribbean fans that have been anxious about seeing the West Indies team in action during the World Cup," said Gary Allen, chief operating officer of the Caribbean Media Corporation. "With the West Indies coming off two good tours in the last few months, including a victory over ICC Champions Trophy winner India, all eyes and ears will be on the Caribbean team from the first ball until the finals on March 23."

This 2003 Cricket World Cup will include the teams of Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, West Indies, New Zealand, England, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands and host South Africa. Other broadcasters include Rupavhini in Sri Lanka, Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, Pakistan TV in Pakistan, SABC in South Africa, BTV in Bangladesh, Sky Sports in New Zealand, Fox Sports in Australia and Sony Max in India.

EchoStar's DISH Network will exclusively broadcast the World Cup in the United States.

To order the Cricket World Cup 2003, call 800/333-DISH (3474). DISH Network commercial customers are also eligible to offer the Cricket World Cup 2003 to patrons by calling 800/454-0843. For more information on sublicensing rights, please contact EchoStar at 973/461-0861.

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) and its DISH Network(TM) is a U.S. leader in offering satellite television entertainment services to more than 8 million customers. DISH Network provides advanced digital satellite television services to the home, including hundreds of video, audio and data channels, personal video recording, HDTV, international programming, professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 800/333-DISH (3474).

About Caribbean Media Corporation

The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) is a non-profit multi-media organization based in Barbados with radio, television and newspaper affiliates in more than 25 Caribbean countries. Owned by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union and the Caribbean News Agency, CMC is dedicated to achieving the developmental objectives of media organizations in the region. CMC is integrally involved in rights acquisition and satellite distribution of sporting products, and particularly cricket for the Caribbean.

About ICC/IDI

The International Cricket Council (ICC) represents all cricket playing nations around the world. Its primary role is to administer the game and oversee its development and expansion. The ICC organizes various events each year under its banner. The premier event is the ICC World Cup which is held every four years. In addition there is the Under 19 World Cup (held every two years), the ICC Champions Trophy (every two years) and the ICC Trophy.

About the 2003 World Cup of Cricket

The ICC World Cup features teams from all 10 major cricket playing nations plus Kenya (which has been given International One Day status) plus the top three teams from the "associate" countries (those who do not have full One Day International status). These teams qualify through the ICC Trophy tournament. The World Cup was first held in the U.K. in 1975. In the ensuing years it has been held in Australia and countries on the sub continent. The 2003 World Cup of Cricket will be held in South Africa for the first time starting in February this year. The tournament will consist of 54 games.