Showtime, EchoStar Team Up For DISH Networkô Promotion At Sears

National Retail Offer Adds Value With $40 Sears Gift Card And Free SatelliteTelevision Installation For New DISH Networkô, SHOWTIME UNLIMITED Customers

23-May-00

Showtime Networks Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH, DISHP) announced that SHOWTIME UNLIMITED and DISH Networkô are now offering an exclusive promotional campaign in approximately 1,600 Sears stores nationwide. Through July 1, 2000, new customers can receive a $40 Sears Gift Card after purchasing a DISH Network satellite television system from Sears (free after rebate) and choosing the SHOWTIME UNLIMITED premium movie package. The $40 Sears Gift Card, courtesy of SHOWTIME UNLIMITED, is redeemable for any purchase at Sears. ""SHOWTIME UNLIMITED on DISH Network gives consumers the best entertainment value in premium television with 10 channels of movie services for only $10.99 per month,"" said Tom Hayden, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Direct-to-Home for Showtime Networks Inc. ""Offering a free $40 Sears Gift Card extends Showtime's commitment to value and is a true win-win promotion that benefits both the Sears customer and Sears stores."" Customers also have the opportunity to receive a free DISH Network satellite TV system after a $199 rebate. New customers who purchase a DISH Network satellite TV system from Sears and sign up for a year's worth of programming totaling $39.98 per month will receive a $199 rebate check from DISH Network after the first programming payment. Plus, DISH Network is offering a free basic professional installation until July 31, 2000. ""We're pleased to work with Showtime and Sears in this exclusive promotion because together we are offering more value for DISH Network customers when they purchase a system from Sears,"" said Mary Peterson, Vice President of Marketing at EchoStar. ""Showtime's generous $40 Sears Gift Card is an attractive enhancement for Sears and new DISH Network customers."" DISH Network offers ten channels in its SHOWTIME UNLIMITED package for only $10.99 per month, which includes: - Showtime (two feeds): Over 200 different program choices each month, including exclusive top Hollywood hits, Showtime's original movies and series, late night entertainment and Showtime Championship Boxing. - Showtime 2 (two feeds): More of the great Showtime movie selections. - Showtime 3: Even more viewing choices each month, including top - Hollywood hits and award- winning Showtime originals. - Showtime Beyond: A blend of movies and series with a sci-fi, horror and fantasy twist, featuring select first-run theatrical premieres and exclusive original programming. - Showtime Extreme: Jam-packed every minute of every day with the thrills, chills and spills of nonstop action, adventure and suspense movies. - Sundance Channel: Feature films, documentaries, shorts and animation that form the leading edge of filmmaking today, the Sundance Channel, under the creative direction of Robert Redford, premieres the best in new independent films. - The Movie Channel (two feeds): TMC offers over 100 different movies to choose from each month from recent hits to timeless classics. Two additional feeds of The Movie Channel are available to customers who subscribe to DISH Network's America's Top 150 programming package. Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME, THE MOVIE CHANNEL and FLIX. SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL, which is owned by SNI, Robert Redford and Universal Studios. SNI also markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system with the capacity to offer customers 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming as well as fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. DISH Network, a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation, currently serves over 4 million customers nationwide. DISH Network was ranked number one in customer satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates in 1999. EchoStar is included in the NASDAQ-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the NASDAQ Stock Market. For more information, phone 800 333 DISH (3474) or visit www.dishnetwork.com. Through its network of 860 full-line stores and more than 2,100 specialty stores, Sears provides apparel, home and automotive products and related services for families throughout America, serving nearly 60 million households.

Read More:
http://www.dishnetwork.com