DISH Network First Satellite TV Company To Offer Local Channels In All 50 States

Local Channels Now Available In 127 Markets

21-May-04

EchoStar Communications Corporation announced today that its DISH Network has become the first pay TV company to offer local TV channels in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. DISH Network's launch in the Cheyenne, Wyo., market today builds upon the company's history as the leader in local channel offerings. Nearly 90 percent of the nation's total households are now eligible to receive local channels in 127 markets via DISH Network's satellite TV service, including residents of Alaska and Hawaii. Congress challenged the satellite TV industry in 1999 to make local channels available as widely as possible, and DISH Network has responded with a solution that has opened nearly twice as many markets as its nearest satellite competitor. DISH Network made its announcement at its annual Team Summit retailers' conference that began today in Dallas. It is the largest gathering of satellite TV delegates in the nation. ""At DISH Network, we are thrilled to achieve this milestone, providing service at a national level nearly unimaginable six years ago,"" said Charles Ergen, chief executive officer and chairman at EchoStar. ""And our pledge to provide the lowest priced, all-digital service in America has given consumers a clear alternative to cable TV's price increases that are five times the rate of inflation."" DISH Network in 1999 became the first satellite TV company to offer local channels with a roll-out in 13 markets. ""One of the greatest concerns I hear from my constituents is their inability to get their local stations on their satellites,"" said U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY). ""These channels help keep people informed about what's going on in their community and provide important information in emergency situations. I am pleased to know that DISH Network plans to continue its expansion of local channels, not just in Wyoming, but in the entire U.S."" To learn more about DISH Network, please visit www.dishnetwork.com.

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