EchoStar Communications Corporation Nets Record Customer Growth In 1999
DISH Network Continues Record Pace By Adding 160,000 Customers In December 1999
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH, DISHP) announced Thursday that it added approximately 1,470,000 net new DISH Networkô customers during 1999, an increase of 63 percent over 1998. The additions bring DISH Network's total customer base to approximately 3,410,000. During December 1999, EchoStar added approximately 160,000 net new DISH Network customers, the largest single monthly gain in EchoStar history. This marks an unprecedented fifteen consecutive months that DISH Network has achieved customer growth of over 100,000 subscribers. Beginning in January 2000, DISH Network will only release subscriber additions quarterly together with the release of all other Company financial information. About DISH Network DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware and installation. DISH Network was also ranked number one in customer satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers by the J.D. Power and Associates 1999 Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study. EchoStar V, EchoStar's newest high-power direct broadcast satellite, launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS rocket on September 23, 1999, to the 110 degrees W.L. orbital location. In addition to local channels, EchoStar V allows DISH Network to offer 500 channels, including high definition television, Dolby Digital surround sound, Internet and high-speed interactive television and data services, all on a single dish. DISH Network, which currently serves over 3.4 million customers, is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is located on the Internet at www.dishnetwork.com.