Cable Rate Increase Season is upon Us; DISH Network Public Relations Available to Help You with Your Story.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network satellite TV is inviting reporters to call our Public Relations department when they first hear of cable rate increases in their area. Every year, cable companies raise their rates as they approach the holidays, delivering a lump of coal to their customers. DISH Network can help you balance your story. We have recently launched a national campaign asking the question, "Why is Digital Cable so Expensive?" This is important when cable customers are facing as much as 10 percent rate increases, more than three times higher than the rate of inflation.

Look at these recent headlines from around the country:

--(Time Warner) Cable Rates to Increase (The Charlotte Observer, N.C.) - 10-23-04

--Comcast Raising Rates in Lansing; (City Pulse, MI) - 11-3-04

--Adelphia to Raise Rates (The Palm Beach Post, Fla.) - 10-15-04

--Cox Cable Will Increase Standard Package Rate Again (Virginian Pilot) - 11-6-04

What we can provide you:

--Interviews with upset cable customers in your town who have switched to DISH Network

--Interviews with local satellite TV retailers who are feeling a positive impact by the cable rate increases

--Images of our national or local print ads

--Video of our TV commercials

--FCC reports on history of cable rate increases

--Analysts reports on how cable companies are losing hundreds of thousands of customers while satellite TV companies are gaining record numbers of new customers

DISH Network's new ad campaign features a large red question mark and two tech-friendly "DISH Guys" who go door-to-door asking consumers why their digital cable is so expensive. They point out that digital watches and digital cameras have fallen in price hundreds of dollars, so why does digital cable cost more?

We're here to help you with your story. Call us anytime.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation serves more than 10.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last four years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. DISH Network ranks No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction among Cable/Satellite TV Subscribers by J.D. Power and Associates. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).