DISH NETWORK Challenges Cable Companies With `No Rate Increase Guarantee' Through Year 2000, DISH Network Guarantees Price Freeze Until Millennium.

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1998--EchoStar Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:DISH, DISHP) announced today that it's now offering the DISH Network(tm) No Rate Increase Guarantee until the next millennium.

DISH Network is guaranteeing not to raise current programming prices through March 1, 2000.

"We're proving to consumers that in the face of rising cable rates, DISH Network is committed to offering more channels and more choices at the same low prices," said Charlie Ergen, CEO and chairman of EchoStar. "In fact, by the time DISH Network's No Rate Increase Guarantee runs out, we will have held the price of our America's Top 40 programming package at $19.99 for over four years."

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission will lose its authority on March 31, 1999, to regulate rates of expanded-basic tiers offered by large cable operators.

"We're expecting the flood gates to open and cable rates to rise once again in March 1999 as the cable monopolies continue their regular practice of hefty price hikes and poor customer service," Ergen said. "DISH Network has maintained the lowest rates in the industry and now guarantees the same low prices and top-quality, 100-percent digital television service until the next millennium. We challenge the cable industry to do the same."

DISH Network is guaranteeing the same low prices through March 1, 2000, for its America's Top 40 at $19.99 per month, America's Top 100 CD at $28.99 per month, and all four premium movie packages, which include HBO The Works, MultiMAX from Cinemax, SHOWTIME Unlimited, and STARZ!/ENCORE. You can have the best value in satellite television with CD-quality sound and crystal-clear pictures providing the best in entertainment television programming available today.

The Consumers Union, headquartered in New York, has challenged cable companies to freeze their prices and has stated that if they don't, the FCC or Congress should freeze prices for them.

To begin watching the best value in satellite television entertainment, call 1-800-333-DISH (3474), your local DISH Network retailer or visit us at our website at www.dishnetwork.com.

EchoStar Communications Corp. includes three interrelated 

business units:

-- DISH Network(TM), EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system that offers customers over 300 programming services of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware, installation, financing and leasing.

-- EchoStar Technologies Corp. (ETC, formerly HTS(TM) - Houston Tracker Systems Inc.), designs, manufactures and distributes DBS set-top boxes, antennae and other digital equipment for the DISH Network and various international customers that include ExpressVu Canada and Telefonica's Via Digital system in Spain. ETC also provides uplink center design, construction oversight and project integration services for customers internationally.

-- Satellite Services provides the delivery of video, audio and data services to business television customers and other satellite users. These services include satellite uplink, satellite transponder space usage, and other services.

The DISH Network currently serves over 1.6 million customers. DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corp. HTS is a trademark of Houston Tracker Systems Inc. DISH Network is located on the Internet at: http://www.dishnetwork.com