DISH Network Election Poll Shows Sen. Kerry Leading in Race for President; Kerry Predicted to Get 50.1 Percent of Popular Vote.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) and its DISH Network(TM), the fastest growing television service provider in the last four years, announced that a DISH Network pre-election poll of its customers indicates Sen. John Kerry is leading the nationwide popular vote in the race for the presidency.

As of mid-day Monday, one day before the election, Sen. Kerry led by about two percentage points with 50.1 percent of the popular vote, as displayed on DISH Network's interactive TV channel. President George Bush secured 48.2 percent of the votes and Ralph Nader trailed with 1.7 percent. The poll is a summary of votes cast by DISH Network customers using DISH Network's Interactive TV Guide. The non-scientific DISH Network Election Poll does not predict individual states or the electoral college results.

Voting began Oct. 25 and lasts through Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. ET. Ongoing poll results can be viewed through Nov. 5 by selecting the DISH Network Election Poll option on the Election 2004 Coverage screen. Orion Information Services (www.ois-inc.com) is supplying the text messaging service for the poll.

For more information on DISH Network's interactive TV channels, visit www.dishnetwork.com and select Interactive TV in the products menu.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) serves more than 10.1 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).