DISH Network Increases Basic Rates by $2; Average Customer to Receive Approximate Four Percent Increase.

Business Editors/Entertainment & High-Tech Writers

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2003

Price Freeze -- Price of America's Top 50

Channel Package Guaranteed for Two Years

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that effective Feb. 1, 2003, its DISH Network satellite TV service will increase basic rates by $2 per month.

Since DISH Network's average basic subscriber pays over $50 per month, this equates to an increase of less than 4 percent over 2002 rates. This price increase is dramatically lower than recently announced cable rate increases. Rising programming costs and the addition of a variety of new basic channels necessitated the DISH Network increase.

In addition, DISH Network is guaranteeing the price of its America's Top 50 programming package for both new and existing customers at the new price of $24.99 per month until January 2005. This price freeze continues DISH Network's leadership as the lowest all digital TV price provider in America.

DISH Network is also introducing an innovative way to help customers eliminate any price increase and actually reduce their monthly bill with the new DISH Network Value Paks. The HBO/Cinemax Value Pak combined with America's Top 100 programming package provides more than 125 channels at only $49.99 per month, a monthly price reduction of $2.99 from current rates. The HBO/Cinemax Value Pak plus America's Top 150 package provides more than 180 channels at only $59.99 per month, a monthly price reduction of $1.99 from current rates.

"We are pleased to keep our price increase for 2003 to an absolute minimum and to keep our prices well below those of comparable cable rates," said Soraya Cartwright, executive vice president of DISH Network. "Our commitment to the price freeze of America's Top 50 will help our current subscriber families continue to view their choice of programming without having to sacrifice funds from other household expenses. In addition, the decrease in prices in our new DISH Network Value Paks is yet another example of how families can save money and enjoy a greater variety of channel choices."

The price increase applies to DISH Network's four basic programming packages: America's Top 50, America's Top 100, America's Top 150 and America's Everything Pak. In addition, DISH Network's DISH Latino, DISH Latino MAX and out-of-market Multi-Sport packages will increase by only $1 per month.

America's Top 50 Value Pak: DISH Network is offering America's Top 50 programming package and local TV channels for a bundled price of $29.99 per month. DISH Network offers local TV channels in over 50 cities nationwide. This represents a 3 percent savings which will remain in effect until at least January 2005.

HBO/Cinemax Value Pak with America's Top 100: This value cannot be found anywhere else. For $49.99 per month, customers will receive eight channels of HBO and five Cinemax premium movie channels bundled with over 125 of the most popular satellite TV channels. This DISH Network Value Pak ensures customers a savings of 10 percent over standard pricing.

HBO/Cinemax Value Pak with America's Top 150: This new package is unmatched in value for movie lovers. For $59.99 per month, customers will receive eight HBO channels, five Cinemax premium movie channels and over 180 of the top satellite TV channels. This combination gives customers a 6.7 percent savings over standard pricing.

DISH Network also continues to bring new channels to its basic packages and has most recently added CNBC World, NBA TV, MuchMusic, Fox West 2, Vision TV, and National Geographic as well as Independent Film Channel and Women's Entertainment on a full-time basis.

DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that is capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, as well as advanced hardware and installation. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) which contains the largest non-financial companies on the Nasdaq Stock Market. DISH Network currently serves 8 million customers.