DISH Network to Introduce New, Improved Personal Video Recorder: DishPVR 508 Satellite TV Receiver.

Business Editors

CES 2002

Booth No. S19310

LITTLETON, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 2002

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH):

DishPVR 508 Offers Improved Recording Time For Up to 80 Hours of

Total Video Storage and Tapeless Recording

EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network(TM) (Nasdaq: DISH), a leader in pioneering television entertainment technologies, introduced today at the 2002 Consumers Electronics Show in Las Vegas the new DishPVR(TM) 508 satellite TV receiver, an integrated satellite TV receiver and personal video recorder with up to 80 hours of total video storage and recording capabilities without using videotape. Viewers can also create instant replays, pause any show, or skip ahead 30 seconds at the touch of a button during prerecorded programming.

The new DishPVR 508 will be available in February for $499 MSRP, while the current DishPVR 501 with up to 35 hours of recording is available for $399 MSRP. Unlike most PVR-type products on the market today, DishPVR requires no special monthly fee to operate the hard drive features.

DishPVR 508 also includes interactive TV services powered by OpenTV offering an interactive Electronic Program Guide (EPG) providing features such as Instant Weather, which gives immediate access to weather conditions for nearly 1,000 U.S. cities, with more interactive services to be available in 2002.

Other standard features include:

-- Four fast-forward and fast-reverse speeds.

-- Seven-day program guide stored on the hard drive.

-- Skip forward 30 seconds at a time during prerecorded programs, or replay 10
seconds at a time during live or prerecorded programming.

-- Event Timers that automatically change the TV to a program at a designated
time or that command a VCR or the internal hard drive to record selected
programs.

-- Increased channel storage in four favorites lists.

-- UHF/Infrared remote control for operating satellite receiver from a distance
of up to 100 feet through walls and is programmable for TV, VCR or other
components.

-- On-screen locks for pay-per-view and adult channels, plus V-chip type
technology for parental control based on channels, ratings or content.

-- Info Button on the remote instantly gives program information, such as start
time, end time and a brief program description.

-- View channels by category, such as movies, sports, news/business, etc.

-- View other program titles without changing channels.

-- Order pay-per-view movies and events using remote control.

-- Software upgradeable via satellite.

-- Front panel controls, expansion ports and S-video output.

-- Dolby Digital sound.

-- And coming soon, Caller ID features.

DISH Network offer hundreds of digital satellite TV channel choices, including international programming, Spanish language packages, multi-channel premium movie packages, pay-per-view channels, and local TV channels available in 36 U.S. cities.

For more information about the new DISH Network DishPVR 508, visit your local DISH Network retailer, www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).

For press: Electronic, downloadable images of the DishPVR 508 can be found at www.dishnetwork.com.

DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that offers over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio programming, as well as advanced satellite TV receiver hardware and installation. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX). DISH Network currently serves over 6.4 million customers.