[October 18, 2004] DISH Network Viewers to Receive Unique Election Coverage from Six Networks on One TV Channel; Viewers Can 'Vote' For Favorite Candidate in Special Cell Phone Poll ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 18, 2004 -- EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today that its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service is teaming with six networks to create unique coverage of the upcoming U.S. elections. Viewers will be able to watch national and state election coverage simultaneously from the six networks on a single TV screen. They also can easily select an individual network and view its coverage in full-screen format. The networks are CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CSPAN, MTV: Music Television and Comedy Central, providing a variety of election coverage to meet the needs of a diverse audience. The interactive television (ITV) application, called DISH Network Election 2004 Coverage, is the first use of ITV multiple picture-in-picture technology for election coverage in the United States. From Monday, Oct. 25, through Friday, Nov. 5, DISH Network Election 2004 Coverage will be free to more than 9 million DISH Network customers with access to "dish home" ITV service. "DISH Network viewers will be able to see election coverage quickly and easily on each of six networks," said Michael Schwimmer, EchoStar's executive vice president of Programming and Marketing. "With six networks on one channel, our customers have a decided advantage in the effort to stay on top of the 2004 elections. And we have something for every viewer, including traditional up-to-the-minute election returns and analysis, an in-depth look at the election issues most affecting the younger generation, and a channel offering a humorous side of the elections." Using their remote controls, DISH Network customers can reach the Election 2004 Coverage channel through "dish home" on DISH Network channel 100 or by pressing "select" when an Election 2004 Coverage commercial is shown on DISH Network. The Election 2004 Coverage channel was built by OpenTV Corp. (NASDAQ-NMS: OPTV), one of the world's leading providers of ITV systems and applications. DISH Network customers with OpenTV-enabled TV receiver models 3900, 4900, 301, 311, 322 and 811 and DISH Player digital video recorder (DVR) models 501, 508, 510, 522 and 721 can view the Election 2004 Coverage. Beginning Oct. 25, the six Election 2004 Coverage networks will be available to all DISH Network customers through Nov. 5, regardless of the receiver they have, the programming package to which they subscribe or their access to "dish home." DISH Network Election Poll Also, DISH Network is hosting the DISH Network Presidential Election Poll. The poll will allow DISH Network customers who subscribe to AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless or Verizon Wireless to cast a "vote" for their favorite presidential candidate simply by using the text messaging feature on their cell phones. On-screen voting instructions are available on the DISH Network Election 2004 Coverage channel. Each vote costs 50 cents and will appear on the voter's wireless telephone provider's billing statement. Votes can be cast Oct. 25 through Nov. 2. Ongoing poll results can be viewed from Oct. 25 through Nov. 5 by selecting the DISH Election Poll option on the Election 2004 Coverage screen. Orion Information Services (www.ois-inc.com) will supply the text messaging service for the poll. For more information on DISH Network, visit www.dishnetwork.com, call 800-333-DISH (3474), or contact a local DISH Network retailer. 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 800-333-DISH (3474). Artwork: Screenshots of the six channels on one screen and the Election Poll are available via Business Wire or by contacting Gregg Stucker at 303-723-2310. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]