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LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1999--EchoStar
Communications Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH, DISHP) will demonstrate its new
interactive TV services using OpenTV® software at the annual
Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association expo in Las
Vegas. These new interactive services are planned to provide DISH
Network satellite television customers later this year with numerous
opportunities to access e-commerce, music information, customer care
assistance, and other interactive services. EchoStar's new Model 3800
and current Model 4700 series satellite receivers will deliver
interactivity to DISH Network customers this winter as quickly and
easily as changing channels.
This will represent the first deployment of OpenTV services to
the entire U.S. market. EchoStar will license and deploy OpenTV's
technology and software with EchoStar's Model 3800 and 4700 series
satellite receivers, which will be available via satellite download to
consumers this winter. Both interactive TV systems will qualify for
DISH Network One-Rate Plans.
OpenTV is the leader in interactive television with more than 3
million homes currently using its platform worldwide.
"By being the first in the U.S. to offer OpenTV interactive
television, we're offering our customers more of what they want from
their television experience," said Mark Jackson, senior vice president
of Satellite Services at EchoStar. "DISH Network's interactive TV
services can provide customers instant high-speed information while
generating new revenue streams for EchoStar and the content providers
who use our service. Most importantly, DISH Network interactive TV
services places us steps ahead of our competitors."
"EchoStar's DISH Network is the ideal medium for the first U.S.
deployment of truly interactive services for people who enjoy watching
television," said Jan Steenkamp, CEO of OpenTV. "The key to our
success is an open and flexible software design, which uniquely
positions us to bring expanded digital interactive services to the
entire U.S. television market."
During the first year of deployment, DISH Network intends to
offer its customers a variety of enhanced television services, such as
an interactive electronic program guide, e-mail and Internet access
for television, weather forecasts on demand and a variety of customer
care and e-commerce services, including local weather and music
merchandising, with more to be added in the future.
EchoStar Communications Corp., includes three interrelated
business units:
-- DISH Network™ is EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system that
offers customers over 300 channels of digital video and
CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware
and installation.
-- EchoStar Technologies Corporation designs, manufactures and
distributes DBS set-top boxes, antennas 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. ETC also oversees EchoStar Data
Networks Corporation in Atlanta, a leading supplier of
MediaStream® technology for distributing Internet content over
satellite networks.
-- 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. Satellite Services
also administers SKY VISTA, a direct broadcast satellite service
offering over 27 channels of popular digital satellite television
programming to viewers in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
U.S. territories in the Caribbean.
DISH Network currently serves approximately 2.6 million
customers. DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications
Corporation. DISH Network is located on the Internet at:
www.dishnetwork.com.
About OpenTV
OpenTV is a worldwide leader in interactive television software
for the digital receiver, providing a complete end-to-end solution for
the development and delivery of interactive services via digital
satellite, cable and terrestrial broadcast. More than 3 million
digital receivers have been shipped worldwide with the OpenTV
operating system software. To date, OpenTV software solutions have
been deployed by 12 television networks worldwide including British
Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) in the United Kingdom and TPS in France.
EchoStar's DISH Network is scheduled to launch their interactive
services in the U.S. utilizing OpenTV software later this year.
The OpenTV operating system software is licensed to more than 20
digital receiver manufacturers and OpenTV's authoring tools are
licensed to more than 100 independent developers, content and service
providers. OpenTV is a member of the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
project and a licensee of Personal Java™ from Sun Microsystems.
Worldwide headquarters for OpenTV is located in Mountain View,
Calif., with European operations based in Paris, France. Information
on OpenTV is available at www.opentv.com.
OpenTV is a registered trademark of OpenTV, Inc. All rights
reserved. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and
other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
EchoStar Communications Corp., includes three interrelated
business units:
-- DISH Network™ is EchoStar's state-of-the-art DBS system that
offers customers over 300 channels of digital video and
CD-quality audio programming, fully MPEG-2/DVB compliant hardware
and installation.
-- EchoStar Technologies Corporation designs, manufactures and
distributes DBS set-top boxes, antennas 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. ETC also oversees EchoStar Data
Networks Corporation in Atlanta, a leading supplier of
MediaStream® technology for distributing Internet content over
satellite networks.
-- 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. Satellite Services
also administers SKY VISTA, a direct broadcast satellite service
offering over 27 channels of popular digital satellite television
programming to viewers in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the
U.S. territories in the Caribbean.
DISH Network currently serves approximately 2.6 million
customers. DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications
Corporation. DISH Network is located on the Internet at:
www.dishnetwork.com
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CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corporation
Judianne Atencio
Director of Communications
303/723-2010
e-mail: judianne.atencio@echostar.com
or
OpenTV, Inc.
Mary Montes
Marketing Communications Manager
650/429-5556
e-mail: mmontes@opentv.com