ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2005--EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) reported total revenue of $1.93 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004, a 28 percent increase compared with $1.51 billion for the corresponding period in 2003. 
 

Net income totaled $70 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31 2004, compared with $3 million during the corresponding period in 2003. Basic earnings per share were $0.15 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004, compared with basic earnings per share of $0.01 during the corresponding period in 2003.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, EchoStar reported total revenue of $7.15 billion compared with $5.74 billion for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003, an increase of 25 percent. EchoStar's net income for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004, totaled $215 million, compared with $225 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2003.

DISH Network added approximately 430,000 net new subscribers during the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004, giving the company approximately 10.905 million subscribers as of that date, an increase of 1.48 million subscribers compared with the number of subscribers as of Dec. 31, 2003. In January, EchoStar's DISH Network(TM) satellite television service reported that it had surpassed 11 million subscribers.

Detailed financial data and other information are available in EchoStar's Form 10-K for the annual period ended Dec. 31, 2004, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About EchoStar Communications

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) serves more than 11 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), and is a leading U.S. provider of advanced digital television services. DISH Network's services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar's Web site at (www.echostar.com) or call 800-333-DISH (3474).