EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced today Michael Dugan has been named to the new position of Chief Technical Officer (CTO) for EchoStar. He will have responsibility for all technical development and operations within EchoStar including Broadcast Centers, Satellite Fleet, EchoStar Technologies Corporation, Broadband Development, Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) Sales/Operations, and Technical Innovation.

Dugan, an EchoStar board member, has been with the company since 1990 and was most recently a senior technical advisor to the Executive Management Team. He also was President and COO of EchoStar from April 2000 to April 2004, and prior to 2000, he was President of Echostar Technologies Corporation. Dugan was the chief architect of the technological foundation upon which the success of DISH Network was founded.

About EchoStar Communications Corporation

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 11.71 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network™, the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five 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. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).