EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) issued the following statement regarding recent developments in the Forgent Networks, Inc. lawsuit:

"A Texas jury today returned a verdict in favor of EchoStar, finding invalid the patent Forgent accused EchoStar of violating. Forgent had asked for over $200 million in damages.

'While others had settled, we always believed Forgent's patent was invalid, and we appreciate the efforts of Judge Davis and of the jury vindicating our position,' said David Moskowitz, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, EchoStar."

About EchoStar Communications Corporation

EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) has been a leader for more than 26 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. The Company's DISH Network(tm) is the fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000 and currently serves more than 13.4 million satellite TV customers. DISH Network offers a premier line of industry-leading Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and hundreds of video and audio channels as well as the most national HD and International channels in the U.S., Interactive TV, Latino and sports programming. DISH Network also provides a variety of package and price options including the lowest all-digital price in America and the DishDVR Advantage Package. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit www.echostar.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.