ENGLEWOOD, Colo.-- EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) issued the following statement regarding an agreement reached last night with Pappas Telecasting Companies to continue carrying 16 of its stations:

“EchoStar is pleased we were able to reach an agreement with Pappas to continue carriage of their stations in 14 markets, ensuring our customers will continue to receive these quality channels and programming.”

The Pappas owned and/or operated stations that DISH Network will continue to offer include:

• Fox: Fresno-Visalia Calif.; Lincoln, Neb.; Omaha, Neb.; Sioux City, Iowa; and Bakersfield, Calif.
• ABC: Lincoln, Neb.
• CBS: El Paso, Texas; and Sioux City, Iowa.
• CW: Fresno-Visalia, Calif.; Greensboro, N.C.; Omaha, Neb; Reno, Nev.; and Yakima, Wash.
• Azteca America: Houston, Texas; Los Angeles; San Francisco; and Sacramento.

About EchoStar Communications Corporation

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 12.755 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network™, 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 more than 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 1-800-333-DISH (3474).