ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 1, 2006--EchoStar
Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) and its DISH Network satellite
service was forced by Lifetime Television to remove Lifetime and Lifetime
Movie Network from its satellite TV service.
DISH Network's contract with Lifetime expired Dec. 31, 2005. DISH
Network deeply regrets the disruption of service to customers, but prior
to the loss of Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime refused to offer an
extension for continued negotiations. Consequently, DISH Network was
legally prohibited from broadcasting Lifetime and Lifetime Movie Network.
Lifetime demanded an exorbitant price increase of 76 percent under the
contract term. If DISH Network capitulated to Lifetime's skyrocket
pricing, unreasonable rate increases for DISH Network customers would
result. Lifetime is also insisting DISH Network force consumers to pay for
a new channel with similar content to a channel already available on DISH
Network. In order to continue to bring customers the programming they want
at a fair price every month, DISH Network must say NO to Lifetime's
strong-arm tactics.
"While we are working hard to negotiate a fair contract with
Lifetime Television, we must also protect our customers from outrageous
rate increases," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming
at DISH Network. "We appreciate the relationship we have had with
Lifetime over the past 10 years and we hope they will reconsider their
position and return their channels to our customers."
Below is a copy of a letter posted Dec. 31, 2005, on
www.fairsatellite.com from DISH Network Chief Executive Officer Charlie
Ergen in response to inaccurate statements appearing on Lifetime
Television's website:
Louise Henry Bryson
President, Distribution and Affiliate Business
Development Lifetime Television
Dear Ms. Bryson:
The statements on your website with respect to our dispute are
inaccurate. Specifically, you claim that DISH Network violated our
contract by taking Lifetime Movie Network off the air. As you are
aware the agreement terminated December 31, 2005 and Lifetime
refused to offer any extension prior to DISH Network's loss of the
network today (the date of the contract expiration). We are
confident we have not breached the agreement and welcome the
disclosure to the public, any portion of the contract that
demonstrates DISH Network is in violation of our agreement.
In addition, Lifetime's final demand prior to our loss of the
network called for a 76% rate increase under the contract term.
DISH Network hereby waives any right to confidentiality which may
exist with respect to rates under our existing agreement and the
proposed rates under Lifetime's proposal so that the public can
judge for themselves. We challenge Lifetime to likewise agree to
the release of that information.
While DISH Network desires to make Lifetime programming available
to its customers, we also must protect our customers from
exorbitant rate increases. We have valued our relationship with
Lifetime Television over the past 10 years and we are hopeful that
we can work together to restore Lifetime programming to DISH
Network customers.
Sincerely,
Charlie Ergen
Chief Executive Officer
DISH Network
In the meantime, DISH Network is offering its customers a free preview
of Women's Entertainment Network (WE), a channel which provides similar
content to that on Lifetime.
For more information, visit www.fairsatellite.com.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) serves more than 11.7
million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), 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).
CONTACT:
EchoStar
Mark Cicero,
720-514-5065
mark.cicero@echostar.com
SOURCE: EchoStar Communications Corporation
