LITTLETON,
Colo., Feb 7, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- EchoStar Communications
Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) announced today that it has reached a joint
sublicensing agreement with the Asian Television Network International
Limited (ATN) and Viewer's Choice Canada for the broadcast of the 2003
Cricket World Cup through Canadian cable and satellite television
providers.
EchoStar is the exclusive distributor for the International Cricket
Counsel's (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2003 via television, radio and the
Internet to countries within North, Central and South America. Terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.
ATN, a South Asian programmer in Canada, and Viewer's Choice Canada,
a pay-per-view distributor for many cable and satellite operators across
Canada, have together acquired rights to distribute 25 of the 54 matches
of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 via Canadian cable and satellite
television providers. All 25 matches will be shown live from South
Africa. ATN will also broadcast a 30-minute daily highlight show of the
ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 on a 24-hour delay.
"EchoStar is pleased to have reached a sublicensing agreement
with ATN and Viewer's Choice Canada, allowing for the television
distribution of the Cricket World Cup to cricket fans across
Canada," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of
Programming at EchoStar. "The Cricket World Cup is an important and
popular international event which is closely followed by people who
immigrate from cricketing nations to the west, especially those living
in Canada."
"ATN is delighted to be partnering with pioneers such as
EchoStar and Viewer's Choice Canada in bringing the 2003 World Cup
Cricket to Canadians," said Shan Chandrasekar, president and CEO of
ATN. "While the games will be live on pay-per-view across Canada,
ATN is excited to be featuring a daily highlights show of the
action."
"There are many cricket lovers in Canada, and we are thrilled to
be providing Canadians with the national pay-per-view broadcast of over
20 games of the Cricket World Cup live from South Africa," said
Holly Chapman, manager of Event Marketing and Programming for Viewer's
Choice Canada. "And we are especially excited to be cheering on our
Canadian team in this year's World Cup."
This 2003 Cricket World Cup will include the teams of Australia,
Canada, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, West Indies, New Zealand, England,
Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Kenya, Namibia, Netherlands and host South Africa.
Other broadcasters include Rupavhini in Sri Lanka, Sky Sports in the
United Kingdom, Pakistan TV in Pakistan, SABC in South Africa, BTV in
Bangladesh, Sky Sports in New Zealand, Fox Sports in Australia and Sony
Max in India.
EchoStar's DISH Network will exclusively broadcast the World Cup in
the United States.
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) and its DISH
Network(TM) is a U.S. leader in offering satellite television
entertainment services to more than 8 million customers. DISH Network
provides advanced digital satellite television services to the home,
including hundreds of video, audio and data channels, personal video
recording, HDTV, international programming, professional installation
and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100
Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network
at www.dishnetwork.com.
About Asian Television Network International Limited
Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) is Canada's
largest South Asian Broadcaster with four digital specialty channels in
operation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ATN has won eight digital
licenses from the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunication
Commission (CRTC) for broadcasting to Canada's multicultural
communities. In 1987, ATN was the first to bring the World Cup Cricket
live via satellite to Canada and has since then been an ardent supporter
of the game in Canada. The viewers of ATN include thousands of cricket
fans from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, East
Africa, South Africa, the U.K. and the West Indies, where cricket is the
national sport. ATN is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto
Venture Exchange, TSX, with the symbol YTN. For more information on ATN,
visit www.asiantelevision.com or telephone Carol Lynn at 905/836-6460.
About Viewer's Choice Canada
Viewer's Choice Canada offers convenient, commercial-free, in-home
viewing of hit movies, live championship sporting events, concerts and
many other special events on an a la carte basis across Eastern Canada.
Viewer's Choice Pay-Per-View offers 46 channels of near video-on-demand
programming available 24 hours a day. Viewer's Choice Canada Inc. is an
Astral Media pay-per-view network (50.1%); Rogers Pay Per View Inc.
(24.95%); and NetStar Communications Inc. (24.95%).
About ICC/IDI
The International Cricket Council (ICC) represents all cricket
playing nations around the world. Its primary role is to administer the
game and oversee its development and expansion. The ICC organizes
various events each year under its banner. The premier event is the ICC
World Cup which is held every four years. In addition, there is the
Under 19 World Cup (held every two years), the ICC Champions Trophy
(every two years) and the ICC Trophy.
About the 2003 World Cup of Cricket
The ICC World Cup features teams from all 10 major cricket playing
nations plus Kenya (which has been given International One Day status)
plus the top three teams from the "associate" countries (those
who do not have full One Day International status). These teams qualify
through the ICC Trophy tournament. The World Cup was first held in the
U.K. in 1975. In the ensuing years, it has been held in Australia and
countries on the sub continent. The 2003 World Cup of Cricket will be
held in South Africa for the first time starting in February this year.
The tournament will consist of 54 games.