DISH Network to Build Technology
Trailer and is First Advertiser
to Implement ICON Across All Media Platforms
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & BRISTOL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15,
2007--ESPN and EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) and
its DISH Network(TM) today announced a multi-year, multimedia agreement
for NASCAR on ESPN.
The agreement consists of media in all NASCAR races on ABC, ESPN,
ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes; exposure on ESPN audio and in ESPN The
Magazine; a SportsCenter weekly sponsored NASCAR report; a custom
promotion on ESPN.com; and six in-car cameras per season to be featured
within the Busch Series. The highlight of the agreement is a
custom-built, state-of-the-art DISH Network technology trailer dubbed
"ESPN's DISH Tech Center."
The ESPN's DISH Tech Center will travel to all of ESPN's NEXTEL Cup
and Busch Series races, and will be utilized by ESPN's production and
talent for content segments to air during all of ESPN's NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup and Busch Series races. The technology trailer will also be used
throughout a broad range of ESPN's leading non-television media
platforms.
DISH Network will also receive association with a technology-based
ICON that includes exposures both in-race and across ESPN's multimedia
platforms.
"Our agreement with ESPN is an exciting way for us to capitalize on
our sponsorship of Roush Racing, and expand our relationship with NASCAR
and its fans," said Carl Vogel, president and vice chairman of EchoStar.
"We see this as a great opportunity to reinforce DISH Network's position
as a top pay-TV provider that offers choice programming and services
including cutting-edge DVR technology."
"We work with our customers to break through the clutter and reach
fans wherever they consume sports," said Ed Erhardt, president of ESPN
Customer Marketing and Sales. "The ICON strategy and our joint
development of the tech trailer are good examples of creating innovative
ways to help better explain the sport to both current NASCAR fans and
new ones, as well as further integrating and aligning an advertiser into
our coverage of the race and into a sport that is so passionately
followed."
ESPN and ESPN on ABC will have comprehensive, multi-platform coverage
that features telecasts of the final 17 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races,
including the 10-race "Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup" championship on
ESPN on ABC. Additionally, ESPN2 will be the home of the NASCAR Busch
Series all season. For the first time in the history of televised
motorsports, all programming will be produced entirely in high
definition.
ESPN has aired 262 NASCAR Cup Races over a 20-year period starting in
1981. The network's award-winning, live flag-to-flag coverage was
honored with 17 Sports Emmy Awards, as well as many industry honors. It
is widely credited for helping to popularize the sport nationwide.
NASCAR races have appeared on ABC for decades, beginning with broadcasts
on the award-winning "Wide World of Sports" program in the 1960s.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) serves more than
13 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), the
fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000. 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 300 company. Visit EchoStar's Web site at
www.echostar.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).
About ESPN ABC Sports Sales
ESPN ABC Sports Customer Marketing and Sales, the sports sales and
marketing arm of The Walt Disney Company, is the world's leading
integrated sports marketing, media entity. The company represents an
unparalleled collection of multimedia sports assets and leads the
industry in developing specialized programs designed to drive clients'
marketing goals and initiatives.
CONTACT: EchoStar/DISH Network
Francie Bauer, 720-514-5839
francie.bauer@echostar.com
or
ESPN
Alison Lazar, 212-456-0226
alison.lazar@espn.com
George McNeilly, 407-566-2077
george.mcneilly@espn.com
SOURCE: EchoStar Communications Corporation
