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DISH Network Provides 81 Shelters With
Free TV
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (Sept. 16, 2005) - DISH
Network has installed its satellite TV service
at 81 evacuee shelters across the country,
providing crucial communication to more than
42,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina.
As of today, DISH Network has established its
free TV service in relief shelters including the
D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C.; Kelly Air Force
Base in San Antonio; the Red Cross Southeast
headquarters in Meridian, Miss.; Lowry Air Force
Base in Denver; BancorpSouth Center in Tupelo,
Miss.; the Tinley Park Mental Health Association
in Chicago; the Civic Center in Birmingham,
Ala.; the Utah Army National Guard at Camp
Williams, Utah; and Fort Custer Army Base in
Augusta, Mich.
DISH Network will also be broadcasting the
Katrina Information Network (KIN) on Ch. 206,
free of charge to all DISH Network customers
during the hurricane recovery period. As the
channel develops, viewers will have access to a
variety of information relating to the disaster,
including key telephone numbers, a survivor list
to help victims find their loved ones, as well
as other updates provided by hurricane relief
agencies.
"We hope DISH Network's KIN and its
up-to-date hurricane-related news can help keep
the hurricane victims informed about
developments affecting them personally," said
Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming
for EchoStar Communications Corporation, the
company that operates DISH Network. "And, if the
rest of DISH Network's programming can help to
raise morale among the evacuees, that's a
bonus."
DISH Network has already begun helping
hurricane victims re-establish satellite TV
service, and in many cases customers who
retained power also retained uninterrupted
satellite TV service. Thousands of consumers are
discovering that satellite TV is the only way to
stay connected to the dozens of news, weather,
sports and entertainment channels to which they
have become accustomed.
DISH Network has mobilized hundreds of
technicians nationally to establish satellite TV
service for shelters and for customers within
the disaster area.
By watching DISH Network at the shelters,
many evacuees have become aware for the first
time of the national impact of the hurricane
damage.
DISH Network Business Solutions, a division
of DISH Network, has also agreed with Clear
Channel Communications, Inc. to provide Clear
Channel's Baton Rouge FM radio signals to New
Orleans stations.
EchoStar has established an employee matching
fundraising program for the American Red Cross.
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:
DISH) serves more than 11.4 million satellite TV
customers through its DISH Network , 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:
Steve Caulk
720-514-5351
press@echostar.com |