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For Immediate Release September 30, 2005
DISH NETWORK FIRST TO DELIVER ESPN
DEPORTES NATIONWIDE
Launch Pegged to NFL Telecast from Mexico
Sunday
BRISTOL, Conn., and ENGLEWOOD,
Colo. – Sept. 30, 2005 – ESPN Deportes, the
24-hour Spanish-language sports network, will be
available for the first time nationwide Sept. 30
via EchoStar Communications Corporation's
(NASDAQ: DISH) DISH Network satellite TV
service. The launch of ESPN Deportes will
coincide with the network's telecast of the
first NFL regular-season game held outside the
United States – Arizona Cardinals vs. San
Francisco 49ers – Sunday, Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET
from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. ESPN
Deportes will be available on DISH NETWORK
channel 854 to viewers who subscribe to the DISH
Latino channel package.
“The launch of ESPN Deportes gives our
Hispanic sports fans the content they crave from
ESPN, while reinforcing DISH Network's
commitment to provide the most compelling
content available to our subscribers,” said Eric
Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for
DISH Network.
“We are pleased that DISH Network subscribers
now have the opportunity to see ESPN Deportes
and its incredible line-up of Spanish-language
sports programming,” said Lino Garcia, general
manager of ESPN Deportes. “ESPN Deportes
demonstrates our commitment to serving Hispanic
sports fans with culturally relevant content,
and this is a great step forward to making the
network accessible to viewers nationwide.”
Former NFL kicker Raul Allegre will return to
his native country to provide analysis on the
telecast. He will be joined by Alvaro Martin,
one of ESPN's most experienced commentators.
John Sutcliffe and Georgina Ruiz Sandoval will
serve as sideline reporters. ESPN Deportes'
telecast team will also be joined by Fernando
Von Rossum, one of Mexico's most respected
announcers. He has served as an NFL announcer in
Mexico for more than 30 years.
ESPN Deportes Programming Highlights:
UEFA Champions League: Europe's most
important soccer club team championship
featuring the top clubs from across the
continent.
2006 World Cup Qualifiers: A series of
World Cup 2006 qualifying matches featuring top
European national teams including Italy,
Portugal, Holland and England.
Dominican Baseball League: Exclusive
telecast of the entire schedule of regular
season games, plus playoffs and the final
championship series.
MLB: Exclusive, national
Spanish-language coverage of Sunday, Monday and
Wednesday night games.
NBA: More than 60 regular season
games, as well as exclusive Spanish-language
coverage of the playoffs through to the
conference finals.
NFL: Exclusive Spanish-language
coverage of Sunday Night Football and the Pro
Bowl.
Liga Mexicana del Pacífico: Exclusive
coverage of Mexico's prestigious winter baseball
league.
Liga Mexicana de Béisbol: Exclusive
telecast rights to the entire schedule of
regular season games, plus playoffs and the
final championship series.
Boxeo de Campeones: Weekly boxing
series featuring up-and-coming Latin boxers.
Tennis: Top tournaments including
Grand Slam action from Wimbledon and the French
Open, as well as coverage of the Tennis Masters
Series.
PGA Tour: The top players battling it
out on the most prestigious golf tour in the
world.
NEWS, INFORMATION, AND STUDIO PROGRAMMING
SportsCenter: A completely original
version of SportsCenter, all in Spanish,
tailored to the interests of the U.S. Hispanic
sports fan.
Fútbol Picante: A live talk show
focused on the world of Mexican soccer,
featuring legend Daniel Brailovsky.
Cronómetro: ESPN Deportes sports news,
information and debate program modeled after
ESPN's critically acclaimed Pardon the
Interruption.
Béisbol Esta Noche: ESPN Deportes
baseball news, highlights and analysis program
modeled after ESPN's Emmy Award-winning Baseball
Tonight.
Fuera de Juego: International soccer
roundtable discussion show, featuring World Cup
legend Mario Kempes.
NFL Semanal: Studio program with
highlights, analysis, features and predictions
featuring Super Bowl-winning kicker Raul Allegre.
ESPN Perfiles: The network's signature
monthly magazine show that provides an in-depth
look into the lives of Latin American sports
stars.
RPM Semanal: Motor sports program with
highlights, interviews and insider news with an
emphasis on Latino drivers.
ESPN Deportes affiliates serve many of the
largest U.S. Hispanic markets including Los
Angeles, New York, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale,
Houston, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, San Antonio,
San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego and Denver.
The network is also available in Puerto Rico.
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.comor call 1-800-333-DISH
(3474).
About ESPN Inc.
ESPN, Inc. is the world's leading
multinational, multimedia sports entertainment
company featuring a portfolio of over 50
multimedia sports assets. The company is
comprised of seven domestic television networks
(ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN
Deportes, ESPNU, ESPN Today), ESPN and ESPN2 HD
simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television,
ESPN International (networks, syndication,
radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN
The Magazine, SportsTicker, ESPN Enterprises,
ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and
other growing new businesses including ESPN360
(Broadband), ESPN Mobile, ESPN on Demand, ESPN
Interactive and ESPN PPV. Based in Bristol, Ct.,
ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is
an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney
Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20
percent interest in ESPN.
ESPN Media Contacts:
Katina Arnold – 860-766-7463 –
katina.arnold@espn.com
Santa Brito – 212-456-0252 –
santa.brito@espn.com
EchoStar's DISH Network Media Contact:
Francie Bauer – 720-514-5351 –
press@echostar.com
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