EchoStar Receives FCC Approval to Relocate EchoStar IV Satellite to 110 Degrees W.L. Orbital Slot
Satellite Move Allows EchoStar to Launch Multitude of NewChannels This Summer
EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH, DISHP) announced today that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted EchoStar a Special Temporary Authority to relocate the EchoStar IV satellite from the 148 degrees West Longitude orbital location to 110 degrees W.L., giving EchoStar the ability to begin broadcasting a multitude of new channels to DISH Network customers this summer, including more DISH-On-Demand pay-per-view movies, additional premium movie services and improved satellite programming packages.
As previously announced, the FCC approved the transfer from MCI
WorldCom to EchoStar the license to operate a high-powered direct
broadcast satellite business at the 110 degrees W.L. orbital location.
The FCC granted EchoStar the temporary authority to operate the
EchoStar IV satellite over channels 1 - 31 (odd) and 2 - 26 (even) at
the 110 degrees orbital location.
EchoStar requested the Special Temporary Authority to begin
providing expanded services to DISH Network customers this summer in
advance of the late summer launch of the EchoStar V satellite into the
110 degrees W.L. slot. Once EchoStar V is operational, EchoStar IV
will be moved back to the 148 degrees W.L. position to continue
offering local and niche channels.
The programming currently broadcast from EchoStar IV will be
broadcast from the EchoStar I and EchoStar II satellites at the 119
degrees W.L. position, enabling more consumers to enjoy that
programming. There will be no interruption of service to consumers
subscribing to those services.
EchoStar V, in addition to EchoStar's two satellites at the 119
degrees W.L. position, will give DISH Network the satellite capacity
to broadcast over 500 channels to U.S. customers on a single dish,
including local television channels. DISH Network will also provide
HDTV and additional international services by the end of 1999.
--30--djm/dx* CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corp. Judianne Atencio, 303/723-2010 judianne.atencio@echostar.com or Marc Lumpkin, 303/723-2020 marc.lumpkin@echostar.com