More MPEG2 in the sky................
EchoStar III Ready to Launch
ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 1997--EchoStar Communications Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH) announced today that its EchoStar III satellite will be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, on Sunday, Oct. 5, 1997.
The satellite will be launched from Complex 36B at the opening of a 40-minute launch window that extends from 5:01 to 5:41 p.m. EDT. The satellite, an A2100 design built by Lockheed Martin, will be put into geosynchronous transfer orbit by an Atlas IIAS launch vehicle, designated AC-135 for the EchoStar III mission.
The launch will be broadcast live on satellite GE-1, transponder 13, C-Band.
"Everyone at EchoStar is eagerly anticipating the launch of EchoStar III, and we are excited about the expanded capabilities we will be able to provide our customers," said Charlie Ergen, chief executive officer and chairman, EchoStar Communications Corp. "The launch of this satellite will further solidify DBS service as the better television programming option over cable."
The DISH Network currently serves over 820,000 customers, which represents additions of 105,000 and 230,000 customers for the month and quarter ended Sept. 30, 1997, respectively. The quarterly additions represent a 200% increase as compared to the same period of the previous year.
EchoStar I and II currently provide television programming offered by the DISH Network(TM) to subscribers in the United States. The activation of EchoStar III will complement this programming by expanding international, educational and business programming, together with data delivery and possible retransmission of local channels to select markets.
EchoStar III is equipped with 32 transponders operating at 120 watts per channel. The satellite will orbit at 61.5 degrees West Longitude, where EchoStar is authorized up to 11 frequencies.
EchoStar, headquartered in Englewood, is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of satellite television products and the only U.S. provider of state-of-the-art fully MPEG-2/DVB-compliant satellite television systems. The company is a single, convenient source for equipment distribution, sales, installation and service, consumer financing, and programming distribution. EchoStar is also widely recognized in the satellite industry for its advanced research and development activities.
EchoStar plans to further enhance its spectrum of services by the launching of EchoStar IV in the first quarter 1998, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan.
DISH (Digital Sky Highway) Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corp. DISH Network is located on the Internet at: dishnetwork.com .
CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corp., Englewood
Judianne Atencio, 303/706-5112
e-mail: judianne.atencio@echostar.com
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