CES: New EchoStar “Dish Home” Offers Expanded iTV Features

Reprinted from a Dish Network press release:

LAS VEGAS, Jan 9, 2002 — EchoStar Communications Corporation and its DISH Network announced today at the 2002 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas the introduction of “dish home,” an interactive gateway that will begin offering DISH Network customers in 2002 four new interactive services via a satellite download. By entering through the new “dish home,” customers can enjoy movie reviews from Zap2it Entertainment Features, games from Playin’TV, Horoscope, and DISH Network Customer Support, offering instant information and entertainment enjoyment to enhance the satellite television experience.

These services will be available as an upgrade delivered via satellite to existing DISH Network customers with OpenTV enabled hardware models 4900, 3900, DishPro 301 and DishPVR 501 or 508 through 2002. All of these channels can be operated by simply using the remote control. [According to one DISH rep, subscribers should find the new channels on their sets at the end of February.–Editors]

The interactive services initially launching will include the following:

– “dish home” — Located at Channel 100, the “dish home” portal

acts as the entry point for all interactive channels. “dish

home” allows consumers to select and navigate to various

categories like News & Weather, Games, Lifestyles,

Entertainment and Customer Support.

– Zap2it Entertainment Features — A product of Tribune Media

Services (TMS), the Zap2it entertainment channel provides DISH

Network customers on-demand TV and movie information,

including movie reviews, program descriptions, and “Best Bets”

recommendations. Local theater information with show times and

locations is also available within the 36 cities served by

DISH Network with local TV channels.

– Playin’TV — Offered by Visiware, Playin’TV will provide

subscription-based multiple arcade, action, and children’s

games per month that can be played on the TV using a remote

control. The initial games will include Solitaire, Bowling, 3

Pointer basketball, Golf, and Carrot Mania. In the future,

customers will be able to network and compete with other

players and win prizes. Playin’TV will offer subscribers five

games rotated on a weekly basis for $4.99 per month. Customers

who choose not to subscribe will receive access to one free

game per month and the opportunity to play for free a portion

of each of the other four games available that month.

– DISH Network Customer Support — The Customer Support

interactive channel is a service designed to provide customers

with easy access to personalized programming and account

information, the capability to upgrade programming on-demand,

the ability to electronically make DISH Network subscription

payments using a remote control, and the opportunity to gain

further information about DISH Network through Frequently

Asked Questions.

– Horoscope — DISH Network subscribers will receive daily

horoscope readings based on the 12 signs of the zodiac for

their personal enjoyment.

– DISH Instant Weather — First offered in 2000, DISH Instant

Weather allows DISH Network subscribers to receive current and

5-day weather forecasts for over 900 U.S. cities, national

parks, ski resorts and destination locations. The weather data

is provided by Accuweather.