Dish Network 2000 Annual Report Download - page 5

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3
package for $39.99 per month and during August 2000, we introduced our America’s “Everything” Pak, which
combines our America’s Top 150 programming package and all four premium movie packages for $69.99 per
month. We believe that these expanded offerings will help us increase our average revenue per subscriber.
For an additional $4.99 per month, we can add satellite-delivered major local network channels to any of
the above packages for consumers in 34 of the largest markets in the continental United States. EchoStar VII and
EchoStar VIII will be equipped with spot-beam technology that, even with the imposition of “must carry”
requirements, will allow us to offer local channels to more than 30 major markets across the United States without
reducing our current national programming offerings.
We currently offer four premium movie packages which include up to ten movie channels per package.
Currently consumers can subscribe to a single premium movie package including ten movie channels for only
$10.99 per month. We believe we offer more premium movie channels than cable at a comparable price.
Currently we offer more than 50 foreign-language channels including Spanish, Arabic, French, Hindi,
Russian, Greek and others. We also offer foreign-language programming packages. For example, we believe that
our “DISH Latino” package, which includes more than 20 Spanish-language programming channels for $19.99 per
month, is the most complete Spanish-language package available in the United States. In addition, during October
2000 we introduced “DISH Latino Dos”, our bilingual programming package, which includes more than 20 English
and more than 20 Spanish-language programming channels for $30.99 per month. We believe we deliver the most
popular foreign-language programming to customers in the United States at the best value. We also believe foreign-
language programming is a valuable niche product that attracts a number of new subscribers who are unable to get
similar programming elsewhere.
Internet and High-Speed Data Services. We are expanding our offerings to include interactive, Internet and
high-speed data services. During the first half of 2001, we intend to offer DISH Network customers an interactive
digital receiver with a built-in hard disk drive that will permit viewers to pause and record live programs without the
need for video tape. We also intend to offer set-top boxes with a wide variety of innovative interactive television
services and applications.
Through our strategic investment in StarBand Communications (formerly Gilat-To-Home), we began
offering consumers two-way, high-speed satellite Internet access along with DISH Network satellite television
programming via a single dish in November 2000. We believe this technology is particularly well-suited for areas
without cable or DSL infrastructure. Two-way satellite service offers significant benefits for consumers, including a
persistent or “always on” connection that saves time over dial-up methods and eliminates the need for a second
phone line. DISH Network customers will need an oblong dish, approximately 24 inches by 36 inches, and other
equipment to take advantage of two-way Internet satellite service. We currently offer consumers a complete
hardware and services solution for broadband Internet access combined with DISH Network programming. For new
customers who subscribe to a qualifying DISH Network programming package and commit to one year of StarBand
Internet service, the StarBand hardware is currently offered for $449 and a standard professional installation starts at
$199. We currently offer a bundled price of $99.99 per month for customers who subscribe to both DISH
Network’s America's Top 150 programming package and the StarBand Internet service.
In March 2000, we invested $50 million for a less than 20% interest in Wildblue Communications
(formerly iSky, Inc.), a company that expects to offer high-speed data services at rates of up to 1.5 Mbps, beginning
in mid-2002, to customers throughout the continental U.S. We have signed an agreement whereby we may jointly
develop a single receiver which will allow a customer to receive both DISH Network video programming and
Wildblue Internet access. We are also seeking additional ways to expand our Internet and high-speed data services
that may include, but are not limited to, partnerships with third parties who have particular expertise in the high
speed transmission of digital information. Although there can be no assurance, we believe we will be able to
increase our subscriber base and our average revenue per subscriber by offering these and other similar services.