Great Falls, VA, (June 14, 2004)- VMC Satellite, Inc. and Echostar Communications Corporation announced today that DISH Network(TM) has passed the 10 million customer milestone, maintaining DISH Network's status as the fastest growing pay television provider in the nation since 2000.

DISH Network reached this milestone in less than 99 months after activating its first subscriber in early March 1996, adding an average of more than 100,000 net new customers each month. In the last four years, DISH Network has added more than 6.3 million net new customers, more than all other satellite TV and cable companies combined during the same period.

DISH Network reached 1 million subscribers in December 1997 and passed the 9 million milestone just nine months ago. Today the company offers customers more than 500 channel choices, including more than 60 international channels in more than 25 languages, the most popular sports packages, the most requested HD programming, and local channels in 131 cities, representing more than 90 percent of all U.S. television households. DISH Network's accelerated growth has made it the fourth largest pay TV service in the nation.

Since the company's inception, DISH Network's innovative set-top box engineering has attracted industry-wide attention and captured the attention of DISH Network customers in record numbers. DISH Network recently introduced the first feature-rich digital video recorder (DVR) that records satellite-delivered high definition TV channels. DISH Network also developed the first DVR set-top box that provides the unique ability to record two shows simultaneously as well as allow for independent viewing of live satellite TV programming and recorded events on two or more televisions.

Rick Rahim, the CEO of www.vmcsatellite.com, was quoted as saying "We are proud to have been a large part of the effort to reach 10 million subscribers. VMC remains committed to promoting the best satellite TV offer in the United States today."

VMC Satellite, Inc. is the largest independently owned DISH Network/Echostar retailer. The company owns and operates more than 500 Internet domains, including www.satellite.com and www.vmcsatellite.com, the highest ranked satellite TV retailer website in the world. (Rankings can be obtained by visiting www.Alexa.com or www.marketleap.com.)

Visitors to www.vmcsatellite.com can receive FREE Installation of a DISH Network Satellite TV system with no equipment to buy. DISH Network currently offers over 256 channels of available programming using an all digital Television signal.

VMC Satellite, Inc. (www.vmcsatellite.com) is currently the largest privately held online satellite retailer and is the only company selected by the United States Government to install satellite TV service in Congress.