Great Falls, VA, (August 18, 2004)- VMC Satellite, Inc. and Echostar Communications Corporation announced today that DISH Network, the fastest growing multichannel TV provider in the last four years, has been ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction among satellite and cable TV subscribers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Syndicated Cable/Satellite TV Customer Satisfaction Study.

This marks the third time in six years that DISH Network has received the J.D. Power and Associates No. 1 ranking. DISH Network received the highest score (725 out of 1,000 points) in the 2004 J.D. Power and Associates study. The average for cable and satellite TV providers tracked in the study was 664 points. This year's J.D. Power and Associates study is based on responses from 8,668 satellite TV and cable households nationwide.

"DISH Network's No. 1 ranking from J.D. Power and Associates shows that DISH Network, the home of the lowest all digital price in America, provides the best customer service and the best value in the satellite TV business," said Rick Rahim, CEO of VMC Satellite. "Through DISH Network, we now offer local channels to more than 90 percent of U.S. TV households in over 140 markets. Our award-winning digital video recorders let you pause, rewind and record live TV so you can watch what you want, when you want. Plus, we offer this equipment to our customers for FREE, while others charge customers to purchase this equipment. The J.D. Power award underscores that DISH Network is the perfect alternative to cable TV's high prices and poor customer service."

The J.D. Power and Associates study ranked DISH Network highest in the areas of billing, cost of service, and promotions and offerings.

In June, DISH Network was also ranked number one in customer satisfaction in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) study conducted by the University of Michigan Business School. The study ranked DISH Network well above all cable companies, which on average scored lower than the Internal Revenue Service.

J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction.

VMC Satellite, Inc. is the largest independently owned DISH Network/Echostar retailer. The company owns and operates more than 800 Internet domains, including www.satellite.com and www.vmcsatellite.com, the highest ranked satellite TV retailer website in the world. In addition, VMC Satellite boasts a global sales force of over 97,000 affiliate marketers and has generated approximately 100 million hits to its website.

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.