SOURCE: EchoStar Corporation

November 24, 2008 03:00 ET

Cyfrowy Polsat Launches EchoStar Europe's High Definition STBs

EchoStar Europe Partners With Cyfrowy Polsat, the Largest Polish Satellite TV Service, to Supply Advanced, High Definition Television Set-Top Boxes to Enable the Delivery of High Quality, Digital Entertainment Services to Polish Consumers

STEETON, UK--(Marketwire - November 24, 2008) - EchoStar Europe (www.echostareurope.com), a leading innovator and supplier of beyond the box, added-value technologies, applications and connected device solutions to the digital television industry, announced that its advanced, high definition (HD) set-top box (STB) has been introduced by Cyfrowy Polsat (www.cyfrowypolsat.pl), the largest Polish satellite television platform serving 2.4 million subscribers in Poland. The launch of the DBS-7100HD product enriches the digital satellite TV operator's offer of HDTV services and is a testament to the strong working relationship forged between EchoStar Europe and Cyfrowy Polsat.

"We are delighted that Cyfrowy Polsat selected EchoStar Europe to supply high definition set-top boxes to meet the increased consumer demand for its HDTV service," commented Rick Smith, Vice President Sales and Marketing EMEA, EchoStar Europe. "We have a well established relationship with Cyfrowy Polsat supporting them with their continued roll-out of digital services, especially advanced, high quality HD programming. We believe that Cyfrowy Polsat is extremely well placed to meet consumer requirements and look forward to supporting the platform with added-value technologies in line with their service and business development plans."

The DBS-7100HD is an advanced STB designed to provide consumers with reception of HD digital television services offering one of the highest levels of video resolution. The unit is equipped with the latest, single-chip silicon solution and has the connectivity required to be placed at the focal point of a consumer's digital entertainment centre. Features include HDMI™ connectivity for a high quality connection to flat screen HD-enabled TV sets, Ethernet port for future-upgrade to a high speed, broadband return channel for the delivery of advanced, value-added services, and Dolby® Digital loop-through for delivery of high quality sound to a home cinema system. As part of EchoStar Europe's commitment to lowering an operator's network overhead and optimising Average Revenue Per Unit (ARPU), the product platform is compatible with the company's latest, advanced STB remote diagnostics system to optimise network efficiency.

"We are already very pleased with the development of our HD services," said Dariusz Dzia³kowski, CTO, Cyfrowy Polsat S.A. "However, in order to remain competitive in the Polish market, we need to be in a position to offer consumers a swift and cost effective migration path to more advanced services. EchoStar Europe continues to support us in achieving this goal with advanced, value-added technology. We have recently strengthened our HD services portfolio and believe that this will be an incentive for customers to upgrade their service subscriptions."

About EchoStar Europe

EchoStar Europe (www.echostareurope.com) is dedicated to enabling cable, IPTV, satellite and terrestrial television operators to optimise network revenues by delivering added value, beyond the box technology, services and applications. Through a comprehensive product range including set-top boxes, digital video recorders and home networking technology, our solutions facilitate the provision of state-of-the-art and cost effective entertainment services.

EchoStar Europe combines engineering, VIP account management, supply chain, manufacturing and customer service into one dedicated and experienced operation to provide customers with competitive business strategies, practices and reduced product and operational costs. EchoStar Europe is headquartered in Steeton, UK with European-based operations in Almelo, Holland; Kharkov, Ukraine; and Madrid, Spain.

EchoStar Europe is a business unit of EchoStar Technologies L.L.C. (www.echostar.com), an operating entity of the publicly traded EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS).

EchoStar Europe. Go beyond the box.

About Cyfrowy Polsat

Cyfrowy Polsat (www.cyfrowypolsat.pl) is the largest, per subscriber number, paid DTH satellite platform in Poland. As at the end of September 2008, Cyfrowy Polsat had a total of 2.4m subscribers, i.e. about 42% more than in the comparable period of 2007.

Cyfrowy Polsat enables its subscribers reception of 72 Polish language channels, including film, sports, music, entertainment, news, education, and children's channels. In order to meet expectations of subscribers, it broadcasts High Definition TV. Viewers currently have access to four HD channels -- Polsat Sport HD, HBO HD, Eurosport HD and MTVNHD.

Cyfrowy Polsat is the first European satellite digital TV provider who offered a recording and pausing-enabled, set-top box DVR. In November 2007, it launched its own production of set top boxes launching a modern digital set top box with exceptionally small size -- the Mini. Using a strong brand and large subscriber base, on 8 September 2008 the platform began providing telecommunication services as MVNO.

Since 6 May 2008, the company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Polaris Finance is the largest shareholder of Cyfrowy Polsat, which holds 65.23% of shares. The Company has significantly improved its financial results. In Q3 2008 consolidated revenues were PLN 290.6m, or 46.3% more compared to corresponding period of last year. The EBITDA (operating profit increased by depreciation) increased in the period by 72.9% to PLN 109m, and the net profit totaled PLN 84.2m, or about 85.8% more than in previous year.

HDMI, the HDMI Logo and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.