DISH Brings Local Channels to Topeka, Kansas

[Chris Blount]

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2004--EchoStar Communications Corporation announced today that its DISH Network(TM) will offer local TV channels by satellite television to Topeka, Kan.

The following local TV channels will be available: ABC Ch. 49 (KTKA), CBS Ch. 13 (WIBW), FOX Ch. 43 (KTMJ), NBC Ch. 27 (KSNT) and PBS Ch. 11 (KTWU).

This is the first time local TV channels are available by satellite in Topeka, providing an alternative to local cable TV service. DISH Network now offers local channels as part of its new Digital Home Advantage. Starting at $29.99 per month, this promotion offers customers free installation for up to four TVs, with no commitment and no hardware to buy and includes more than 60 popular TV channels such as ESPN, Discovery and Nickelodeon, plus local Topeka TV channels.

DISH Network has frozen the lowest all digital TV price through January 2005. Customers can call DISH Network or a local satellite TV retailer to learn how to get a free multi-satellite dish antenna required to receive Topeka-area local channels. DISH Network also provides digital video recording technologies, high definition TV and international channels to the Topeka area.

"The availability of local channels on DISH Network gives TV viewers in the Topeka area an even more compelling reason to switch from cable," said Michael Schwimmer, senior vice president of Programming at EchoStar. "Customers who are fed up with the cable companies' outrageous rate increases now have access to local news, weather and sports via all-digital satellite TV -- only on DISH Network -- at a competitive price."

DISH Network offers local channels via satellite to 17 counties in the Topeka area: Brown, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Lyon, Marshall, Morris, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee and Washington counties.

With the addition of Topeka, DISH Network offers local channels in 114 cities and their metro areas, in 46 states nationwide, and in the District of Columbia.

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If you're an existing customer, you can't get a Superdish. New customers in Wichita can get one in less than a week but existing customers are put on a looooong waiting list. We've been on the list for five months, been slid back four times, and are currently scheduled for June.
The locals are NOT "available" to existing customers because Charlie is selling all the Superdishes to newbies and giving his loyal existing customers the shaft.
DirecTV 7S goes up in May on SeaLaunch. Anything's gotta be better than Ergen and his ethically challenged bunch.

[homeskillet]

I am an existing customer in Topeka and I called about 5 days ago and my SuperDISH is getting installed on April 21.

PS - I think D*7 was delayed again.