• March 11, 2004

Viacom and EchoStar Communications Corp. this morning announced that they have reached a long-term, multi-channel agreement that provides for the satellite TV distribution ensuring the resumption of carriage of Viacom's CBS, BET, and the MTV Networks channels on EchoStar's DISH Network. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the multi-year deal restores full service of CBS in 16 markets as well as Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Nickelodeon, Noggin, GAS, VH1, VH1 Classic, MTV Espanol and BET in all markets. Additionally, the agreement extends the term of the carriage for CBS HD (East and West) channels, as well as Spike TV, CMT and TV Land. DISH Network will also launch Nicktoons on its America's Top 180 package this spring. As part of the agreement, Viacom and DISH Network have settled all litigation between the two companies.