DISH Network® and LIN TV Reach Retransmission and Marketing Agreement

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. & PROVIDENCE, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), the leader in digital television and the nation’s third largest pay-TV provider, and LIN TV Corp. (NYSE: TVL), a local television and digital media company, today announced they have entered into an agreement for the retransmission of LIN TV’s broadcast stations in both standard and high-definition. The deal covers television stations owned and/or operated by LIN TV spanning 17 markets.

The retransmission agreement includes: KASA-TV and KRQE-TV (Albuquerque); KXAN-TV and KNVA-TV (Austin); WIVB-TV and WNLO-TV (Buffalo); WWHO-TV (Columbus); WDTN-TV (Dayton); WANE-TV (Ft. Wayne); WOOD-TV and WOTV-TV (Grand Rapids); WLUK-TV (Green Bay); WTNH-TV and WCTX-TV (Hartford-New Haven); WISH-TV and WNDY-TV (Indianapolis); WLFI-TV (Lafayette); WALA-TV and WBPG-TV (Mobile); WAVY-TV and WVBT-TV (Norfolk); WPRI-TV and WNAC-TV (Providence); WWLP-TV (Springfield); WTHI-TV (Terre Haute) and WUPW-TV (Toledo).

In addition, DISH Network and LIN TV have reached a new marketing and promotional agreement to encourage consumers to switch to DISH Network if LIN TV’s local station signal is removed from a cable system. The parties will jointly market LIN TV’s availability on DISH Network so viewers will have the opportunity to continue watching their favorite local news and programming.

Other details include an agreement to build awareness of the upcoming digital transition. DISH Network and LIN TV will work together to educate consumers about the February 17, 2009 switch by providing information about transition requirements and digital-to-analog converter boxes. DISH Network offers a government coupon-eligible digital-to-analog converter box that retails at $39.99 and is essentially free to consumers with the coupon.

“This multi-faceted agreement with DISH Network confirms our desire to deliver high-quality digital programming to all our viewers and to find creative ways to promote the digital transition. It ensures that our viewers will always have an alternative means of accessing the most important channels on television,” said Vincent L. Sadusky, president and chief executive officer of LIN TV Corp. “Our mutually acceptable economic agreement with DISH Network reflects the value of broadcast television on multi-channel television providers.”

“We are pleased that we were able to come to an agreement with LIN TV, both to retransmit their signals and to enhance our marketing capabilities,” said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of programming for DISH Network. “We are excited to have a local network broadcast partner that we can work with to build awareness about the important upcoming digital transition.”

“We are committed to leading the digital transition across the country, and this relationship is a big part of that commitment to consumers,” said DISH Network senior vice president and chief marketing officer Jessica Insalaco. “DISH Network customers will be supported with ongoing carriage of popular LIN TV stations in local markets and with 100 percent digital programming and transmission throughout the transition period. If you have DISH Network, you will always be on the cutting edge of all things digital.”

Cable customers who are affected by future channel retransmission disputes in LIN TV markets and who wish to switch to DISH Network should call 1-888-DISH-950 to sign up.

About LIN TV

LIN TV Corp., along with its subsidiaries (“LIN TV” or “the Company”), is a local television and digital media company, owning and/or operating 29 television stations in 17 U.S. markets, all of which are affiliated with a national broadcast network. LIN TV’s highly-rated stations deliver important local news and community stories, along with top-rated sports and entertainment programming, to 9% of U.S. television homes, reaching an average of 10.2 million households per week. LIN TV is also a leader in the convergence of local broadcast television and the Internet through its television station web sites and a growing number of local online innovations. LIN TV is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TVL”. Financial information about the company is available at www.lintv.com.

About DISH Network Corporation

DISH Network Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) provides more than 13.78 million satellite TV customers with industry-leading customer satisfaction, which has surpassed major cable companies for seven years running. DISH Network customers also enjoy access to a premier line of award-winning Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), hundreds of video and audio channels, the most International channels in the U.S., industry-leading Interactive TV applications, Latino programming, and the best sports and movies in HD. DISH Network offers a variety of package and price options including the lowest all-digital price in America, the DishDVR Advantage Package, high-speed Internet service, and a free upgrade to the best HD DVR in the industry. DISH Network is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit www.dishnetwork.com/aboutus or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.