Seven Football Fanatics Watch 70 Hours of Nonstop TV

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) and its DISH Network™ satellite TV service today announced that seven of eight contestants selected to compete in the DISH Network Ultimate Football Fan Contest have unofficially set a new Guinness World Record for watching TV the longest. If substantiated by Guinness World Record officials, the new record will be 70 hours.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the other guys in Hawaii.”

Eight fans from rival football teams began watching TV on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 11:07 a.m. at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver. Their ultimate goal: to attempt to break the current Guinness World Record for watching TV the longest – set at 69 hours and 48 minutes – and earn a trip to the 2007 Pro Bowl in Hawaii, courtesy of NFL Network. But in an unexpected show of camaraderie, teamwork and good sportsmanship, seven contestants formed an alliance halfway through the event to help fend off sleep so they could break the record together.

“We decided early on that we could all work together to break the record, so we set aside our personal goals to join in this pact so everyone would turn out a winner,” said Dallas’ Ultimate Football Fan Chris Chambers. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the other guys in Hawaii.”

The contestants were seated shoulder-to-shoulder in La-Z-Boy recliners watching non-stop football broadcast on flat-screen HDTVs. Charlotte’s Ultimate Fan, John Dickson “Trey” McMillan III, elected to be the first one to voluntarily exit the contest. As the hours passed and fatigue set in, the remaining seven somehow found a way to put aside long-standing team rivalries so they could encourage each other to go the distance. Shortly after surpassing the current record at 8:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, the seven remaining contestants held on until 9:07 a.m. – a full 70 hours – before looking away from their TVs at exactly the same time.

This show of solidarity inspired DISH Network to award all seven contestants a trip to the 2007 Pro Bowl. “These seven fans epitomize the very spirit of what football is all about – teamwork, fortitude and mental toughness,” said Jody Martin, senior vice president of marketing for DISH Network.

All eight contestants who participated in the event will take home the La-Z-Boy recliner they sat in for three days, a 37-inch Akai HDTV from Radio Shack, a DISH Network HD receiver and DishHD programming for a year.

DISH Network’s Ultimate Football Fans and potential Guinness World Record holders

Cleveland’s Ultimate Football Fan, Leo Walsh

Dallas’ Ultimate Football Fan, Chris Chambers

Denver’s Ultimate Football Fan, Cameron Bosson

Green Bay’s Ultimate Football Fan, Randy O’Brion

Indianapolis’ Ultimate Football Fan, Ray Bridges

Kansas City’s Ultimate Football Fan, Ty Rowton

St. Louis’ Ultimate Football Fan, Steven Barton

DISH Network Ultimate Football Fan Participant

Charlotte’s Ultimate Football Fan, John Dickson “Trey” McMillan III

The DISH Network Ultimate Football Fan Contest was sponsored by DISH Network, La-Z-Boy, Radio Shack and the Wynkoop Brewing Company. For more information on DISH Network, call 1-800-333-DISH (3474), visit www.dishnetwork.com, or visit your local DISH Network retailer.

About EchoStar Communications

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:DISH) serves more than 12.46 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network™, the fastest growing U.S. provider of advanced digital television services in the last five years. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. Visit EchoStar's DISH Network at www.dishnetwork.com or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474).