EchoStar Offers HD Basketball

[Gregg Lengling]

Greg Tarr
TWICE
3/26/2003 1:18:00 PM
   Littleton, Colo. - EchoStar Communications in association with CBS, will offer to eligible subscribers select National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Basketball Tournament games in HDTV on its DISH Network satellite service.

Providing blackout restrictions do not apply, customers with the necessary HDTV equipment will be able to view the games on CBS-HD East channel 9453 and CBS-HD West channel 9454 at no additional charge, EchoStar said.

Among customers eligible to receive the games will be those residing in the following 17 cities: Austin, TX; Baltimore, Boston, MA; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Greenbay, WI; Los Angeles; Marquette, Mich.; Miami, FL; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; and San Francisco.

Games will be televised beginning March 28 with two games from San Antonio; March 30 with one game from San Antonio; April 5 with 2 semi-final games from New Orleans; and April 7 with the National Championship game.

Meanwhile, EchoStar said it will carry two more NBA regular season games in high definition on DISH Network channel 9425, at 7:30 p.m. March 31 (Houston Rockets at N.J. Nets) and at 7 p.m. April 14 (New York Knicks at Washington Wizards).