DIRECTV and EchoStar Applaud Ohio Tax Decision
El Segundo, Calif. and Englewood, Colo. – October 17, 2007 – DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE
TV) and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQISH) today issued the following statement in response to a ruling made in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County:
“DIRECTV and EchoStar applaud Ohio Judge Daniel Hogan’s ruling today that a discriminatory sales tax on satellite TV subscribers violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause.
The sales tax, enacted by the Ohio General Assembly at the request of the cable industry, applied only to satellite TV subscribers. The Judge ruled the tax was discriminatory and unconstitutional because it undermined free and fair commerce between the States.
EchoStar and DIRECTV have long said that taxing satellite subscribers more than cable subscribers is illogical and unconstitutional, and that this discrimination is unfair because no group of consumers should be singled out for a heavier tax burden based solely on what technology they use, particularly when they are predominantly rural or price-sensitive.
Judge Hogan is not alone in his conclusions. U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), with Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, recently introduced the State Video Tax Fairness Act of 2007, which would prohibit States from taxing any pay-TV service differently from the others. A wide range of public interest groups, from Consumers Union to the National Taxpayers Union, support the measure.
With this ruling and the measures introduced in the House, the tide is turning against sales taxes that discriminate against satellite TV subscribers. We believe State legislatures should heed Judge Hogan, Chairman Conyers, and an increasing number of public officials, and eliminate discriminatory sales taxes for good.”
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16.3 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(R). DIRECTV (NYSETV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US OPEN Interactive and YES Network Interactive, and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.
About EchoStar Communications Corporation
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) has been a leader for more than 27 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. The Company’s DISH Network® is the fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000, providing more than 13.585 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, a free upgrade to the best HD DVR in the industry, and six months free of DishHD. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit EchoStar Communications Corporation or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.
El Segundo, Calif. and Englewood, Colo. – October 17, 2007 – DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE
TV) and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQISH) today issued the following statement in response to a ruling made in the Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County:“DIRECTV and EchoStar applaud Ohio Judge Daniel Hogan’s ruling today that a discriminatory sales tax on satellite TV subscribers violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause.
The sales tax, enacted by the Ohio General Assembly at the request of the cable industry, applied only to satellite TV subscribers. The Judge ruled the tax was discriminatory and unconstitutional because it undermined free and fair commerce between the States.
EchoStar and DIRECTV have long said that taxing satellite subscribers more than cable subscribers is illogical and unconstitutional, and that this discrimination is unfair because no group of consumers should be singled out for a heavier tax burden based solely on what technology they use, particularly when they are predominantly rural or price-sensitive.
Judge Hogan is not alone in his conclusions. U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), with Democratic and Republican co-sponsors, recently introduced the State Video Tax Fairness Act of 2007, which would prohibit States from taxing any pay-TV service differently from the others. A wide range of public interest groups, from Consumers Union to the National Taxpayers Union, support the measure.
With this ruling and the measures introduced in the House, the tide is turning against sales taxes that discriminate against satellite TV subscribers. We believe State legislatures should heed Judge Hogan, Chairman Conyers, and an increasing number of public officials, and eliminate discriminatory sales taxes for good.”
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16.3 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(R). DIRECTV (NYSE
TV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US OPEN Interactive and YES Network Interactive, and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.About EchoStar Communications Corporation
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: DISH) has been a leader for more than 27 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. The Company’s DISH Network® is the fastest-growing pay-TV provider in the country since 2000, providing more than 13.585 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, a free upgrade to the best HD DVR in the industry, and six months free of DishHD. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 300 company. Visit EchoStar Communications Corporation or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.
