Dish Launches Katrina INformation Channel

[Scott Greczkowski]

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 2005--EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced that its DISH Network(TM) satellite TV service now broadcasts the Katrina Information Network (KIN), providing critical information on hurricane-related issues.

KIN is available on Ch. 206, free of charge to all DISH Network customers during the hurricane recovery period. As the channel develops, viewers will have access to a variety of information relating to the disaster, including key telephone numbers, a survivor list to help victims find their loved ones, as well as other updates provided by hurricane relief agencies.

"We are making every effort to support our customers in this trying time," said Eric Sahl, senior vice president of Programming for EchoStar. "Along with DISH Network's wide selection of news channels, KIN is a powerful tool to provide consistent and reliable information on the hurricane recovery efforts."

KIN was developed by Flying Colors Broadcasts, a Washington, D.C.-based media production and distribution company.

"We wanted to help with the recovery effort and thought leveraging our relationships with our vendors and clients to launch a communications platform was the most powerful way to do that," said Constance Chatfield-Taylor, president of Flying Colors Broadcasts. "We are fortunate to be supported by corporations such as EchoStar."

In addition to providing KIN to customers, DISH Network's Business Solutions division has partnered with Clear Channel Communications, Inc. to transmit Clear Channel's Baton Rouge FM radio signals to New Orleans stations so that listeners in New Orleans can get up-to-date information about the disaster and relief efforts.

About EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) serves more than 11.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network(TM), 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 800-333-DISH (3474).

About Flying Colors Broadcasts & Flying Colors Interactive

Flying Colors Broadcasts, Inc. is a communications firm specializing in satellite transmissions, live event production, network operations, video production and communications consulting. Flying Colors Interactive is an Internet video services company providing webcasting, customized online campaigns and other multimedia solutions. www.fc-tv.com.


CONTACT: EchoStar Communications Corporation
Steve Caulk, 720-514-5351
press@echostar.com
or
Flying Colors Broadcasts
Erin Murphy, 202-293-5300
emurphy@fc-tv.com

SOURCE: EchoStar Communications Corporation

 

[TuxCoder]

I just found this last night. I was wondering how long it had been on there.

 

[Mr Tony]

yesterday

was color bars before yesterday

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

What a dark and gloomy channel (and it looks out of focus)

Do they run more then phone numbers (which are useless as people are without phones still) and lists of people who are safe (Man there are a lot of Davis's out there!)

I would like to see news updates, shelter updates and other info given as well. Phone numbers for the national guard are not going to help anyone.

DirecTV beat Dish on this one hands down, within a day or two of the hurricane they had their channel up and it offeredmuch more information then what this one is offering.

Again though I say better late then never.

 

[Mr Tony]

What a dark and gloomy channel (and it looks out of focus)

I noticed that too...that it was out of focus

 

[riffjim4069]

Apparently E* used the same engineers who produced their 25th Anniversal Charlie Chat. I used to get better quality audio and video with my old VHS-C Camcorder.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The engineer who knows how to focus the picture was unfortunately fired on Monday night for shooting confetti into Charlie Ergens Champaign.

(Inside joke for those who saw the end of the Charlie Chat the other night)

 

[Oyving]

Is this channel "in the clear"? It really should be available whether or not they are subscribers.

 

[BFG]

It is in the clear and it's not even produced by Dish so stop cracking on them. It's a freaking info channel about a natural disaster for pete sakes!!

 

[TuxCoder]

And for the sake of others not named Pete.

 

[BFG]

 

[Mr Tony]

Is this channel "in the clear"? It really should be available whether or not they are subscribers.

yes it is

All subs (regardless of package) get it. It is also FTA

 

[JPointerWI]

yes it is

All subs (regardless of package) get it. It is also FTA

Dont even need a sub. It's just like channel 101, 103, 213, 900/9900/9901 etc

 

[Mr Tony]

havent tried the non-subbed receiver recently

 

[Tom Bombadil]

What, no complaints about bandwidth usage yet???

 

[Mr Tony]

they used an existing channel that they had up for a test card or something..so the bandwidth wasnt used

 

[Purogamer]

I love how the music just cuts out from time to time...

You'd think they'd have 2 safe lists going, one from A-Z and another from Z-A...and starting at different intervals...Imagine if you're looking for someone named "adams" and you turn it on in the B section, you'll be waiting for like an hour...

If it's not a dish channel why does it have that damn logo in the corner. What's to gain from this...

 

[BFG]

I would go to a free internet cafe or call a number. looking at a list on TV doesn't seem very practical

 

[nitstalker]

I wonder if this has anything to do with why Dish put the channel up?

I like the remark of 'writing on a blackboard' - The writer of the story must have seen the channel HAHA...

FCC issues emergency information reminder
Sep 16, 2005 8:00 AM, RF Update e-newsletter

The FCC has issued a reminder to television broadcasters, cable operators and other video programming distributors of their obligation to provide the same emergency information visually as is broadcast in the audio portion of a telecast.

The commission published the reminder in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The FCC has already received complaints “that some emergency information being provided over television is not being made accessible to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing,” the commission said.

The problem includes visual emergency information being blocked by other information on screen, and conversely, emergency information blocking closed-caption information.

FCC rules do not require emergency information to be presented as a closed caption. It may be presented in text crawls and scrolls or even handwriting on a blackboard, according to the commission. The commission stressed that this rule not only applies to the immediate area affected by Katrina “because, for example information such as how citizens may obtain relief assistance falls within the rule’s mandate,” the reminder said. The commission reminded program distributors, such as cable and satellite providers, of their obligation to pass through closed captioned emergency information broadcasters may insert into programming.

The FCC also instructed “entities that are permitted to count captions created using the electronic newsroom technique” that this method does not automatically caption non-scripted news so they are required to make emergency information accessible through means such as scrolls and crawls.

For more information, visit www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/emergencyvideo.html .