WD(R) My DVR Expander External Hard Drive More Than Doubles High Definition DVR Recording Hours for DISH Network(R) Customers

LAKE FOREST, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May. 15 /PRNewswire/ --

LAKE FOREST, Calif. and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just in time to make a perfect Father's Day gift, WD(R) today introduced its new My DVR Expander(TM) USB Edition(TM) external hard drives that are verified compatible with DISH Network Corporation's ViP Series HD DVRs (digital video recorders). The new 500 GB external drive increases the recording capacity of the DISH HD DVRs by storing up to 300 hours of digital standard-definition (SD) or up to 60 hours of high-definition (HD) television programming(1). Users can instantly increase(2) their recording storage capacity by simply attaching the My DVR Expander USB Edition drive to their DISH Network ViP Series HD DVRs.

"WD's My DVR Expander provides an ideal complement to the innovative archiving feature of DISH Network's award-winning line of ViP HD DVRs," said Jessica Insalaco, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for DISH Network. "Combined with the already industry-leading storage capacity of our DVRs, DISH Network customers can create and control their own on-demand programming -- reinforcing DISH Network's leadership in digital entertainment."

"With the continued expansion of available HD programming, there is a growing consumer demand for additional storage. The My DVR Expander USB Edition allows DISH customers to record more HD programs without worrying about having to delete their favorite shows," said Jim Welsh, vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics businesses.

Cool, Quiet, Eco-friendly

The new drives include a unique no-fan passive cooling system and an eco-friendly WD AV-GP hard drive with GreenPower(TM) technology, making it quiet and ideal for use in living rooms or bedrooms, while consuming up to one-third less power than standard external hard drives.

Compatibility

The My DVR Expander USB Edition external hard drive has been successfully tested for compatibility with DISH Network ViP Series HD DVRs. Further compatibility of the My DVR Expander drive is planned as other cable and satellite DVR manufacturers enable the USB ports on their currently-deployed DVRs.

Availability and Pricing

WD's My DVR Expander USB Edition external hard drive is available now in the United States by ordering online from WD at http://www.shopwd.com. MSRP for the My DVR Expander USB Edition drive with 500 GB is $149.99 USD.

More information on using the My DVR Expander USB Edition external drive with DISH Network's ViP HD-DVRs may be found at http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/our_products/dish_hd/external_hd/index.shtm l.

About WD

WD, one of the storage industry's pioneers and long-time leaders, provides products and services for people and organizations that collect, manage and use digital information. The company produces reliable, high-performance hard drives that keep users' data accessible and secure from loss. WD applies its storage expertise to consumer products for external, portable and shared storage applications.

WD was founded in 1970. The company's storage products are marketed to leading systems manufacturers, selected resellers and retailers under the Western Digital and WD brand names. Visit the Investor section of the company's Web site (http://www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

About DISH Network Corporation

DISH Network Corporation 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 http://www.dishnetwork.com/aboutus or call 1-800-333-DISH (3474) for more information.

Western Digital, WD and the WD logo are registered trademarks; My DVR Expander and GreenPower are trademarks of Western Digital Technologies, Inc. All other brand and product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies. Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

(1) My DVR Expander USB Edition is designed to increase the recording capability of a single DVR. The total program hours that can be stored depends upon the format and data rate of the programming source, operating environment and other factors. Your results may vary. One gigabyte (GB) = one billion bytes. One terabyte (TB) = one trillion bytes. Total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment. (2) Requires port activation; fees may apply. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080515/LATH033) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000711/WDCLOGO)