Dish Adds African Net

EchoStar Communications Corp.’s Dish Network direct-broadcast satellite service has added English-language African network ABN-America to its international-programming schedule.

ABN-America -- which features some of the most popular genres of shows from Africa, including movies, documentaries, specials, music videos and other human-interest specials about Africa and Africans abroad -- is the first Africa-based channel available on Dish.

“ABN-America provides African programming to the North American viewing audience, featuring the best lineup from 54 countries that will fill the screen with a wealth of cultural diversity,” EchoStar vice president of international programming Tracy Thompson said in a prepared statement.