Echostar Communications Corp. and its Dish Network direct-to-home satellite television service unveiled a new line of portable media players Oct. 11.

Dubbed Pocketdish, the media players allow users to download and play back audio and video files, including programming saved on certain Dish Network digital video recorders that have a USB connection.

Echostar will be offering three different Pocketdish devices. The largest will carry a 7-inch screen and 40 gigabytes of storage capacity, which can hold up to 40 hours of Dish Network programming. This model will carry a $599 suggested retail price. Echostar also will offer a pair of smaller versions, one with a 4-inch screen and 30 Gbs of storage capacity for $499 and a device with a 2.2-inch screen and 20 Gbs of storage capacity for $329.

In a separate announcement, Echostar said Oct. 10 it added two TV Today Network international channels: Aaj Tak, a Hindi-language news channel that covers Indian news and culture, and Headlines Today, an English-language news channel that offers information on India in addition to international coverage.