DIRECTV to Deliver Local HD Programming in 67 Markets by Year End

DIRECTV names twenty five more local HD markets, now approximately 74 percent of U.S. television homes will have access to local HD channels from DIRECTVS

SOURCE– DIRECTV, Inc. (October 10, 2006)

Already leading the satellite TV industry in the delivery of local HD programming, DIRECTV will offer local HD broadcast networks in 67 markets, representing approximately 74 percent of U.S. TV households, by year end when it rolls out 25 more local HD markets in the fourth quarter.

Local news, sports and popular primetime programming from ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC will be available in HD to customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package that offers local channels. There is no additional charge for local HD programming.

The 25 local markets to receive HD programming from DIRECTV include:

-- Albuquerque, N.M.
-- Buffalo, N.Y.
-- Des Moines, Iowa
-- Flint, Mich.
-- Ft. Meyers, Fla.
-- Grand Rapids, Mich.
-- Green Bay, Wisc.
-- Greensboro, N.C.
-- Greenville, S.C.
-- Harrisburg, Pa.
-- Jacksonville, Fla.
-- Little Rock, Ark.
-- Madison, Wisc.
-- Mobile, Ala.
-- New Orleans
-- Norfolk, Va.
-- Oklahoma City, Okla.
-- Portland, Me.
-- Providence, R.I.
-- Reno, Nev.
-- Santa Barbara, Calif.
-- Spokane, Wa.
-- Springfield, Mo.
-- Toledo, Ohio
-- Tulsa, Okla.

"With 67 markets receiving local HD channels from DIRECTV by year end, we've set the stage for our historic capacity expansion in 2007," said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. "This will enable us to leapfrog the multichannel video industry in terms of the sheer volume of HD programming available to our customers. With more than 44 million homes projected to have HD TV sets next year, we expect to be the video provider of choice for those consumers, offering the best lineup of HD programming, including local broadcast networks, sports, special events, and national networks, as well as original and exclusive programming."

With the launch of two new satellites - DIRECTV 10 and DIRECTV 11 - in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels, in addition to new advanced programming services for customers. DIRECTV currently offers standard-definition local channels in 142 markets, covering nearly 94 percent of television households in the country, as well as 42 HD local channel markets representing approximately 62 percent of U.S. TV households.

Customers can receive local HD channels by obtaining DIRECTV's H20 HD receiver or its new HR20 DIRECTV Plus HD DVR, which has the ability to record up to 50 hours of programming in the new MPEG4 transmission standard. DIRECTV is offering new customers who purchase a DIRECTV HD or HD DVR receiver a $100 mail-in rebate. (Limit one rebate per customer.) Existing customers are eligible for a $99 upgrade to the new H20 receiver and dish, plus $99 for each additional HD receiver.