DIRECTV will offer Local Channels in Three More Markets by Year-endMankato, Minn., Rochester, Minn., and Zanesville, Ohio will bring Total DIRECTV Local Channel Markets to 137
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2005 – DIRECTV customers in Mankato, Minn., Rochester, Minn., and Zanesville, Ohio, will have a “new” programming package to open this holiday season – one that will offer local channels from DIRECTV for the first time in their communities. With the launch of local channels in these markets this December, DIRECTV will offer local channels in 137 designated market areas (DMA), representing more than 93 percent of U.S. TV households. Customers in these markets will have access to their standard-definition local broadcast network channels via their existing DIRECTV equipment – no upgrade is required – when they subscribe to any DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE® programming package that includes local channels. Existing customers who upgrade their programming package to receive local channels will pay an additional $3.00. The DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE® packages that include local channels start at $41.99 per month.
“Local channels are an important programming option for DIRECTV customers who want to stay on top of news events, weather and sports in their local community or region and don't want to depend on their cable service and off-air antenna for reception,” said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. “We are continuing to look at how we can deploy our capacity to serve additional communities with local programming.”
In the Mankato and Zanesville markets, each of which have only one channel originating from their market, DIRECTV will transmit major broadcast network affiliates from adjacent markets in order to provide customers with a complete package of local channels.
All channels will be broadcast from DIRECTV's primary orbital slot enabling customers to use their existing DIRECTV receiving equipment.
New DIRECTV customers, who make a programming commitment, will be able to take advantage of free equipment offers from DIRECTV that will include the new DIRECTV Plus DVR, which can store up to 100 hours of DIRECTV programming and provides access to DIRECTV's interactive services. About DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 14.6 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV (NYSE: DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment. DIRECTV is approximately 34 percent owned by News Corporation. Robert Mercer
DIRECTV, Inc.
(310) 726-4683
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding The DIRECTV Group, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2005 – DIRECTV customers in Mankato, Minn., Rochester, Minn., and Zanesville, Ohio, will have a “new” programming package to open this holiday season – one that will offer local channels from DIRECTV for the first time in their communities. With the launch of local channels in these markets this December, DIRECTV will offer local channels in 137 designated market areas (DMA), representing more than 93 percent of U.S. TV households. Customers in these markets will have access to their standard-definition local broadcast network channels via their existing DIRECTV equipment – no upgrade is required – when they subscribe to any DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE® programming package that includes local channels. Existing customers who upgrade their programming package to receive local channels will pay an additional $3.00. The DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE® packages that include local channels start at $41.99 per month.
“Local channels are an important programming option for DIRECTV customers who want to stay on top of news events, weather and sports in their local community or region and don't want to depend on their cable service and off-air antenna for reception,” said Dan Fawcett, executive vice president, Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc. “We are continuing to look at how we can deploy our capacity to serve additional communities with local programming.”
In the Mankato and Zanesville markets, each of which have only one channel originating from their market, DIRECTV will transmit major broadcast network affiliates from adjacent markets in order to provide customers with a complete package of local channels.
All channels will be broadcast from DIRECTV's primary orbital slot enabling customers to use their existing DIRECTV receiving equipment.
New DIRECTV customers, who make a programming commitment, will be able to take advantage of free equipment offers from DIRECTV that will include the new DIRECTV Plus DVR, which can store up to 100 hours of DIRECTV programming and provides access to DIRECTV's interactive services. About DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 14.6 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV (NYSE: DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment. DIRECTV is approximately 34 percent owned by News Corporation. Robert Mercer
DIRECTV, Inc.
(310) 726-4683
