DIRECTV's CD USA Launches Global Invasion; Original Concert Series Explodes Across the World With Added Distribution Totaling 97 Countries and Six Different ContinentsEL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug 30, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital service provider, achieves universal dominance in live music television with a series of recently added international distribution deals for its original weekly concert series, CD USA. The DIRECTV original program has featured performances by Kelly Clarkson, The Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Ashlee Simpson and the Pussycat Dolls, among other top acts, since its January debut.
DIRECTV, in association with Blaze Television, will expand the CD USA brand through News Corporation's international offerings. CD USA currently airs on Fox8 in Australia and will soon be seen on Star TV (Channel V) in Asia, Russia and China; DIRECTV Latin America in Mexico and the Caribbean, and MBC in the Middle East. The brand has also given birth to a new variation, CD LIVE, a customized version of the music showcase that will air on Rai Television in Italy, Fox8 in Australia, and HRT in Croatia. Satellite carriers in each of these regions include DIRECTV, Foxtel, DIRECTV Latin America and Star TV.
"With the demise of Top of the Pops in the UK and this added international distribution, CD USA is now the top weekly live music performance show in the world," said David Hill, DIRECTV's president of Entertainment. "Every time a band performs on the show they get instant, worldwide exposure and a spectacular international audience that is unmatched anywhere else."
The CD Empire is the brainchild of acclaimed producer Conor McAnally, director of programs for Blaze Television and executive producer of CD USA. The different programs include the hugely popular CD UK program in the United Kingdom, CD USA, and CD LIVE in regional locations. CD LIVE blends together the best of CD UK and CD USA and adapts the content with local hosts and performances to appeal to each specific region.
"With this new distribution there will always be 12 bands playing somewhere in the world at any given time on CD showcases," said McAnally. "We are providing music fans around the world a front row seat to the best music scene available and creating a large and diverse audience for our performers who will benefit greatly with enormous universal awareness and increased sales."
CD USA currently entertains over 15 million DIRECTV customers in the U.S. with its weekly hour-long showcase of up to six live performances from today's hottest selling musical acts including Rihanna, Nelly Furtado, T.I., Yellowcard and many more. Hosts Becky Baeling and John Wynn, along with correspondent Malikha Mallette report on the latest music news, exclusive interviews and gossip.
About CD USA
CD USA airs every Saturday at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST on DIRECTV channel 101 in standard and high-definition. Customers subscribing to any DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) or SELECCION programming package will have access to CD USA at no additional cost. Blaze Television produces CD USA, a spin-off of the immensely popular program in the United Kingdom, CD UK, for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV. CD USA shoots live-to-tape at the Tribune Studios in Los Angeles.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 15.5 million customers through exclusive content, industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for six years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM). DIRECTV (NYSE
TV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. DIRECTV is approximately 39 percent owned by News Corporation. For the most up-to-date information on the Company, please visit directv.com.
SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, in association with Blaze Television, will expand the CD USA brand through News Corporation's international offerings. CD USA currently airs on Fox8 in Australia and will soon be seen on Star TV (Channel V) in Asia, Russia and China; DIRECTV Latin America in Mexico and the Caribbean, and MBC in the Middle East. The brand has also given birth to a new variation, CD LIVE, a customized version of the music showcase that will air on Rai Television in Italy, Fox8 in Australia, and HRT in Croatia. Satellite carriers in each of these regions include DIRECTV, Foxtel, DIRECTV Latin America and Star TV.
"With the demise of Top of the Pops in the UK and this added international distribution, CD USA is now the top weekly live music performance show in the world," said David Hill, DIRECTV's president of Entertainment. "Every time a band performs on the show they get instant, worldwide exposure and a spectacular international audience that is unmatched anywhere else."
The CD Empire is the brainchild of acclaimed producer Conor McAnally, director of programs for Blaze Television and executive producer of CD USA. The different programs include the hugely popular CD UK program in the United Kingdom, CD USA, and CD LIVE in regional locations. CD LIVE blends together the best of CD UK and CD USA and adapts the content with local hosts and performances to appeal to each specific region.
"With this new distribution there will always be 12 bands playing somewhere in the world at any given time on CD showcases," said McAnally. "We are providing music fans around the world a front row seat to the best music scene available and creating a large and diverse audience for our performers who will benefit greatly with enormous universal awareness and increased sales."
CD USA currently entertains over 15 million DIRECTV customers in the U.S. with its weekly hour-long showcase of up to six live performances from today's hottest selling musical acts including Rihanna, Nelly Furtado, T.I., Yellowcard and many more. Hosts Becky Baeling and John Wynn, along with correspondent Malikha Mallette report on the latest music news, exclusive interviews and gossip.
About CD USA
CD USA airs every Saturday at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST on DIRECTV channel 101 in standard and high-definition. Customers subscribing to any DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) or SELECCION programming package will have access to CD USA at no additional cost. Blaze Television produces CD USA, a spin-off of the immensely popular program in the United Kingdom, CD UK, for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV. CD USA shoots live-to-tape at the Tribune Studios in Los Angeles.
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 15.5 million customers through exclusive content, industry-leading customer service (which has surpassed cable for six years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound; exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(TM). DIRECTV (NYSE
TV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 channels in HD. DIRECTV is approximately 39 percent owned by News Corporation. For the most up-to-date information on the Company, please visit directv.com. SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.
