EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004--Mitchell Stern, president and CEO of DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider, today announced the appointment of Eric Shanks to the DIRECTV executive staff. Shanks, who joins DIRECTV as senior vice president of Advanced Services and Content, will oversee DIRECTV business activities related to the development of DIRECTV receivers and advanced services such as digital video recording (DVR), interactive television and high-definition television (HDTV).
"I am excited to welcome Eric to the DIRECTV senior leadership team," said Stern. "Eric's experience and expertise with television production and interactive and enhanced services will enable DIRECTV to continue to offer leading-edge technology that will add new dimensions to our customers' television viewing experience."
Prior to joining DIRECTV, Shanks, a three-time Emmy award winner, served as vice president of Enhanced Programming for FOX Television Networks since 1999. His most recent accomplishments include producing live coverage of NFL Europe and "The Best Damn Sports Show" for FOX Sports Net, as well as launching Sky Sport 1 and 2 for the Sky Italia platform in Italy. Shanks also served as graphics producer for FOX Sports since 1997 and was responsible for overseeing the development and creation of interactive television, which complemented FOX's sports, news and entertainment programming.
"DIRECTV has led the multichannel TV industry in providing its customers with interactive services, digital video recording capability, high-definition programming and hundreds of channels of digital-quality programming," said Shanks. "I am excited to be joining a company that has always been at the forefront of technology, and to bring new advanced services to DIRECTV customers nationwide."
Shanks joined FOX Sports in 1994 for the network's inaugural season of NFL coverage. From 1994 to 1995, he served as a broadcast associate on the NFL production crew, where he was responsible for each broadcast's research, statistics and graphics presentation. He then filled the same role for the NHL on FOX's lead broadcast team, holding that position until 1996. He began his sports television career as a broadcast associate at CBS Sports in 1993.
News Corporation completed its acquisition of 34 percent of Hughes common stock last December.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 12.2 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. (NYSE:HS). Hughes is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. Hughes is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd.
"I am excited to welcome Eric to the DIRECTV senior leadership team," said Stern. "Eric's experience and expertise with television production and interactive and enhanced services will enable DIRECTV to continue to offer leading-edge technology that will add new dimensions to our customers' television viewing experience."
Prior to joining DIRECTV, Shanks, a three-time Emmy award winner, served as vice president of Enhanced Programming for FOX Television Networks since 1999. His most recent accomplishments include producing live coverage of NFL Europe and "The Best Damn Sports Show" for FOX Sports Net, as well as launching Sky Sport 1 and 2 for the Sky Italia platform in Italy. Shanks also served as graphics producer for FOX Sports since 1997 and was responsible for overseeing the development and creation of interactive television, which complemented FOX's sports, news and entertainment programming.
"DIRECTV has led the multichannel TV industry in providing its customers with interactive services, digital video recording capability, high-definition programming and hundreds of channels of digital-quality programming," said Shanks. "I am excited to be joining a company that has always been at the forefront of technology, and to bring new advanced services to DIRECTV customers nationwide."
Shanks joined FOX Sports in 1994 for the network's inaugural season of NFL coverage. From 1994 to 1995, he served as a broadcast associate on the NFL production crew, where he was responsible for each broadcast's research, statistics and graphics presentation. He then filled the same role for the NHL on FOX's lead broadcast team, holding that position until 1996. He began his sports television career as a broadcast associate at CBS Sports in 1993.
News Corporation completed its acquisition of 34 percent of Hughes common stock last December.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 12.2 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. (NYSE:HS). Hughes is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment, broadband satellite networks and services, and global video and data broadcasting. Hughes is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd.
