DirecTV Applauds Passage Of Satellite Home Viewer Act

DirecTV, Inc. Friday applauded Congress for passing the ""Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999."" The bill permits improved competition between satellite carriers and cable operators.The bill allows satellite TV companies - for the first time - to offer local broadcast network channels, and it also provides a five-year reprieve to hundreds of thousands of consumers who were scheduled to lose distant network signals as the result of a federal court decision earlier this year.""The passage of this legislation is a tremendous win for consumers and ushers in a new era for satellite TV,"" said Eddy W. Hartenstein, President of DirecTV. ""Every month, two-thirds of our new customers come to DirecTV from cabled areas, which underscores the need for enhanced competition in the home entertainment industry. Upon President Clinton signing the bill into law, we will begin offering local channels to major metropolitan markets throughout the country - finally leveling the playing field between satellite and cable.""As previously announced, DirecTV will offer local broadcast network channels via satellite to up to 50 million homes, or about half of the nation's television households. DirecTV will begin rolling out local channels in Los Angeles and New York within hours following the President's signature of the new law, and will continue adding markets throughout the remainder of 1999 and in 2000.In addition to Los Angeles and New York, the first markets to receive this new local channel service include San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Denver, Detroit and Miami. Additional markets will be announced in the coming weeks as the rollout continues.DirecTV customers will be able to subscribe to their local channel package - which will include a national PBS feed - for $5.99 per month.DirecTV will deliver local broadcast network channels in approximately 20 markets from its satellites at 101 degrees West Longitude (WL), its primary orbital slot. As a result, DirecTV customers in those markets can receive their local channels as well as DirecTV's current lineup of national digital entertainment and information programming through their existing digital set-top box and 18-inch antenna.DirecTV will deliver local channels in additional cities from the 110 and 119-degree WL orbital slots. Local channels delivered from the 110 and 119 degree WL orbital slots will be received via the new DirecTV Plus System, which features an 18-by 24-inch oval satellite dish. The DirecTV Plus System also receives and seamlessly integrates the existing lineup of popular networks, premium movie services, pay-per-view selections and sports programming subscriptions from 101 degrees WL.""We have been experiencing record customer growth this year,"" said Hartenstein. ""As we enter our strongest growth period of the year, the availability of local channels on DirecTV will enhance our competitive position and give consumers an even better reason to choose DirecTV as their complete home entertainment video service.""DirecTV will support its local channel offerings with marketing, point-of-sale and advertising campaigns in coordination with its extensive consumer electronics retailing partners and affiliate satellite dealers.DirecTV has approximately 7.8 million customers, including customers subscribing to PrimeStar By DirecTV.