Source: 800.COM Inc.
800.COM Enhances Home Theater Offering With The Addition Of DIRECTVÆ
Customers Offered Free Installation With Purchase
800.COM Inc., a leading online retailer of consumer electronics and home entertainment products, announced its selection as an authorized DIRECTVÆ retailer, thus broadening 800.COM's offering of digital home theater components. In addition to offering the DIRECTV Satellite System and various subscription packages, 800.COM will provide a limited introductory offer to new DIRECTV customers of free professional installation in 48 states by DigiVision Satellite Services. ""Our relationship with DIRECTV furthers 800.COM's commitment to offer a broad selection of high quality, top brand merchandise to our customers,"" said Frank Sadowski, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for 800.COM. ""By providing one place where customers can purchase digital satellite systems - as well as sign up for professional installation, we are continuing our mission to provide consumers with the best possible consumer electronics shopping experience on the Web."" DIRECTV is the nation's first high-power direct broadcast satellite service to deliver digital-quality programming to homes and businesses that are equipped with the DIRECTV System. 800.COM is the leading, pure Internet consumer electronics retailer, offering the broadest merchandise selection for every home entertainment product category and price range. The site provides easy product comparisons and exclusive content, reviews and features on top brand-name consumer electronics and home entertainment products. ""This relationship further expands our distribution channel, enabling DIRECTV customers to buy from an e-retailer that specializes in consumer electronics,"" said Mark Rubin, Director of E-commerce for DIRECTV. ""800.COM has established a reputation for superior customer service and we are confident that consumers who purchase a DIRECTV System at the site will make an informed buying decision."" DIRECTV Programming DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital entertainment service, and features more than 210 available channels of the most popular entertainment and informational programming. Customers have access to some of today's most popular networks such as Disney Channel, CNN, ESPN, HBO and TNT, as well as up to 55 pay-per-view movie choices a night featuring titles from every major motion picture studio. DIRECTV also offers local channel subscriptions in select major metropolitan markets, and access to an unsurpassed professional and collegiate sports lineup, including NFL SUNDAY TICKETô, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NHLÆ CENTER ICEÆ, MLB EXTRA INNINGS(SM), MLS/ESPN SHOOTOUT, ESPN GamePlan and ESPN FULL COURT. Available Products 800.COM's first DIRECTV offering is the RCAÆ DIRECTV System. The RCA DIRECTV System is available in three different models equipped to receive digital-quality DIRECTV programming, as well as in-market network stations from local broadcasters by subscription, where available. 800.COM understands that the decision to purchase a satellite system or to add components to a home theater system can be a complex one. As with all of the site's product offerings, 800.COM will provide third-party reviews and customer comments about these products to help customers make confident purchasing decisions. In addition, 800.COM provides a Buyer's Guide section to assist customers in finding DIRECTV programming options to satisfy their viewing needs. 800.COM also provides a high level of customer service, including trained product specialists, who answer questions online or via phone, as well as community forums, where customers can post questions to 800.COM representatives and each other. Installation For a limited time, 800.COM will offer free standard installation. DigiVision Satellite Services is the primary installation network for several satellite dish manufacturers and programming providers. DigiVision has contracts to manage the installation of satellite dishes for major retail chains and represents over 8,000 stores. About 800.COM 800.COM is a premier online resource for consumer electronics and home entertainment products. Consumers are provided with a comprehensive selection of brand name products, and all the information they need in one place in order to make an informed purchase decision. 800.COM is consistently rated by BizRate, an Internet market research company, among the top Web sites in customer satisfaction. 800.COM is based in Portland, Oregon. For more information about 800.COM, visit the company's award-winning Web site at www.800.com or AOL Keyword: 800.com. About DIRECTV DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading service provider of digital television entertainment with more than 8 million customers, including customers subscribing to the PRIMESTAR By DIRECTV medium-power direct broadcast satellite service. DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.directv.com.