DirecTV Introduces New Programming Packages
Leading Satellite TV Service Adds New Premium Movie Services and Expands Programming Lineup to More than 210 Channels Four days after the completion of the merger of U.S. Satellite Broadcasting Company, Inc. (USSB with Hughes Electronics Corporation, Hughesí DirecTV, Inc. subsidiary, provider of the nationís leading direct broadcast satellite (DBS) television service, introduced today a lineup of new DirecTVÆ programming packages at retail. The new programming packages incorporate premium movie services - such as HBO and Showtime which were previously available on USSB - with DirecTVís wide array of general entertainment, sports and premium movie channels. DirecTV, the nationís largest digital television service with more than 7 million customers, now offers consumers access to more than 210 channels of entertainment programming. Reflecting its commitment to continue to offer its customers greater programming value and choice, DirecTV is introducing a lineup of new Total ChoiceÆ value packages, with extensive enhancements to the Total Choice Silver and Total Choice Platinum packages. ""Our new Total Choice value packages are designed to give our customers the greatest number of premium channels and an extensive lineup of general entertainment channels at the best price, ""Bill Casamo, Executive Vice President of DirecTV. ""By choosing among our combining value packages, DIRECTV customers will always receive the most channels at the best value."" DirecTV will offer eight new Total Choice Silver value packages which feature various combinations of the most popular premium movie services such as HBO, STARZ!, Showtime, Encore, Cinemax, The Movie Channel, Flix, Sundance Channel, and the Independent Film Channel. Total Choice Silver value packages will range in price from $39.99 per month for 109 channels, to $72.99 per month for 128 channels of programming, highlighted by 32 premium movie channels that air first-run films from ever major Hollywood motion picture studio and leading independent studios. All Total Choice Silver packages include the more than 95 channels of news, family, music and sports programming available in Total Choice, which remains available for $29.99 per month. The new Total Choice Platinum value package, which is designed to appeal to sports fans and movie lovers, remains DirecTVís flagship programming package. Customers to Total Choice Platinum, which is available for $80.99 per month, will receive all of the programming form Total Choice, Total Choice Silver combination movie packages and specialty sports networks from Total Choice Gold. Four new channels ñSpanish-language services Univision and Galavision, fxM and All News Channel - have been added to Total Choice and no additional cost to customers. Univision, the most popular Spanish-language television network in the United States, and Galavision, the nationís leading Spanish language cable network, will air on DIRECTV beginning in July. All News Channel has also been added to Select Choice, which remains available for $19.99 per month. Total Choice Gold, which features all Total Choice programming, as well as more than 25 specialty sports networks, remains unchanged and is available for $39.99 per month. DirecTV customers may also subscribe to premium movie services on an a la carte basis. Existing USSB customers and select DirecTV customers will begin transitioning to new, comparable programming packages beginning in July. In addition to introducing new programming packages, DirecTV is also introducing to its customers a new channel lineup organized by programming genre and area of interest. ""With our new channel neighborhoods, it will be easier for our customers to find their favorite programming,"" said Casamo. ""Each area of interest will occupy its own special neighborhood on our channel lineup."" DirecTV and USSB programming will move from their current channel numbers to the new channel neighborhoods on July 20. DirecTV will communicate the changes to its programming packages and channel lineup to its customers via direct mail, on air programming, its web site and entertainment consultants at its customer call centers. For more information, contact DirecTV, Inc., Bob Marsocci 310 726 4656 or visit the DirecTV Website at www.directv.com.