DirecTV in the News

DirecTV Offers Local Channels in St. Louis

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2, 2000--DIRECTV, Inc., provider of the nation's leading digital television service, announced today the availability of local broadcast network channels via satellite for its DIRECTV® customers in St. Louis. Beginning March 4, all DIRECTV customers in the St. Louis designated market area (DMA) will receive a free preview of their local broadcast network channel package.

DIRECTV customers in the St. Louis DMA can subscribe to a local channel package that includes KMOV (CBS), KSDK (NBC) and KTVI (FOX). DIRECTV customers can subscribe to their local channel package for $5.99 per month. In addition to local broadcast network channels, a national PBS feed is included in each local channel package at no additional charge. DIRECTV is in active discussion with KDNL (ABC) and will begin broadcasting the station as soon as an agreement is reached.

``The availability of local channels ushers in a new era for DIRECTV, and we are excited to commence our local channel offerings in St. Louis,'' said Eddy W. Hartenstein, president of DIRECTV. ``By offering local channels on DIRECTV, our customers can access entertainment and information that's most relevant to their lives and their community. Now is as good a time as any for consumers in these markets to cut cable and choose DIRECTV as their source for home entertainment.''

Local St. Louis channels from DIRECTV will be available in the following Missouri and Illinois counties:

    Missouri:                    Illinois:
     Crawford                     Bond
     Franklin                     Calhoun
     Gasconade                    Clinton
     Iron                         Fayette
     Jefferson                    Greene
     Lincoln                      Jersey
     Pike                         Macoupin
     Saint Charles                Madison
     Saint Francois               Marion
     Saint Louis                  Monroe
     Saint Louis City             Montgomery
     Sainte Genevieve             Randolph
     Warren                       Saint Clair
     Washington                   Washington

Local channels are delivered to DIRECTV customers in the St. Louis area from DIRECTV's primary orbital slot at 101 degrees West Longitude. As a result, DIRECTV customers can receive their local channels as well as DIRECTV's current lineup of national digital entertainment and information programming through their existing set-top box and 18-inch antenna.