DirecTV in the News

DIRECTV Offers MEGA MARCH MADNESS for $49

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)--Feb. 16, 2000--DIRECTV Inc. announced today it will offer the MEGA MARCH MADNESS(TM) basketball package exclusively to customers of its high-power service for the second year in a row.

The package supplements CBS Sports' coverage of the 2000 NCAAź Men's Basketball Championship and is available only to DIRECTV residential subscribers for $49 and DIRECTV commercial accounts with an appropriate licensing agreement.

Fans who purchase MEGA MARCH MADNESS on DIRECTV will receive up to 37 out-of-market CBS-produced telecasts from the first three rounds of the 2000 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Residential subscribers can order the entire MEGA MARCH MADNESS package for $49 or individual games for $19.95 each.

With MEGA MARCH MADNESS, DIRECTV customers can view any or all games in the first three rounds of the tournament that are not broadcast in their market by their local CBS affiliate. Viewers who do not order the package will see no change in their local broadcasts of CBS Sports' exclusive live coverage of the tournament.

``This is the second consecutive year that DIRECTV will serve as the exclusive source for out-of-market NCAA Division I Championship action, supplemental to CBS Sports' coverage,'' said Bill Casamo, executive vice president of DIRECTV Inc. ``Our exclusive agreement with CBS Sports is a great benefit for NCAA basketball fans. We're excited to once again give fans access to games not broadcast by their local CBS affiliate,'' he added.

To receive MEGA MARCH MADNESS, a DIRECTV subscription is required and the DIRECTV System must be continuously connected to a land-based phone line. Tournament games will be broadcast on DIRECTV channels 736 through 739. Blackout restrictions apply.

Customers can purchase the entire MEGA MARCH MADNESS package through March 19 or individual games through March 24 using their DIRECTV System remote control(a). Out-of-market CBS Sports broadcasts from the first three rounds of the NCAA Championship are not available via any other satellite or cable television service provider.

For the 10th consecutive year, CBS Sports will provide exclusive live coverage of all 63 games, starting with first-round action on March 16 and culminating with the national championship game on April 3 from the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.