DirecTV in the News

NFL Sunday Ticket

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BW SportsWire)--July 26, 2000--DIRECTV Inc., provider of the nation's leading digital television service, today announced a national promotion and advertising campaign for the 2000 NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) subscription package.

New residential customers who purchase a DIRECTV® System from a participating retailer between Aug. 3 and Oct. 15, 2000, activate a DIRECTV account between Aug. 3 and Oct. 29 with TOTAL CHOICE® PLATINUM programming, and subscribe to NFL SUNDAY TICKET at the regular season price of $169, will receive three free months of TOTAL CHOICE® PLATINUM programming and three free issues of DIRECTV The Guide(TM), the official program guide of DIRECTV -- a $260 value.

In support of the promotion, DIRECTV will launch a national television advertising campaign that highlights the devotion and loyalty of NFL fans and their intense passion for NFL football.

"The die-hard nature of NFL fans has made NFL SUNDAY TICKET the most popular sports subscription available,'' said Susan Collins, senior vice president of marketing and advertising for DIRECTV.  "Combined with three free months of TOTAL CHOICE PLATINUM, our premier programming package, we believe this is an extremely compelling offer that presents an incredible value to consumers.''

The television advertising campaign features NFL game footage on the field and in the stands, capturing the intense emotion of NFL fans as they react to the drama taking place on the field. The campaign's primary tag line,  "NEVER MISS A MOMENT(TM),'' underscores the wide breadth of NFL action available on NFL SUNDAY TICKET and reminds fans that the subscription package enables them to catch virtually every moment of action during the 2000 NFL regular season.

"The NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscription is the ultimate way for fans to experience the NFL season, and its distinction as the market's most popular sports subscription is a testament to its value and to the intense passion of NFL fans,'' said Jayne Hancock, vice president of sports marketing for DIRECTV.  "To those points, we felt it appropriate for this year's advertising campaign to focus on the die-hard NFL fans that have made NFL SUNDAY TICKET such a successful product.''

The initial six-week television flight, beginning Aug. 3, will include national network, cable and syndication. Print ads will appear in national consumer and sports magazines, including Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News, as well as local newspapers in the top 31 markets. Creative for the campaign was developed by Deutsch, Los Angeles.

DIRECTV customers who subscribe to NFL SUNDAY TICKET can view up to 13 NFL games every Sunday and more than 200 games throughout the regular season (local blackout restrictions apply) at a price of $169 or four payments of $42.25. NFL SUNDAY TICKET is not available on cable or through any other mini-dish satellite service.

TOTAL CHOICE PLATINUM features more than 160 channels of programming, including favorite networks such as E! Entertainment Television, ESPN, Comedy Central, CNN, MTV and TNT as well as more than 25 specialty sports networks and 32 premium movie channels (Starz!, Showtime and HBO) for $82.99 per month.