DirecTV in the News

TV Espanola Joins DIRECTV PARA TODOS

El Segundo, CA, Jun 14, 2000 -- Continuing to expand the variety of programming services it offers to Hispanic viewers, DIRECTV, Inc. announced today that Television Espanola Internacional (TVE) has joined the DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming lineup.

Based in Madrid, Spain, TVE is part of the state-owned Grupo Radio Television Espanola, and offers general entertainment programming, including game shows, sports, art and educational programs, fiction series, movies and news.

TVE is now available as part of the OPCION EXTRA ESPECIAL programming package and was added to the lineup at no additional charge.

"By bringing TVE into the DIRECTV PARA TODOS family of programming services, we are continuing to enhance the customer's viewing experience and add value to our programming packages," said Yolanda Macias, vice president, DIRECTV PARA TODOS Programming and International Services. "With our offering of some of the best Spanish-language programming from Europe, we provide another link to the global village for the Hispanic viewer."

"This agreement with DIRECTV represents a major step forward in the global expansion of Television Espanola Internacional," said Mariano Aragon, manager, International Distribution for TVE. "As part of the DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming service, we are available everywhere within the United States. We believe this unique channel will have special appeal for the DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming customer and Hispanic viewers in general."

TV Espanola is one of two new additions to the DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming lineup. TELEMUNDO, the nation's second-largest Spanish-language network, recently joined the DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming service, delivering East and West coast feeds, as well as the network's international news channel.

The DIRECTV PARA TODOS service features Spanish-language programming from the United States, Latin America and Spain including Univision, Discovery en Espanol, FOX Sports World Espanol, Galavision, MTV S, TVN Chile, Canal Sur, PUMA TV and The Weather Channel/El Canal del Tiempo among others. Customers also have access to more than 210 English-language DIRECTV® channels, which feature a variety of sports, news, entertainment and family programming.

The OPCION ESPECIAL (Special Choice) package provides more than 15 Spanish-language and 24 English-language channels for $19.99 a month. The OPCION EXTRA ESPECIAL (Extra Special Choice) package offers more than 25 Spanish-language and 77 English-language channels for $31.99 a month. Both packages include seven channels of commercial-free Spanish-language music from Music Choice.

Hughes Network Systems, Thomson Consumer Electronics (under its RCA brand) and Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (under its Mitsubishi brand) manufacture a DIRECTV System that provides access to DIRECTV PARA TODOS programming. The receiving equipment includes important features for Hispanic families such as the parental lock-out system that allows parents to control their children's viewing and spending limits, and on-screen menu options in Spanish. A bilingual call center is available to assist customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.