DirecTV in the News

DIRECTV Will Offer Local Channels in Birmingham, Greensboro, West Palm Beach, and Austin

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 9, 2000--DIRECTV Inc., which currently offers local broadcast network channels in 35 major metropolitan markets via its high-power DIRECTV® digital satellite television service, today announced that it will roll out local channels in four additional markets beginning in mid-October.

The new markets -- Birmingham, Ala.; Greensboro, N.C.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Austin, Texas -- will receive local channels from the DIRECTV satellite at 119 degrees WL and will require the use of a multi-satellite-capable DIRECTV PLUS(TM) System.

Including local channel rollouts already scheduled for Columbus, Ohio, and San Antonio in the fourth quarter, DIRECTV will offer local channels in 41 markets across the country by the end of the year -- representing nearly 61 million homes, or approximately 61 percent of the nation's television households. In the majority of those markets, DIRECTV customers are receiving local channels from 101 degrees WL, using their existing set-top box and 18-inch antenna.

"Both new and existing customers continue to respond enthusiastically to our local channels offer,'' said Stephanie A. Campbell, senior vice president, Programming, for DIRECTV. "In some markets, the purchase rate has topped 60 percent, which is clear and compelling evidence that more and more consumers are seeing DIRECTV® programming as an alternative to their cable service.''

DIRECTV will continue to assess additional local channel markets as it expands its satellite capacity with the launch of DIRECTV 4S -- its first spot beam satellite -- next year.