DirecTV in the News

DIRECTV Renames Satellite Fleet

El Segundo, CA, Aug 10, 2000 -- DIRECTV, Inc., provider of the nation's leading digital satellite television service, announced today it is renaming four of the five satellites in its existing fleet and that all future spacecraft will be named "DIRECTV" followed by their numerical identifier. Three of the original DIRECTV satellites were known by their "DBS" (Direct Broadcast Satellite) designation. The name change was initiated to provide easier satellite identification and further promote brand uniformity.

Currently, five DIRECTV-owned satellites deliver the high-power DIRECTV� programming service to millions of customers in the United States. The original DIRECTV satellites, DBS 1, DBS 2 and DBS 3, will be named DIRECTV 1, DIRECTV 2 and DIRECTV 3, respectively.

The Tempo satellites, Tempo-1 and Tempo-2, acquired by DIRECTV as part of the PRIMESTAR transaction last year, have been renamed DIRECTV 5 and DIRECTV 6 respectively. DIRECTV 1-R, which was launched last year, maintains its current name. DIRECTV 5 is scheduled to launch later this year, and DIRECTV-4S, an advanced, high-power spot-beam spacecraft, is scheduled for launch late next year.

"The 'DBS' identifier is generic terminology in the industry and does not reflect the nature of ownership or clearly identify the DIRECTV satellite fleet," said Dave Baylor, executive vice president, DIRECTV, Inc. "With DIRECTV-branded satellites, we will eliminate confusion over identity of the spacecraft and bring them into line with our effort to continually strengthen our brand name and competitive position. The name change is especially important as we continue to expand our fleet to provide our customers with more programming."

*To be launched

DIRECTV currently has a license for 46 high-power frequencies at three orbital slots, all of which provide full coverage of the continental United States: 101 degrees WL, 110 degrees WL and 119 degrees WL.