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DIRECTV HD(TM) Revolution Begins

DIRECTV Customers Now Have Access to Over 70 National HD Channels - Significantly More Than Any Other Television Provider In The Nation


EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct 15, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV), the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is now offering 72 national HD channels - significantly more than any other television provider in the nation. This is the first wave in DIRECTV's unprecedented expansion of HD services that is building towards up to 100 HD channels by year-end(a).

"If you own a high-definition television, or are thinking about buying one, you can now watch your favorite channels in crystal-clear DIRECTV HD(TM)," said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. "The DIRECTV HD programming expansion that consumers have been waiting for has become a reality. We overwhelmingly lead the industry in terms of both quantity and quality of HD programming. There simply isn't a better television experience on the planet."

The full DIRECTV HD programming lineup, including the new channels, and details on receiving equipment needed for the new DIRECTV HD services, are available by calling 1-800-DIRECTV or visiting directv.com.



DIRECTV's current HD lineup includes: 

-- A&E HD                        -- The History Channel HD
-- Animal Planet HD              -- HGTV-HD
-- ABC HD NY (b)                 -- MGM HD
-- ABC HD LA (b)                 -- MHD
-- Big Ten Network HD            -- National Geographic Channel HD
-- Bravo HD                      -- NBC HD NY (b)
-- Cartoon Network HD            -- NBC HD LA (b)
-- CBS HD NY (b)                 -- NESN HD
-- CBS HD LA (b)                 -- NFL Network HD
-- Cinemax HD East               -- Sci-Fi Channel HD
-- Cinemax HD West               -- SHO Too HD
-- CSN Chicago HD                -- Showtime HD
-- CSN Mid-Atlantic HD           -- Showtime HD West
-- CNBC HD+                      -- Smithsonian Channel HD
-- CNN HD                        -- Speed Channel HD
-- Discovery Channel HD          -- SportsNet New York HD
-- ESPN HD                       -- Starz Comedy HD
-- ESPN2 HD                      -- Starz Edge HD
-- Food Network HD               -- Starz HD East
-- Fox HD NY (b)                 -- Starz HD West
-- Fox HD LA (b)                 -- Starz Kids & Family HD
-- Fox Business Network HD       -- TBS in HD
-- FSN Detroit HD                -- The Movie Channel East HD
-- FSN Prime Ticket HD           -- The Science Channel HD
-- FSN Southwest HD              -- The Weather Channel HD
-- FSN West HD                   -- TLC HD
-- Fuel TV HD                    -- TNT HD
-- FX HD                         -- Universal HD
-- HBO HD East                   -- USA Network HD
-- HBO HD West                   -- Versus HD/Golf Channel HD
-- HD Theater                    -- YES HD
-- HDNet                         -- HD PPV (8)
-- HDNet Movies

DIRECTV HD customers will continue to pay only a $9.99 access fee, allowing them to receive DIRECTV's premier HD technology and all channels broadcast in HD that are tied to their particular base programming package.

Customers who want the ultimate HD experience can subscribe to the DIRECTV(R) HD EXTRA PACK for an additional $4.99 per month. This new addition of HD-only channels is for the true HD fan and includes: HDNet, HDNet Movies, Universal HD, MHD, Smithsonian HD and MGM HD.

In addition to the national HD channels listed above, DIRECTV also offers 245 local HD channels across 61 cities, representing more than 70 percent of U.S. TV Households.

The DIRECTV 11 satellite will be launched early next year to support further HD expansion. With the two satellites, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver 150 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels in addition to new advanced programming services for customers.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16.3 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies(c). Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(R). DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 national HD channels(a). For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.

(a) Number of HD channels subject to available HD programming and varies by base package selection.

(b) Eligibility required.

(c) 2007 American Customer Satisfaction Index, University of Michigan Business School.

SOURCE: DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc.
Robert Mercer, (310) 964-4683
Darris Gringeri, (212) 462-5136
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding The DIRECTV Group, Inc.'s business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.