DIRECTV Bolsters HD Lineup

EL SEGUNDO, May 23: DIRECTV says it is on schedule to roll
out up to 100 national HD channels by year-end, with a slate of new offerings
due to launch on the platform this fall, including four high-definition
networks from Discovery.

Under the agreement with Discovery Communications, DIRECTV
will launch four simulcasts: Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet and The
Science Channel, as well as two other channels to be named and launched by
Discovery at a later date. The HD feeds of the four existing networks will
launch in September. CNBC and Chiller HD feeds are also coming on stream.
DIRECTV also has an agreement in place with Starz to launch three new HD movie
channels: Starz Edge, Starz Comedy and Starz Kids & Family, as well as
Starz's East and West coast HD feeds. The new Starz HD channels, featuring
first-run hit movies, and the Starz East and West HD channels, will also launch
in September. And DIRECTV will be the first to launch The History Channel HD, a
new 24-hour HD network, and A&E HD.

"Earlier this year we called 2007 the 'Year of HD' and
we're going to deliver on our commitment to offer more HD channels than any
other multichannel provider," said Derek Chang, the executive VP of
strategy and development. “In addition to the networks we've signed to date, we
will continue to add more HD programming to our launch list between now and
year-end. Demand for HD continues to grow, and with the dramatic expansion of
our capacity this summer and the nationwide reach of our service, we are
uniquely positioned to lead the industry in the carriage and delivery of HD
programming."

DIRECTV also has agreements for HD networks from, among
others, Cartoon Network, CNN, National Geographic, SCI FI, USA and MTV.

HD networks currently offered by DIRECTV include ESPN HD,
ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater, HDNet, HDNet Movies, TNT in HD, Universal HD,
HBO HD, Showtime HD, an HD pay per view/special events channel and HD feeds
from ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX.

DIRECTV announced earlier this year that it will have the
capacity to launch up to 100 national HD channels by the end of 2007, and offer
local HD channels in up to 75 markets, following the launch of its D10
satellite this summer.