DIRECTV Expands International Programming With Also STAR CRICKET

DIRECTV Expands International Programming
Platform To Include STAR Indian Channels And International Cricket
DIRECTV Customers Now Have Access to the Leading Network in
India and Cricket Matches from Around the World

EL SEGUNDO, CA, and HONG KONG, Nov. 17, 2004 --
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DIRECTV, Inc., the leading and fastest-growing digital television service provider in the United States, today announced it continues to expand its international programming platform with the launch of new South Asian programming from STAR Group Limited, Asia's leading media company. Four STAR Indian channels – STAR PLUS, STAR ONE, STAR NEWS and VIJAY – are now available on the DIRECTV® programming platform as part of its new suite of international services. The United States logos for STAR PLUS and STAR NEWS will incorporate the word "India" to denote the Indian origin of the programming.

DIRECTV will also launch CricketTicket™, the first-ever season-long subscription TV package for international cricket, which offers DIRECTV customers cricket matches from around the world, beginning today.

"The South Asian population in the United States, with more than two million people, is one of the fastest growing communities and will now have access to the same top-rated, high-quality programming that is available in India," said Mitchell Stern, president and CEO, DIRECTV, Inc. "We are delighted to be able to provide programming for our South Asian viewers that is informative, entertaining and relevant to their lives. These are the first of several international channels that we are rolling out and we are looking forward to providing our ethnic customers with the most compelling programming lineup available."

STAR's Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Guthrie, said, "We are excited to bring STAR's innovative and record-breaking Indian programming to viewers in the United States. Our relationship with DIRECTV will enable more people to enjoy the shows that have made us a household name in India and it is in line with our aim of expanding and strengthening our distribution. I have no doubt that our Indian channels, popular already in countries outside of India such as the UK, Middle East and Singapore, will be well-received in the United States."

The multi-year agreement with STAR Group Limited brings to viewers in the United States the top-rated programs that have made STAR the leading cable network in India. The STAR lineup features popular dramas, comedies, game shows, news and documentaries. STAR PLUS (channel 2001), STAR ONE (channel 2003) and STAR NEWS (channel 2002) are broadcast in Hindi and VIJAY (channel 2004) is broadcast in Tamil.

STAR Indian Channels
STAR PLUS, India's number one cable channel for the fourth consecutive year, has dominated every entertainment genre and time slot in the country. With its mix of popular Hindi entertainment and record-breaking dramas, the channel attracts 50 million viewers every week in India.

STAR ONE, a new Hindi general entertainment channel targeted at young, urban audiences, features a wide array of original programs across a range of genres such as action/thrillers, comedy, drama, youth, game/format shows, lifestyle and original movies made for television.

STAR NEWS offers viewers 24-hour Hindi news that is relevant to today’s Indian community. It covers the full spectrum of news ranging from politics to business, investigative reports to consumer issues and crime to the environment.

VIJAY is one of the most popular general entertainment channels in India broadcasting in Tamil. Programming on Vijay is tailor-made to cater to the distinctive culture of Tamil Nadu, featuring innovative reality shows and popular entertainment programs.

The new STAR channels are available to both DIRECTV residential and commercial customers. The HindiDirect residential package that includes STAR PLUS, STAR ONE and STAR News, is $29.99 per month. The TamilDirect residential package (STAR VIJAY) is $14.99 per month.

CricketTicket™
DIRECTV completed licensing agreements with the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCB), the New Zealand Cricket Board (NZCB) and the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU), which give DIRECTV access to all international cricket being played in those countries over the next four years. DIRECTV will offer customers access to all of these matches via the DIRECTV CricketTicket™ package. The inaugural CricketTicket season begins today, Nov.17 and concludes March 31, 2005. The package is available for $199, which includes more than 120 days of cricket through next spring.

As a special promotion offered through Dec. 31, 2004, residential customers who subscribe to any South Asian package, with a one year commitment to any PREFERRED CHOICE™ package ($29.99/mo. or above), and subscribe to the DIRECTV DVR service, will receive the first season of CricketTicket free-of-charge.

DIRECTV has developed two new base programming packages exclusively for customers who subscribe to the new international services – BASIC ($9.99 per month) and PREFERRED CHOICE ($29.99 per month). The BASIC package offers up to 50 channels including local channels (where available), music and shopping channels. In addition to those channels offered in the BASIC package, the PREFERRED CHOICE package includes a variety of relevant English-language channels such as ESPN, CNN, The History Channel, Food Network, TNT, MTV and the Fox Movie Channel.

Existing DIRECTV residential customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE® programming package can also add these South Asian packages.

All new international programming will be broadcast from the 95-degree West Longitude (WL) orbital slot, requiring customers to use a new 36-inch dish capable of receiving programming from 95 degrees WL, as well as DIRECTV's primary orbital slot at 101 degrees WL. In some markets, customers who subscribe to a local channels package will require a second smaller dish.

To order or inquire about residential pricing for these channels, consumers can call (800) 378-4179.

* The United States logos for Star Plus and Star News incorporate the word "India" to denote the Indian origin of the programming.

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