DIRECTV Transmits High-Definition Local Channels in New MPEG-4 Transmission Standard to Los Angeles

DIRECTV Transmits High-Definition Local Channels in New MPEG-4 Transmission Standard to Los Angeles

WHAT: DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital television service
provider, announced today that it has begun offering local
high-definition (HD) channels via satellite to Los Angeles via new
compression technology known as MPEG 4 AVC (Motion Picture Expert
Group -- Advanced Video Compression).

Los Angeles is one of dozens of cities that will receive HD local
programming from DIRECTV using MPEG-4 AVC, the new standard in
digital video compression, and advanced modulation that more than
doubles the efficiency of DIRECTV's capacity.

DIRECTV will carry each of the four primary broadcast networks that
offer an HD feed in the market. Customers who subscribe to a
programming package that includes local channels will receive both
the standard and HD signals at no extra monthly charge.

DIRECTV offers local HD broadcast channels in 12 cities with plans
to launch an additional 24 cities early next year, offering access
to DIRECTV-delivered local HD channels in more than 57 percent of
U.S. television households.

Customers can receive Los Angeles local HD channels by purchasing a
new H20 HD receiver and a satellite dish that has the ability to
receive programming from five different orbital locations. DIRECTV
is offering new and existing non-HD customers who purchase a
DIRECTV HD receiver a $200 mail-in rebate. (Limit one rebate per
customer.) Receiving equipment is available at major consumer
electronics retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City, and through
DIRECTV. Existing DIRECTV customers do not need to upgrade their HD
equipment initially since their existing MPEG-2 receivers will
continue to receive local HD broadcasts.

WHEN: Beginning today, the following high-definition local channels will
be available to DIRECTV customers in the Los Angeles designated
market area (DMA) in the new MPEG-4 standard:

Los Angeles DMA New HD Local Channels*

-- KABC/Channel 7 -- KTTV (Fox)/Channel 11
-- KCBS/Channel 2 -- KNBC/ Channel 4

Contact: DIRECTV, Inc. PainePR for DIRECTV
Jade Ekstedt Elizabeth Owen
310-964-3429 949-809-6734

* Eligibility for local channels is based on service address within
certain designated market areas as defined by Nielsen Media Research,
Inc. Visit DIRECTV.com for more information.

PRNewswire-FirstCall -- Dec. 28

Source: DIRECTV, Inc.

Web site: http://www.directv.com/

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