DIRECTV Accelerates Into 2008 With Upgrades to NASCAR HOTPASS(TM) Service and Weekly Promotion That Puts Fans In The Broadcast Booth

As NASCAR continues to push the envelope with new technologies and innovations in racing, DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) continues to raise the bar as well by offering its 2008 NASCAR HOTPASS™ service for the first time in high-definition, delivering 13 additional live audio feeds of driver/pit crew communications and offering fans a chance to become a member of the NASCAR HOTPASS™ broadcast team. Fans subscribing to the service in 2008 will enjoy these new upgrades beginning with the Daytona 500 and throughout the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series season. Drafting off the successful debut of its innovative service last year, DIRECTV has enhanced race fans’ viewing experience for 2008 by adding 13 additional audio feeds, responding to the needs of NASCAR HOTPASS™ customers who wanted more. Four dedicated driver channels return this year, offering viewers multiple camera angles, real-time statistics and dedicated announcer teams in addition to live communications between the drivers and their pit crews. The four drivers that will be featured on NASCAR HOTPASS for the Daytona 500 are: Tony Stewart – Joe Gibbs Racing Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Gordon – Hendrick Motorsports Kevin Harvick – Richard Childress Racing The fifth channel will feature the national broadcast and allows viewers to use their remotes to access in-car audio from 13 different drivers, anytime they want. With this new expansion, NASCAR HOTPASS™ subscribers can now get the inside scoop on a total of 17 teams each week. The upgrade to high-definition broadcasts on all NASCAR HOTPASS™ channels aligns with DIRECTV’s commitment to continue to offer more high-definition programming than any other provider. "Just like NASCAR teams incessantly fine-tune their cars and technologies to maximize their performance to stay ahead of the competition, we’re doing the same thing to continually improve the NASCAR HOTPASS™ service and the overall NASCAR race-day experience for home viewers,” said Eric Shanks, Executive Vice President of DIRECTV Entertainment. "Our customers expect more from DIRECTV and we take pride in stepping up and delivering a truly innovative viewing experience that is not available from any other service provider.” As yet another way to bring fans closer to the NASCAR race-day experience, DIRECTV is launching a unique at-track promotion for 2008. Fans attending weekly NASCAR races will now have the chance to actually become a member of the NASCAR HOTPASS™ broadcast team for a day and join them in translating the action for fans at home. On Friday and Saturday of each NASCAR event weekend, fans in attendance can visit special DIRECTV kiosks located throughout race venues to register for a chance to win. Later in the afternoon each Saturday, finalists will be selected from the pool of registrants and evaluated to ultimately select the person most suited to bring the race to life from the announcer’s chair. To select its winner each week, DIRECTV will seek well-spoken entrants with strong NASCAR knowledge and the type of animated and outgoing personalities that are critical to bringing the NASCAR racing action to life for viewers at home. "We’ve developed a service that puts fans in the cars and pits of their favorite teams, so why not give them a chance to enter the broadcast booth as well?” added Shanks. "We believe this will be a fun way to bring the NASCAR HOTPASS™ message to die-hard fans in attendance at races throughout the season.” NASCAR HOTPASS™ is now available at the full-season price of $109. Customers new to DIRECTV can also get a special introductory price. The exclusive service is also available on a pay-per-week basis for $19.99. More information is available on www.directv.com/hotpass. DIRECTV customers can order online, or by calling 1-800-GET SPORTS. About DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV, Inc., the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to 16.8 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with 92 national HD channels – more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.