Hughes Network Systems Announces DIRECTV PLUS High Definition Set-Top Receiver - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Jan 10, 2000

Hughes Network Systems (HNS) and its sister company DIRECTV, Inc. Wednesday announced that HNS will manufacture a DIRECTV PLUS System set-top receiver designed to receive high definition DIRECTV programming, as well as high definition, digital "over-the-air" signals from local broadcasters via off-air antennae. The new "Platinum HD" receiver is planned for shipment in the second quarter of this year and will be among the first high-definition compatible systems to feature the DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide. The new receiver is also fully compatible with the DirecDuo antenna system.

"The Platinum HD further expands our broad line of products to support the high definition generation of programming," said Paul Gaske, senior vice president and general manager of Hughes Network Systems Broadcast Products & Services Division.

"With this receiver, consumers will be able to receive DIRECTV's standard definition and HDTV programming as well as local high definition broadcasts -- and view all available channels seamlessly using DIRECTV's Advanced Program Guide.

"The HNS receiver includes the most widely adopted video output component for high definition -- YPrPb -- enabling it to work with most brands in the market," said Gaske. "Best of all, consumers can also use the product with their standard definition televisions to receive an improved picture -- the "Platinum HD" set-top box converts off-air high definition broadcasts into a 480i standard definition digital format," he added.

"We're proud to have our sister company add to the increasing selection of HDTV-compatible DIRECTV System products available to consumers," said Bill Casamo, executive vice president for DIRECTV. "The Platinum HD product offers our customers yet another option for their DIRECTV home entertainment."

Features of the "Platinum HD" set-top box include:

* Reception capabilities for DIRECTV high-definition and standard definition digital-quality programming (all 18 off-air high-definition broadcasts [ATSC])

* Reception capabilities for off-air standard definition broadcasts (NTSC) via an internal tuner

* Ability to convert picture from standard to high-definition format, and vice versa. (Reception capability for 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i formats.)

* DIRECTV Advanced Program Guide, which provides customers with a single guide for both DIRECTV high- and standard-definition digital broadcasts.

* Ability to present standard definition (4 x 3 format) on a 16 x 9 TV screen, with either gray side bars (full picture in less-than-full screen), or with the top and bottom of the picture automatically cropped (less-than-full picture in a full screen).

* All features offered with the fifth-generation Platinum (standard definition) product, including: Dolby Digital audio, RF remote control, StarSight One-Button Record, and all HNS-exclusive DIRECTV System features.

Additionally, the receivers enable consumers to receive the DirecDuo service, providing high-speed Internet access from DirecPC as well as DIRECTV programming. An external DirecPC satellite modem and a PC running Windows 98 are required to receive DirecPC service.

A world leader in satellite products and network systems for more than 25 years, HNS is one of the leading suppliers of DIRECTV digital satellite systems and the provider of the award-winning DirecPC satellite Internet service. In addition, HNS is the global VSAT market leader and has shipped more than 300,000 interactive and one-way terminals. Headquartered in Germantown, MD, the company has sales and support offices worldwide. HNS is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). For more information, visit the Web site at www.hns.com .

DIRECTV is the nation's leading satellite television service, with 7.9 million subscribers including subscribers to PRIMESTAR By DIRECTV. Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.directv.com .