DIRECTV Interactive launches New Features for Its 2007 US Open Interactive Service

As the use
of interactive TV features continue to grow in popularity among tennis fans,
DIRECTV, USA Network and USTA are serving up an array of feature upgrades to
the innovative US Open Interactive On USA Network Only On DIRECTV service.

The
first-ever interactive TV coverage of a major U.S. tennis event when it was
launched last year, US Open Interactive will significantly expand USA Network’s
national coverage of the 2007 US Open during the tournament’s first five days,
beginning Aug. 27. More US Open programming information is available by calling
1-800 DIRECTV or visiting DIRECTV.com.

DIRECTV customers
will have access to more than 300 hours of tournament coverage that includes up
to 100 additional matches, and for the first time, interactive features will be
available on USA Network in addition to five other channels covering matches on
featured courts. Viewers will also have access to more detailed match coverage
information.

“Tennis
fans throughout the country are rapidly embracing DIRECTV’s interactive
technology as the best way to watch tournament action and thoroughly immerse
themselves in the feature-rich coverage that is available only on DIRECTV,”
said Eric Shanks, executive vice president of DIRECTV Entertainment. “The
marketplace is recognizing the value of these unique services, and DIRECTV is
excited to be working with a forward-thinking broadcaster like

USA to deliver
them directly to its audience.”

“The
success of the US Open Interactive on

USA on DIRECTV last year, showed us
that consumers are responding to interactive television,” said Henry Ahn,
executive vice president, NBC Universal. “Through this partnership with
DIRECTV, we are able to provide consumers with the most robust US Open
television experience available anywhere.”

Free to
DIRECTV customers, the US Open Interactive service expands USA Network’s
national coverage of the 2007 US Open to include access to more early round
matches, statistics and information on demand, and the ability to view up to
five matches simultaneously on a special US Open Mix channel, with live
onscreen scoring of all the matches. Viewers with interactive receivers will be
able to highlight each cell to hear live audio specific to the cell’s featured
match, and can bring up any match full screen at the push of a button.

In
addition to the functionality offered in 2006, the 2007 US Open Interactive
service will offer tennis fans the following upgrades to enhance functionality
and increase the overall value of the service two new interactive on-screen
features will provide detailed match coverage information, allowing viewers
enhanced navigation through the many matches available on the service.

A
“Matches On Now” feature will offer a list of the matches currently
taking place, the scores of each match and the DIRECTV channel on which the
match is featured. Users will be able to tune directly to any match.

A
“Matches on Later” feature will list full match schedules for each of
the five featured courts, including start times and channel numbers. Users will
also be able to tune directly to any of the respective channels using this
feature.

While

USA’s
national broadcast of the Tournament will sign of between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
daily, DIRECTV will continue to offer the conclusion of any matches that began
prior to 5 p.m.

During
breaks in the on-court action, DIRECTV’s expanded coverage will include live
interviews and press conferences taking place in the US Open press room at
Flushing Meadows.

Customers
can view US Open Interactive coverage starting at 11 a.m. on each of the tournament’s
first five days.