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Business Wire

DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading digital multichannel TV service provider, announced today that Comcast SportsNet Chicago, a Chicago-based regional sports network, is now available to residential and commercial customers in the Chicago designated market area (DMA) who subscribe to the DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE(R) programming package.

"DIRECTV understands how important local sports programming is for its customers," said Stephanie Campbell, executive vice president, Programming, DIRECTV, Inc. "Chicago's sports fans will now have access to the games of their hometown teams along with local sports information and analysis via DIRECTV."

"We're very excited to announce DIRECTV customers will not miss a regular season Bulls game starting this weekend," said James J. Corno, senior vice president/general manager for Comcast SportsNet Chicago. "DIRECTV viewers will love our unrivaled coverage of our pro teams, our Bears post-game and weekly press conference coverage and our comprehensive line-up of local sports news and talk programming."

DIRECTV will provide Comcast SportsNet Chicago to residential and commercial customers in the Chicago DMA, as part of its TOTAL CHOICE base programming package. DIRECTV will also offer Comcast SportsNet Chicago as part of its SPORTS Pack, which is available a la carte throughout the United States to all DIRECTV customers. The network will debut on DIRECTV channel 640.

Comcast SportsNet Chicago carries over 250 regular season games for the White Sox (95), Cubs (72), Bulls (45), and Blackhawks (39) and features live pre- and post-game coverage for each team. Comcast SportsNet Chicago also features unique locally produced programming including SportsNite and SportsRise, daily sports newscasts designed to inform and entertain the local sports fan with the latest news affecting their teams and the world of sports, plus, Chicago Tribune Live, a weeknight talk show discussing the day's most pressing sports stories.

For more information on DIRECTV and any of its products or services call 1-800-DIRECTV, visit www.DIRECTV.com or contact your local DIRECTV retailer. For information on Comcast SportsNet, visit www.comcastsportsnet.com.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 13.5 million customers. DIRECTV, Total Choice and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of The DIRECTV Group Inc. (NYSE:DTV). The DIRECTV Group is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment and broadband satellite networks and services. The DIRECTV Group is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corporation Ltd. For more information visit www.directv.com.

About Comcast SportsNet

Comcast SportsNet currently consists of four regional sports networks servicing the Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, and Northern and Central California television markets. Together, the four networks reach over 11 million households and provide game coverage for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Chicago Blackhawks; the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, and Sacramento Kings; and MLB's Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox.