Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Annual Assessment of the Status of MB Docket No. 07-269 Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming
COMMENTS OF DIRECTV, INC.
William M. Wiltshire Susan Eid Michael Nilsson Senior Vice President, Government Affairs S. Roberts Carter Stacy R. Fuller WILTSHIRE & GRANNIS LLP Vice President, Regulatory Affairs 1200 Eighteenth Street, NW DIRECTV, INC. Washington DC 20036 901 F Street, Suite 600 (202) 730-1300 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 383-6300 Counsel for DIRECTV, Inc.
May 20, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY...... 1
II. DIRECTV CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS SUBSCRIBERSHIP, SYSTEM CAPACITY, AND PROGRAMMING OPTIONS...... 2
A. DIRECTV’s Subscribership Has Increased...... 2
B. DIRECTV Has Expanded System Capacity and Increased Innovative Service Offerings...... 4
C. DIRECTV Offers Compelling National Programming at Competitive Prices... 6
1. DIRECTV Programming Packages ...... 6
2. DIRECTV FAMILY™...... 9
3. Foreign Language Programming ...... 9
4. Public Interest Programming ...... 10
D. DIRECTV Continues to Expand Local-Into-Local Service...... 10
1. Carriage in Local Markets ...... 10
2. HD Local Carriage...... 11
3. Alaska and Hawaii ...... 12
E. DIRECTV’s Equipment Options Benefit Consumers...... 13
III. DIRECTV FACES SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION IN THE VIDEO DISTRIBUTION MARKETPLACE...... 14
A. DIRECTV is Subject to Competition from Multiple Providers...... 14
B. Cable-Affiliated Programmers Continue to Abuse Their Market Power...... 17
C. Network-Affiliated Broadcasters Increasingly Abuse Their Market Power..... 17
D. Broadband Bundling...... 20
IV. THE COMMISSION SHOULD ENSURE THAT FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATIONS FACILITATE COMPETITION BETWEEN CABLE AND DBS...... 20
A. DBS Carriage of Significantly Viewed Signals Is Limited by the Commission’s Overly Restrictive Interpretations of SHVERA...... 21
B. Local Restrictions May Deter Consumers from Choosing DBS...... 22
C. The Commission Should Close the Terrestrial Loophole and Consider the Use of Other Tools to Increase Competition with Cable...... 25
V. DIRECTV HAS INCREASED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE DTV TRANSITION...... 25
VI. CONCLUSION...... 28
ii
I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.
DIRECTV, Inc. submits these comments in response to the Commission’s Notices
of Inquiry soliciting data and information for its annual report on the status of competition in the market for delivery of video programming.1 DIRECTV prides itself
on offering the best television experience anywhere. Since its last report to the
Commission, DIRECTV has provided service to more subscribers, expanded its satellite
fleet, and increased its programming and other service offerings. DIRECTV’s
programming now includes more local-into-local, high definition (“HD”), foreign
language, and public interest channels. It also includes more “on demand” programming
and better advanced features. DIRECTV offers its subscribers these expanded
entertainment options while keeping subscription and equipment fees low and
maintaining an extremely competitive price structure.
DIRECTV faces substantial competition from other multichannel video
programming distributors (“MVPDs”), particularly incumbent cable operators that
continue to hold a disproportionate share of subscribers in local markets. In most cases,
these cable operators are able to offer video, audio, interactive programming, telephony,
broadband Internet access, and other services in bundled packages. Local Exchange
Carriers (“LECs”) are able to offer similar bundles in areas where they have deployed
fiber-based networks terminating in residential areas. As in prior years, DIRECTV is
hampered in its ability to compete with these larger entities when it cannot obtain key
programming at reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates. Cable-affiliated programmers
continue to withhold, or overcharge, for critical sports programming, while network-
1 See Annual Assessment of the Status of Competition in the Market for the Delivery of Video Programming, Notice of Inquiry, 24 FCC Rcd 750 (2009) (“NOI”); Supplemental Notice of Inquiry, MB Docket No. 07-269 (rel. Apr. 9, 2009) (“Supplemental NOI”). affiliated broadcasters have dramatically raised their asking price for retransmission
consent. In addition, DIRECTV continues to face regulatory obstacles not encountered
by other providers, such as local ordinances restricting the installation and placement of receive antennas and Commission rules that impede DIRECTV’s ability to carry significantly viewed (“SV”) broadcast signals. Although these regulations hinder
DIRECTV’s efforts to compete for subscribers, DIRECTV continues to offer consumers extremely competitive rates and options for services and equipment.
II. DIRECTV CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS SUBSCRIBERSHIP, SYSTEM CAPACITY, AND PROGRAMMING OPTIONS.
Since its last report to the Commission, DIRECTV has provided service to more subscribers than ever before, expanded its satellite fleet, and increased programming offerings to subscribers while maintaining an extremely competitive price structure for programming packages and equipment.
A. DIRECTV’s Subscribership Has Increased.
The NOI seeks updated data and information concerning the number and characteristics of DBS subscribers.2 As of June 30, 2008, DIRECTV served approximately 17.16 million U.S. subscribers.3 This number represents an increase of
five percent over the approximately 16.32 million subscribers served as of June 30, 2007,
and an increase of 10 percent over the approximately 15.51 million subscribers
DIRECTV reported as of June 30, 2006.4 DIRECTV’s subscribership continues to
increase notwithstanding the fact that almost all of DIRECTV’s customers reside in one
2 NOI ¶¶ 41-43. See also Supplemental NOI ¶ 2. 3 The DIRECTV Group, Inc., Form 8-K (Aug. 7, 2008). 4 See The DIRECTV Group, Inc., Form 8-K (Aug. 9, 2007).
2 of the over 112 million households now passed by cable.5 Although the percentage of
U.S. households that cannot receive DBS service due to line-of-sight problems remains difficult to quantify, line-of-sight continues to affect the availability of DBS service to potential subscribers, particularly for persons living in multiple dwelling units
(“MDUs”).6 As the GAO found in 2005, as many as half of MDU residents are unable to receive DBS signals due to line-of-sight problems.7
DIRECTV’s increase in subscribers is attributable, in part, to the high quality customer experience DIRECTV provides.8 In 2008, DIRECTV received the highest scores for customer satisfaction among all cable and satellite TV providers on the
American Customer Satisfaction Index.9 This was the eighth straight year that
DIRECTV has outscored its cable competitors.10 DIRECTV has also received the highest ranking four times in J.D. Power and Associates’ national customer satisfaction studies and, in 2007, was rated highest in customer satisfaction among satellite/cable TV subscribers for 43 states.11
5 See National Cable & Telecommunications Association, 2007 Industry Overview, at 7 (Apr. 24, 2007), available at http://i.ncta.com/ncta_com/PDFs/NCTA_Annual_Report_04.24.07.pdf (“NCTA Industry Overview”). See also NOI ¶ 43 (noting that new DBS penetration has “grown most rapidly in urban and suburban areas”). 6 See NOI ¶ 43. 7 See United States Government Accountability Office, Telecommunications: Direct Broadcast Satellite Subscribership Has Grown Rapidly, but Varies across Different Types of Markets, GAO-05-257 (Apr. 2005), available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05257.pdf. 8 See NOI ¶ 41 (inquiring as to the “factors contributing to DBS growth in the video programming market”). 9 The American Consumer Satisfaction Index, Scores By Company, The DIRECTV Group, Inc., available at http://www.theacsi.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=157&c=DIREC TV. 10 Id. 11 See Press Release, J.D. Power and Associates Reports: DIRECTV and WOW! Lead the Regional Cable and Satellite Customer Satisfaction Rankings (Aug. 15, 2007), available at http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2007137.pdf.
3 B. DIRECTV Has Expanded System Capacity and Increased Innovative Service Offerings.
The NOI seeks updated information concerning the deployment of DBS satellites, including current and pending additions to DBS satellite fleets.12 DIRECTV continues to grow its satellite fleet and has increased the number, variety, and quality of channels available to subscribers through the launch of new satellites and the use of new compression technology. Since the Commission’s last inquiry, DIRECTV has successfully launched two new state-of-the-art Boeing BSS-702 Ka-band satellites
(DIRECTV-10 and DIRECTV-11) positioned at the nominal 103° and 99° West longitude orbital slots.13 A third such satellite, DIRECTV-12, is under construction and will be ready for launch in the second half of this year.14
As of the end of 2007, DIRECTV offered more than 1,800 digital video and audio channels to its subscribers, including
• Approximately 190 basic entertainment channels; • 33 premium movie channels; • Over 36 regional and specialty sports networks; • Over 1,400 local channels in the aggregate; • Over 101 Spanish and other foreign language special interest channels; • Over 31 pay-per-view movie and event choices; and • Over 90 national high definition (“HD”) channels.15
12 NOI ¶ 44. 13 See Press Release, DIRECTV 10 Launch A Giant Leap for HD (Jul. 7, 2007), available at http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=286355; Press Release, DIRECTV Satellite Launch Sets the Stage for Delivery of Up to 150 National HD Channels (Mar. 20, 2008), available at http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=300485. 14 The DIRECTV Group, Inc., Form 10-K at 8 (Feb. 25, 2008).
15 See the DIRECTV Group, Inc., Form 10-K at 2-3 (filed Feb. 25, 2008). Although DIRECTV distributes over 1,400 local channels, a subscriber generally receives only the local channels in that subscriber’s home market.
4
DIRECTV currently offers local HD broadcast channels in 126 markets, representing 89
percent of U.S. television households.
DIRECTV has spent billions of dollars in developing a host of technologies to
increase capacity.16 DIRECTV was, of course, the first satellite operator to develop spot-
beam technology, which allows DIRECTV to serve local markets throughout the country
through the spectrally-efficient strategy of frequency reuse. DIRECTV also continues to
migrate its HD-quality audio and video services to the most advanced technologies,
including MPEG-4 digital compression, DVB-S2 and 8PSK satellite modulation and
coding, and Ka-band transmissions. These technologies, which have required DIRECTV
to deploy new satellites as well as new satellite dishes, receivers, and other customer equipment, will continue to serve as the foundation for DIRECTV’s expansion of HD- quality audio and video channels during the next several years. DIRECTV has also
continued to pursue its applications for additional authorizations to use the new 17/24
GHz BSS band,17 which could make another 400 MHz of spectrum available at multiple
orbital locations for even more enhancements to DIRECTV’s service offering.
DIRECTV is providing more advanced interactive services to subscribers than
ever before.18 DIRECTV has expanded its interactive channel lineup, allowing
subscribers to view multiple channels at the same time on one screen, access special features during major events, initiate interactive customer support, and receive
16 See also NOI ¶ 44 (noting that DBS providers “have supplemented their satellite fleets to provide a wider range of programming”). 17 See, e.g., Application for Launch and Operating Authority, Call Sign S2711, File No. SAT-LOA- 20060908-00099; Application for Launch and Operating Authority, Call Sign S2242, File No. SAT- LOA-19970605-00049.
18 See NOI ¶ 80.
5 personalized information such as weather, horoscopes, and lottery results.19 DIRECTV is
particularly proud of its “Election Mix” service, which permitted subscribers to monitor
eight local and national news sources at the same time on election night.20
In addition, in 2007, DIRECTV began deploying its “DIRECTV on Demand”
service, which currently offers subscribers over 4,500 movies, shows, and sports content
– including many titles at no extra charge – via the subscriber’s broadband connection.21
DIRECTV has also recently provided its subscribers the capability to access DVR features remotely via a mobile phone or web browser to select programs (including pay- per-view titles) for later viewing.22
C. DIRECTV Offers Compelling National Programming at Competitive Prices.
1. DIRECTV Programming Packages
DIRECTV offers programming packages at competitive rates.23 These offers
included the following rates and packages as of June 2007:
• The DIRECTV Choice™ package, priced at $39.99 per month after $10 mail- in rebate, with over 150 channels, including local channels where available, and 50 XM Satellite Radio channels;24
19 See DIRECTV Interactive Channels, Experience TV in a Whole New Way, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=1200065. 20 See Press Release, DIRECTV Customers Count On Mix Channel for Election Night Coverage (Oct. 21, 2008), available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=3640094.
21 See Supplemental NOI ¶ 16 (seeking information on video on demand offerings); DIRECTV Services, Introducing DIRECTV on DEMAND, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4750018. 22 See DIRECTV: DVR Scheduler, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=3460014. 23 NOI ¶ 47 (requesting data on the availability and pricing of DBS programming packages, including foreign language, public interest, and a la carte programming). The NOI also asks for information regarding the accessibility of closed captioning. See NOI ¶ 26. DIRECTV continues to pass through closed captioning information for SD and HD channels. 24 See Exhibit 1, 2007 DIRECTV Choice™ Programming Package.
6 • The DIRECTV Choice Xtra™ package, priced at $49.99 per month, with over 185 channels, including all the channels available in the Choice™ package and 30 additional cable network and digital music channels;25 and
• The DIRECTV Premier™ package, priced at $99.00 per month, with over 250 channels (including 31 premium movie channels) and included DVR service.26
In addition, DIRECTV offers the DIRECTV MÁS™ package for Spanish-speaking households, which included the following rates and packages as of June 2007:
• The BÁSICO™ package, priced at $29.99 per month, with more than 60 channels, including 40 Spanish-language channels;27
• The FAMILIAR™ package, priced at $42.99 per month, with over 140 channels;28
• The FAMILIAR ÚLTRA™ package, priced at $51.99 per month, with over 200 channels, including regional sports networks and family programming;29 and
• The LO MÁXIMO™ package, priced at $99.99 per month, with over 260 channels, including 32 premium movie channels.30
DIRECTV’s current offers, which include even more programming and typically feature pricing below the rates listed above for the first twelve months of a new customer’s subscription, are set forth in Exhibits 8 and 9.31
DIRECTV’s services include a wide range of compelling programming at every price point. For example, the DIRECTV Choice™ package offers channels that often are
25 See Exhibit 2, 2007 DIRECTV Choice Xtra™ Programming Package. 26 See Exhibit 3, 2007 DIRECTV Premier™ Programming Package. 27 See Exhibit 4, 2007 BÁSICO™ Programming Package. 28 See Exhibit 5, 2007 FAMILIAR™ Programming Package. 29 See Exhibit 6, 2007 FAMILIAR ÚLTRA™ Programming Package. 30 See Exhibit 7, 2007 LO MÁXIMO™ Programming Package. 31 See Exhibit 8, current DIRECTV Channel Lineup (English); Exhibit 9 current DIRECTV Channel Lineup (Spanish).
7 not included on competitors’ “expanded basic” lineups, including the NFL Network,
Noggin, and Discovery Kids.32
DIRECTV has also invested in niche programming of interest to its subscribers.
DIRECTV has launched The 101™, a channel that features content including concert
performances by top-rated artists and program series such as Friday Night Lights.
DIRECTV also has invested in the exclusive rights to a variety of out-of-market sports.
DIRECTV obtained the exclusive rights to NFL SUNDAY TICKET, which allows
subscribers to watch up to 14 out-of-market games each week, most in HD.33 DIRECTV
reached a similar arrangement with NASCAR, and now offers the NASCAR Hotpass,
which offers up to five driver cameras, three camera views on a television screen,
updated statistics, and live audio.34 Mega March Madness allows customers to watch 37 games outside of their region from the first three rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. DIRECTV offers other out-of-market sports packages, including baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer packages, on a non exclusive basis.35
32 See Exhibit 8. 33 See NOI ¶ 19. See also DIRECTV: NFL Sunday Ticket, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=900044. 34 See DIRECTV: NASCAR Hotpass, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P3980112.
35 See DIRECTV: MLB Extra Innings, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=3180002; DIRECTV: NBA League Pass, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=1000008&footernavtype=2; DIRECTV: NHL Center Ice, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=1100047; DIRECTV: MLS Direct Kick, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=1100055. With respect to MLB Extra Innings, while DIRECTV and MLB had originally contemplated an exclusive arrangement, they ultimately chose non-exclusive carriage. iN DEMAND, owned by the largest cable operators, reached a similar agreement with MLB 3 days after the start of the 2007 season.
8 2. DIRECTV FAMILY™
The DIRECTV FAMILY™ package is specifically geared toward the needs of
families with young children.36 This package has been available to subscribers for
$29.99 per month since its introduction in April 2006.37 DIRECTV FAMILY™ offers
more than 40 channels of programming suitable for families and younger viewers,
including some of the most popular family-oriented channels, such as Boomerang,
Disney, PBS Kids Sprout, National Geographic, Noggin, local broadcast channels, and
twelve public interest channels including NASA, National Religious Broadcast Network,
Link TV, and World Harvest TV.38 Customers can receive the DIRECTV FAMILY™ package using the same equipment and technology used to provide DIRECTV’s other package options.39
3. Foreign Language Programming
DIRECTV offers a wide variety of foreign language programming packages.
DIRECTV’s International Packages include over 65 channels in 14 languages, such as
Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Bengali, Cantonese, Vietnamese,
Tagalog, Italian, and Korean, to underserved ethnic markets throughout the United
States.40 International programming is available to customers who subscribe to
DIRECTV’s $12.99 per month Basic service or any DIRECTV base programming
36 NOI ¶ 18. 37 See Exhibit 10, 2007 DIRECTV FAMILY™ Programming Package. See also Exhibit 8. 38 See Exhibit 10. 39 See NOI ¶ 18 (asking whether subscribers require additional equipment to receive a family tier of programming). 40 See DIRECTV: International Packages, available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4710140.
9 package.41 DIRECTV’s International Packages are priced at $14.99 to $45.99 per month, depending on origin.
4. Public Interest Programming
DIRECTV continues to offer a variety of noncommercial, educational, and other public interest programming to subscribers, in compliance with the Commission’s four percent channel capacity set-aside requirement.42 Among others, DIRECTV carries the
following qualifying noncommercial channels: World Harvest Television, C-Span 1 and
2, Daystar, Trinity Broadcasting Network, the WORD Network, BYU TV, LINK TV,
NASA TV, TCT, RFD-TV, Once Mexico, EWTN, HITN, and NRB.
D. DIRECTV Continues to Expand Local-Into-Local Service.
The NOI requests updated information on the number of markets where DBS
operators provide local-into-local service pursuant to the Satellite Home Viewer
Improvement Act of 1999 (“SHVIA”).43 As explained below, DIRECTV has expanded local-into-local service, and anticipates that it will continue to increase carriage of local
broadcast signals in both SD and HD formats.
1. Carriage in Local Markets
DIRECTV currently offers local-into-local service in 151 television markets
across the country – including Alaska and Hawaii – covering 95 percent of the nation’s
television households. Because local broadcast channels in SD format, where available,
41 Id. 42 See 47 C.F.R. § 25.701(f)(1). See also NOI ¶ 14. 43 NOI ¶ 45.
10 are included in DIRECTV’s Choice™ basic service, there is no additional cost to subscribers to receive local-into-local service.44
2. HD Local Carriage
DIRECTV has also significantly expanded its carriage of local broadcast signals in HD format since the Commission’s last inquiry.45 As of June 2007, DIRECTV offered local-into-local HD service in 60 markets representing more than 70 percent of the nation’s television households.46 By summer 2008, DIRECTV offered local-into-local
HD service in 82 markets representing more than 77 percent of households.47 And as noted above, DIRECTV has now expanded local-into-local HD service to 126 markets, representing 89 percent of U.S. television households.
DIRECTV plans to continue increasing the number of local stations it provides, particularly in HD format. The Commission sensibly recognized the technical and capacity challenges that DBS operators face when retransmitting the signals of thousands of local broadcast stations, and adopted a phased-in carriage requirement for broadcasters’ HD signals on a per-market basis.48 This decision gives DBS providers the
44 Customers who reside in markets where DIRECTV does not provide local-into-local service receive a $3.00/month discount. 45 See NOI ¶ 45, Supplemental NOI ¶¶ 10-11 (seeking information on local HD carriage by DBS providers). 46 See Press Release, DIRECTV Adds New HD Channels for Fall; Four Discovery HD Channels, Five Starz HD Channels, CNBC and Chiller to Join the HD Pack, More on the Way (May 23, 2007), available at http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=286346. 47 See Press Release, DIRECTV Delivers Local HD Programming To Customers in the Augusta, Ga. DMA (Aug. 27, 2008), available at http://dtv.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=330818 48 See Carriage of Digital Television Broadcast Signals: Amendment to Part 76 of the Commission’s Rules; Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act of 1999: Local Broadcast Signal Carriage Issues and Retransmission Consent Issues, Second Report and Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Second Further Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd. 5351 (2008) (“DBS HD Carry One Carry All Order”).
11 flexibility needed to bring more local content to consumers notwithstanding the unique
technical limitations satellite carriers face.
DIRECTV is also working in creative ways with local broadcasters to maximize
HD carriage opportunities. For example, DIRECTV, PBS, and the Association of Public
Television Stations (“APTS”) recently negotiated a ten year carriage deal for APTS
members.49 This arrangement enables DIRECTV to offer HD programming from local
PBS stations in each market where it provides local HD channels to its customers.
3. Alaska and Hawaii
The NOI requests information regarding the availability of DBS service in Alaska
and Hawaii and asks whether such service differs from that offered in the contiguous
states.50 DIRECTV continues to provide the same programming packages, at the same
rates, in Alaska and Hawaii as it provides to the rest of the nation, in compliance with the
Commission’s geographic service requirements.51 Indeed, because the Commission has interpreted SHVERA as requiring carriage of all HD and multicast signals broadcast by local stations in Alaska and Hawaii,52 subscribers in these two states actually get more
programming than do those in the contiguous states. As discussed below, the
Commission should adjust its over-the-air reception devices (“OTARD”) rule so that
49 DirecTV, APTS, PBS Ink 10 Year Carriage Deal, Broadcasting and Cable (Dec. 19, 2007), available at http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/111700- DirecTV_APTS_PBS_Ink_10_Year_Carriage_Deal.php. 50 NOI ¶ 24. 51 See 47 C.F.R. § 25.148(c). 52 See Implementation of Section 210 of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd. 14242 (2005).
12 subscribers in Hawaii can enjoy the same benefits as subscribers in the rest of the country.53
E. DIRECTV’s Equipment Options Benefit Consumers.
The NOI requests information on the typical cost of DBS equipment and
installation, including a description of the features and leasing options for DBS
54 equipment. Among other features, DIRECTV’s set top box lineup includes products
that incorporate over-the-air tuners. Subscribers with these products can receive digital
broadcasts over-the-air, which are then handled by the set top box in the same manner as
signals received via satellite transmission, and are compatible with other box features,
such as program guides and, for DVR products, scheduled recordings.55 Thus,
DIRECTV today offers a seamless, integrated local channel package in all 210
Designated Market Areas (“DMAs”) nationwide.56
With respect to equipment cost, DIRECTV continues to provide subscribers with
the option to lease equipment rather than paying the full upfront purchase price.57
DIRECTV’s leasing program offers consumers several benefits. First, the program
makes it easier for subscribers to obtain better equipment as DBS set-top box technology
advances and as DIRECTV offers new services, including carriage of HD signals, remote
scheduling, and other advances. Second, consumers do not have to pay potentially large
out-of-pocket expenses at service commencement, and will not be stranded with DBS
53 See Part IV.B., below.
54 NOI ¶ 47. 55 See Letter from William M. Wiltshire, Counsel for DIRECTV, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, MB Docket No. 07-18 (Jan. 30, 2008). 56 Id. 57 The DIRECTV Group, Inc., Form 10-K at 4 (Feb. 25, 2008).
13 equipment rendered obsolete by subsequent technological advances.58 Leased set-top
boxes also remain nationally portable, allowing subscribers to relocate leased equipment
to any part of the country.
Finally, DIRECTV’s leasing program offers consumers an attractive rate
structure. When switching from cable to DBS, consumers are generally not inclined to
spend hundreds of dollars in full upfront equipment and installation costs. Rather, they
overwhelmingly prefer equipment leases accompanied by an 18 or 24 month commitment.59 Subscribers pay nothing for the first set-top receiver they lease and only
$4.99 per month for each additional receiver.60 Subscribers also enjoy free equipment
installation in up to four rooms with a programming commitment.61
III. DIRECTV FACES SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION IN THE VIDEO DISTRIBUTION MARKETPLACE.
A. DIRECTV is Subject to Competition from Multiple Providers.
The NOI requests updated data and information concerning head-to-head
competition in the market for video programming and bundled services offered by
62 MVPDs. DIRECTV faces substantial competition in the video marketplace,
particularly from other MVPDs that offer video, audio, interactive programming,
telephony, data, and other entertainment services. These competitors include:
58 See Exhibit 11, DIRECTV FAQ: Top Questions. 59 See Testimony of John F. Murphy, Senior Vice President, Controller & Chief Accounting Officer, DIRECTV, WT Docket No. 05-194 (filed Jun. 12, 2008). Specifically, customers can choose to pay full retail price for equipment and installation with no early cancellation fee (“ECF”), or they can opt for free equipment and installation with an 18 or 24 month commitment along with a pro-rated ECF that decreases proportionally each month down to zero by the end of the commitment term. Id. at 3-5. 60 See Exhibit 11. 61 See id. 62 NOI ¶ 7.
14 • Cable Television. According to the most recent data from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, over 65 million U.S. television households subscribe to cable.63 Most cable providers have completed network upgrades that allow for enhanced service offerings, such as digital cable, HD local channels, broadband Internet access, and telephony services.64 Cable companies bundle these services with their basic video services, offering discounts and providing one bill to the consumer. As one example, Cablevision’s Optimum service currently offers new customers a bundled package that includes video, broadband Internet access and telephony services for $90 per month for the first 12 months of service.65 The ability to bundle video, voice, and data services makes cable a formidable competitor in the MVPD marketplace.
• Other DBS and DTH System Operators. DIRECTV’s primary DBS competitor is DISH Network Corporation (“EchoStar”), which serves approximately 13.8 million subscribers.66 Other domestic and foreign satellite operators also are seeking to provide video service in the U.S. using DBS frequencies as well as 17/24 GHz BSS frequencies.67
• Local Exchange Carriers. Local exchange carriers (“LECs”) entering the MVPD market also provide significant competition to existing MVPD services. Although they are still relatively new to the MVPD market, LECs enjoy consumer recognition from their entrenchment in the markets for voice and data, the ability to invest significant resources into plant and content, and size that provides leverage in negotiations with content providers.68 Verizon’s recently introduced video service, FiOS TV, now has approximately 1.2 million subscribers, making it the eleventh largest MVPD in the U.S.69 Verizon has projected that it will have at least 4 million customers by next year.70 AT&T’s television offering, U-verse TV, has also experienced tremendous growth, and now provides service to over
63 NCTA Industry Overview at 5. 64 See id. at 7. 65 See The Optimum Triple Play, available at http://www.optimum.com/order/triple_play.jsp. 66 DISH Network Corp. 10-Q at 40 (Nov. 10, 2008). 67 See, e.g., Spectrum Five, LLC; Petition for Declaratory Ruling to Serve the U.S. Market Using Broadcast Satellite Service (BSS) Spectrum from the 114.5 Degrees W.L. Orbital Location, Order and Authorization, 21 FCC Rcd 14023 (2006); Memorandum Opinion and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 3252 (2008); Spectrum Five LLC Applications for Satellite Space Station Authorizations, File Nos. SAT- LOI-20081113-00216, SAT-LOI-20081119-00217. 68 Indeed, Verizon and AT&T have each engaged in a series of recent acquisitions, creating further consolidation in the marketplace and allowing them to take advantage of economies of scale and scope, efficiencies, and other benefits derived from their recent mergers. 69 See Todd Spangler, Verizon Plans Q2 Rate Hike For FiOS, Multichannel News (Apr. 30, 2008). 70 Id.
15 one million customers in 79 major markets in 16 states.71 Smaller LECs can also offer a package of hundreds of video channels along with their own broadband and telephony products using turnkey content aggregation and delivery services such as Intelsat IPTV.72 Like cable operators, LECs offer their customers multiple services at a discount on one bill.
• Video via the Internet. With an increasing number of consumers subscribing to broadband Internet access service, a significant amount of video content has become available on the Internet for viewing on televisions, personal computers, and mobile devices.73 For example, Netflix, Blockbuster, and Amazon.com offer video content available for television viewing via set top boxes and other devices.74 Similarly, consumers can purchase or rent movies and television shows from the iTunes store, and watch them on televisions connected to the AppleTV set top box.75 Finally, TV-on-the-Internet web portals such as Hulu (a joint venture between NBC and News Corp.) and TV.com (owned by CBS Interactive) offer streaming video from a number of different networks and studios.76
• Terrestrial Wired and Wireless Providers. Broadband service providers, wireless systems, and satellite master antenna television systems currently offer MVPD and program distribution technologies in competition with DIRECTV.
• VHF/UHF Broadcasters. Most areas of the U.S. can receive signals of terrestrial VHF/UHF television broadcast stations that offer local, network, and syndicated programming free of charge. The most recent Commission data show that there are 1,758 full power television broadcast stations in the United States, as well as thousands of Class A, low power, and TV translator stations in operation.77 Many of these, in turn, simultaneously offer multiple programming streams.
71 See AT&T Press Release, U-verse TV Reaches 1 Million Subscriber Milestone (Dec. 16, 2008), available at http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=26398. 72 See Intelsat IPTV Fact Sheet, available at http://www.intelsat.com/_files/services/media/IPTV- factsheet.pdf.
73 See Supplemental NOI ¶ 42 (describing video programming available over the Internet). 74 See id. ¶¶ 42-43. See also Netflix - Instantly to Your TV, available at http://www.netflix.com/NetflixReadyDevices; Blockbuster Online – Blockbuster On Demand, available at http://www.blockbuster.com/outlet/electronics/onDemand?cid=ondemandFromHome; Amazon Video on Demand on Your TV, available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/video/ontv/ontv/ref=sv_atv_2. 75 See Apple TV, Now Playing: HD TV Shows and More, available at http://www.apple.com/appletv/. 76 See Shirley Brady, NBC and Fox Jump Through Hulu Hoop, Cable360.net (Aug. 29, 2007), available at http://www.cable360.net/competition/web/25376.html; TV.Com – About TV.com, available at http://www.tv.com/aboutus.html. 77 See Federal Communications Commission, Broadcast Station Totals as of June 30, 3008, available at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/totals/bt080630.html.
16 B. Cable-Affiliated Programmers Continue to Abuse Their Market Power.
In the past, DIRECTV has repeatedly cited concerns with access to cable- affiliated programming.78 Those concerns remain, and, if anything, have grown more
acute.
As the Commission has recognized on numerous occasions, while cable’s share of
the national MVPD market is declining, cable remains highly concentrated in many
regions of the country. This enables a variety of anticompetitive strategies, including the
withholding of cable-affiliated programming, uniform price increases, and “stealth
discrimination.” These strategies are especially effective with respect to Regional Sports
Networks (“RSNs”).79 While the program access rules prohibit exclusive arrangements
for much of this programming, they do not prevent cable operators from employing the
terrestrial loophole to evade these rules, and they may not prevent some of the more
sophisticated techniques for achieving the same result.
C. Network-Affiliated Broadcasters Increasingly Abuse Their Market Power.
Since it was first allowed to retransmit local signals in 1999, DIRECTV has
always paid for retransmission consent, placing it at a serious disadvantage to its incumbent cable competitors.80 It has done so despite making broadcast signals available
78 See, e.g., Comments of DIRECTV, Inc., MB Docket No. 07-29 (filed Apr. 2, 2007); Comments of DIRECTV, Inc., MB Docket No. 06-189 (filed Nov. 29, 2006); Comments of DIRECTV, Inc., MB Docket No. 05-192 (filed Jul. 21, 2005).
79 See Applications for Consent to the Assignment and/or Transfer of Control of Licenses; Adelphia Communications Corporation, Assignors to Time Warner Cable, Inc., et al., Memorandum Opinion and Order, 21 FCC Rcd. 8203 (2006). 80 See Mike Farrell and Linda Moss, Ops, Broadcasters Give Peace A Chance; Retransmission Battles Go Down with Barely a Fuss. Is This the Calm Before the Storm?, MultiChannel News (Jan. 12, 2009) (citing SNL Kagan data on retransmission consent revenues paid by DBS).
17 to millions who otherwise could not receive them. While DIRECTV has, for the most part, been able to avoid the serious disruptions in service that have befallen other
MVPDs,81 network-affiliated broadcasters have recently become even more aggressive in asserting their market power.
That such market power exists is not in doubt – as the Commission itself has found.82 Network programming remains among the most valuable on television.83
Numerous provisions of copyright law, not to mention the Commission’s own rules governing retransmission consent and exclusivity, give individual broadcasters monopolies over particular network programming within their local markets.84 Whether due to tougher economic times, declining revenues, or the growing ability to play more
MVPDs off against one another, broadcasters have increasingly demanded patently unreasonable terms and conditions, threatening to pull programming if those terms and conditions are not met. The Commission, moreover, has so far declined to intervene, or even to declare that such tactics violate “good faith” negotiation requirements.85
81 See, e.g., Mediacom Commn’s Corp. v. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Order, 22 FCC Rcd. 11093 (MB 2007); Sallie Hofmeister, ABC Back on Cable TV as Dispute Is Set Aside, LA TIMES, A1 (May 3, 2000).
82 See, e.g., General Motors Corporation and Hughes Electronics Corporation, Transferors And The News Corporation Limited, Transferee, Authority to Transfer Control, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 19 FCC Rcd. 473, ¶ 201 (2004) (“We find that News Corp. currently possesses significant market power in the DMAs in which it has the ability to negotiate retransmission consent agreements on behalf of local broadcast stations.”).
83 Indeed, as the National Association of Broadcasters recently observed, “[d]espite the back and forth rhetoric from our distribution partners [regarding retransmission consent deals], the fact is that cable, DBS and telcos badly need broadcast programming to remain competitive.” Mike Farrell and Linda Moss, Ops, Broadcasters Give Peace A Chance, supra note 80, at 6.
84 See, e.g., 17 U.S.C. § 122, 47 U.S.C. § 338; 47 C.F.R. §§ 73.658, 76.92-76.97, 76.151-76.163.
85 E.g., Mediacom Commn’s Corp. v. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., Order, 22 FCC Rcd. 11093 (MB 2007).
18 The result is predictable: higher retransmission consent fees (which get passed
along to subscribers), more frequent threats to withhold stations (which confuse
subscribers), and more withheld signals (which deprive subscribers of critical network
programming). Exacerbating this imbalance is the recent influx of private equity
investments in broadcast television. This has resulted in broadcasters demanding ever
increasing rates, in some instances two to three times what DIRECTV was previously
paying. One broadcaster reported a 23 percent rise in retransmission consent revenues
between 2006 and 2007 alone.86 Another broadcaster recently told the FCC that it could
reasonably demand $20.00 per-sub-per-month for a single station.87
It does not appear that this additional money is being used to provide more, or better, local programming. In fact, the opposite appears to be true. Many broadcasters are producing less local news, and others have replaced local programming with national infomercials.
DIRECTV willingly pays for high-quality content that its subscribers value. All programming entities deserve fair and reasonable compensation for the product they produce. This includes value-added content we receive from broadcasters. But it does not serve the American public if broadcasters are allowed the unfettered ability to raise rates without any correlating benefit to consumers in the form of improved local content.
Thus, the Commission should consider measures to ensure that broadcast programming
86 “Nexstar Expects $75M from Retrans Deals,” TVNewsday, Feb. 19, 2009, available at http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2009/02/19/daily.12/. 87 See Reply Comments of Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc., MB Docket No. 07-198, at 9-10 (filed Feb. 12, 2008) (arguing that the true market value of the average Hearst-Argyle station is $20.18 per subscriber per month and stating that, while it has not yet sought such fees, “the Commission could hardly conclude, on any basis of fairness or equity, that a negotiating request for such a fee was not based on marketplace considerations or was in any way inappropriate or unlawful”).
19 (1) is available at a reasonable price and without interruption, and (2) includes sufficient
local content to justify carriage.
D. Broadband Bundling.
Several of the MVPDs that compete with DIRECTV identified above also are able to bundle video, broadband Internet, and telephony services in one bill at discounted rates.88 DIRECTV continues to explore ways to offer nationwide broadband services to complement its existing video service, but it does not yet have the ability to provide a complete bundled service solution like those offered by cable operators.89
IV. THE COMMISSION SHOULD ENSURE THAT FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATIONS FACILITATE COMPETITION BETWEEN CABLE AND DBS.
The NOI seeks comment on the impact of the regulatory environment for MVPDs
and barriers to entry that impede competition in the video marketplace and reduce
consumer choice.90 Although the NOI identifies DBS as the most significant competitive alternative to cable,91 the Commission can take several actions to increase DBS
operators’ ability to compete, thus benefitting all consumers. Specifically, local
regulations that limit the installation and placement of satellite dishes, and restrictions on
the ability of DBS operators to carry SV broadcast signals, may influence a consumer’s
decision in choosing between DBS and cable service. The Commission should also close
88 See Supplemental NOI ¶ 13 (seeking information on the impact of bundling on the market for delivery of video programming services). 89 As the Commission notes, however, certain LECs offer joint service with DBS providers. See NOI ¶ 49. For example, DIRECTV and AT&T recently entered into a new agreement under which AT&T markets and sells co-branded satellite television service. See Press Release, AT&T and DIRECTV, Inc. Reach Agreement to Offer Satellite TV Service to AT&T Customers (Sept. 26, 2008), available at http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P4940034. 90 NOI ¶¶ 9-11. 91 See NOI ¶ 41.
20 the terrestrial loophole and consider other actions that would foster competition between
DBS and cable.
A. DBS Carriage of Significantly Viewed Signals Is Limited by the Commission’s Overly Restrictive Interpretations of SHVERA.
One regulatory disparity between DBS and cable is the ability to carry
significantly viewed (“SV”) signals.92 Despite SHVERA’s enactment to authorize DBS
carriage of SV signals, and the existence of hundreds of broadcast signals deemed
93 “significantly viewed” across the country, such signals currently are being carried by
DBS operators in only a very limited number of markets. As DIRECTV explained in its
94 Petition for Reconsideration filed jointly with EchoStar in another proceeding, the lack of DBS carriage of SV signals is largely attributable to the Commission’s overly restrictive interpretations of SHVERA’s requirements. In particular, the Commission’s
implementation of SHVERA’s requirement that the digital signals of local and SV
network station pairs be afforded “equivalent bandwidth” has severely hampered DBS carriage of SV signals.95 The Commission has interpreted the “equivalent bandwidth”
requirement to mean that DBS operators must perform an “objective comparison” of the
bit rates of each network station pair in real time in order to ensure absolute
92 The NOI requests data and information on the number of SV signals being made available to DBS subscribers and any impediments to marketing SV signals to DBS subscribers. See NOI ¶ 46. 93 See Significantly Viewed Station List (last modified Feb. 19, 2009), available at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/significantviewedstations022509.pdf. 94 See Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, Implementation of Section 340 of the Communications Act, Petition for Reconsideration of DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite LLC, MB Docket No. 05-49 (filed Jan. 26, 2006) (“SV Petition for Reconsideration”); Consolidated Reply to Oppositions of DIRECTV, Inc. and EchoStar Satellite LLC, MB Docket No. 05-49 (filed Mar. 15, 2006) (“SV Consolidated Reply”). 95 See 47 U.S.C. 340(b)(2)(B). This section of the Act requires that the local network station’s digital signal either must (i) occupy at least the “equivalent bandwidth” as the SV station’s digital signal, or (ii) be comprised of the entire bandwidth of the digital signal being broadcast by the local network station.
21 equivalence.96 In addition to being contrary to the purpose and plain language of
SHVERA,97 this interpretation effectively forecloses DBS carriage of SV signals due to the technical infeasibility of simultaneously matching the bit rates of hundreds of network station pairs across the country as their SD and HD program schedules constantly change.98 DIRECTV urges the Commission to grant its still-pending Petition for
Reconsideration in Docket No. 05-49 so that DBS operators may increase SV signal offerings to subscribers as SHVERA was intended to accomplish.
B. Local Restrictions May Deter Consumers from Choosing DBS.
Due to location and technical constraints, subscribers in Alaska and Hawaii must use nominally larger 1.2 meter receive antennas than subscribers elsewhere in the country in order to ensure adequate signal reception.99 Although such dishes are protected in
Alaska by the Commission’s rule on over-the-air reception devices (the “OTARD Rule”),
100 only smaller dishes enjoy such protection in Hawaii. DIRECTV dealers have recently reported several cases in which local governments or homeowners associations forced
96 See Implementation of the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004, Implementation of Section 340 of the Communications Act, Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 17278, ¶¶ 96, 99, 100 (2005) (“SV R&O”). 97 In their joint pleadings, DIRECTV and EchoStar demonstrated that the Commission’s interpretation of SHVERA’s “equivalent bandwidth” requirement was based on inferences that were unwarranted and in fact contradicted SHVERA’s dual purposes of enhancing competition between DBS and cable operators and providing DBS subscribers with access to the same SV signals available to cable subscribers. See SV Petition for Reconsideration at 2-8; SV Consolidated Reply at 4-9. 98 See SV Petition for Reconsideration at 7; SV Consolidated Reply at 9-11. Likewise, the Commission’s overly narrow interpretation of SHVERA’s requirement that a DBS subscriber receive the analog signals of a local network station as a precondition to receiving the analog signals of SV network stations also has deterred DBS carriage of SV signals. See 47 U.S.C. 340(b)(1). While the DTV transition will soon render this decision moot, DIRECTV believes that Congress should change the corresponding rule for digital signals. No station should be able to “block” another station by withholding retransmission consent rights. 99 See Letter from William M. Wiltshire, Counsel for DIRECTV, Inc., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, MB Docket No. 03-82, at 4-5 (Apr. 4, 2006). 100 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.4000.
22 subscribers to remove DIRECTV’s standard Hawaii-sized dish, which is larger than one
meter in diameter. Without this dish, subscribers in the state cannot receive service at
acceptable reliability levels. These local entities have therefore effectively denied
DIRECTV service to their residents. In Alaska, dishes larger than one meter in diameter are protected by the OTARD rules.101 DIRECTV continues to believe that subscribers in
Hawaii should be afforded the protection necessary to ensure their access to DBS service,
and urges the Commission to extend the rule applicable in Alaska to Hawaii as well.
More generally, DIRECTV commends the Commission for continuing to
aggressively enforce its OTARD Rule to protect the rights of consumers to install, use,
102 and maintain DBS dishes. One significant factor for consumers in choosing
DIRECTV’s service is their ability to freely install a DBS dish at a location of their choosing and which ensures good signal reception. Restrictions imposed by local governments, landlords, homeowners associations, and other entities that limit the installation and placement of DBS dishes continue to have an impact on DIRECTV’s subscribership. Such restrictions impose additional inconvenience and delay on potential subscribers, and fines for noncompliance can be substantial. Although the OTARD Rule offers some protection against these types of restrictions, most consumers are unaware of these protections, and the mere presence of locally-imposed restrictions and fines for
101 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.4000(a)(1)(i)(B). See also Preemption of Local Zoning Regulation of Satellite Earth Stations; Implementation of Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 11 FCC Rcd. 19276 ¶ 32 (1996) (“OTARD Order”), recon. granted in part and denied in part, 13 FCC Rcd. 18962 (1998) (“OTARD Recon Order”) (“Because of the unique and peculiar characteristics applicable to reception of such services outside the continental United States, it is necessary to provide an exception for Alaska to the general size guidelines in our rule.”). The Commission went on to contrast Alaska with Hawaii in this regard, noting that Hawaii is at a “lower latitude[]” than Alaska. Id. But Hawaii’s location presents satellite reception issues similar to those in Alaska. The OTARD rules should reflect this.
102 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.4000.
23 satellite dishes has the potential to discourage consumers from choosing DBS over cable service. For these reasons, the Commission should continue to vigorously enforce its
OTARD Rule to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy a meaningful choice in their video programming provider.
Similarly, the Commission should continue to ensure that other rules designed to facilitate competition in the market for MDU subscribers, including the Commission’s inside wiring rules and prohibition on exclusive contracts, are enforced.103 In this regard,
DIRECTV notes that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently upheld a verdict against an incumbent cable provider for, among other things, “seeking to grossly overcharge the MDUs and their occupants who may have wanted to purchase the wiring;
misleading customers about their access to the wiring and the necessity for its removal
should they choose another cable provider; [and] invoking inapplicable FCC regulations
in support of [its] asserted rights to the wiring.”104 Allowing such confusion to linger
leaves an opening for incumbents to exploit and denies MDU owners and occupants the
full benefit of the Commisison’s pro-consumer rules. In order to address this problem,
the Commission should post fact sheets on its web site explaining in easily
understandable terms exactly where an incumbent operator’s rights to inside wiring end
and a competitive provider’s rights begin.
103 See NOI ¶ 11 (describing Commission actions designed to facilitate competition in the provision of video services to MDUs). 104 See generally Marco Island Cable v. Comcast Cablevision of the South, Inc., No. 07-12886, 2009 U.S. App. LEXIS 2793, at *4 (11th Cir. Feb. 13, 2009).
24 C. The Commission Should Close the Terrestrial Loophole and Consider the Use of Other Tools to Increase Competition with Cable.
The NOI also seeks comment on the effect of terrestrial delivery of programming networks and other factors affecting MVPD access to programming.105 In other
proceedings, DIRECTV has urged the Commission to close the terrestrial loophole.106
Despite the conditions imposed during the Adelphia transaction,107 problems still exist.
For example, although Cablevision delivers the SD version of its affiliate RSNs via
satellite – where it is subject to the program access rules – it has moved the HD feeds of
this same programming to terrestrial distribution, and then (at least initially) refused to
sell those feeds to competitors.108 The Commission should act now to close the terrestrial
loophole for all cable-affiliated programmers.
V. DIRECTV HAS INCREASED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE DTV TRANSITION.
Finally, the NOI asks about consumer education related to the DTV transition.109
DIRECTV is proud of the efforts it has undertaken as a DTV.gov transition partner,110 which began even prior to the Commission’s adoption of the DTV Consumer Education
105 NOI ¶ 9. See also Supplemental NOI ¶ 12. 106 E.g., Further Comments of DIRECTV, MB Docket No. 07-29 (filed Jan. 4, 2008). 107 See Applications for Consent to the Assignment and/or Transfer of Control of Licenses Adelphia Communications Corporation, (and Subsidiaries, Debtors-In-Possession), Assignors, to Time Warner Cable Inc. (Subsidiaries), Assignees, Adelphia Communications Corporation, (And Subsidiaries, Debtors-In-Possession), Assignors and Transferors, to Comcast Corporation (Subsidiaries), Assignees and Transferees, Memorandum Opinion and Order. 21 FCC Rcd. 8203, 8336-39 (2006), App. B (Remedies and Conditions). 108 See, e.g., Comments of Verizon, MB Docket No. 07-29 at 13-15 (filed Apr. 2, 2007). 109 NOI ¶ 65, Supplemental NOI ¶ 9. 110 See DTV.gov Transition Partners, Web sites, and Consumer Information, available at http://www.dtv.gov/partners.html.
25 Order.111 DIRECTV has implemented the following initiatives to ensure that its subscribers will be fully informed about the digital transition and how it may affect them:
• Billing and Equipment Notices. Per the Commission’s requirements, DIRECTV has included DTV transition information with its bills. In most cases, DIRECTV has provided information both on the billing statement itself and in a bill stuffer or bill newsletter. In addition, a Spanish translation has been provided for customers who subscribe to a Spanish language package. DIRECTV has also been working with its manufacturers to include digital transition information with its set-top boxes and over the air tuners.
• Public Service Announcements. Since March 27, 2008, DIRECTV has been running a thirty second general market PSA, which aired 10,500 times before the end of November. In addition, DIRECTV is airing three different Spanish language PSAs: (i) a thirty and sixty-second spot that began running on the V-ME network in March 2008; (ii) a thirty and sixty-second spot running on certain Spanish-language networks that began in May 2008; and (iii) another thirty- second spot, which began running at the end of June 2008 on the DIRECTV MÁS service and which aired 4,062 times before the end of November.
• Print Advertisements. DIRECTV included a full page color educational announcement about the digital transition in its ACCESS programming magazine in April, May, June, July, August, October, and December 2008. In addition, DIRECTV included a full page color educational announcement in the January 2009 edition, as well as a two page spread banner advertisement in January and February 2009 editions of ACCESS.
• DIRECTV.com. DIRECTV has provided information on the digital transition at www.directv.com/dtv2009. In addition, the www.directv.com/localsolution web page launched at the end of August sets forth DIRECTV’s solution for integrating digital over-the-air local channels into subscribers’ programming guides in addition to other options for receiving local channels after the digital transition for subscribers in unserved markets.
• Call Centers. DIRECTV has trained its customer service representatives with general information, answers to frequently asked questions, and sample scripts related to the digital transition. In addition, DIRECTV includes digital transition information in both English and Spanish during its “on hold” message. DIRECTV also developed internal processes specific to the digital transition to better track consumers’ transition questions and concerns.
• Wilmington, NC. DIRECTV reached out to subscribers via auto call prior to Wilmington’s early transition, informing subscribers who subscribe to local
111 See generally DTV Consumer Education Initiative, Report and Order, 23 FCC Rcd. 4134 (2008).
26 channel packages that they did not need to take action to continue receiving local channels on their DIRECTV receiver, and letting subscribers who do not subscribe to local channels know that those channels were available. In August 2008, DIRECTV also launched radio and print advertisements with a special introductory $19.99 Digital Transition Family Package acquisition offer.
• Hawaii. DIRECTV also reached out to subscribers in Hawaii, informing them about Hawaii’s early digital transition starting in November 2008 with a separate message on their bill, and in December 2008, through a post card sent directly to such subscribers. In addition, DIRECTV placed information regarding Hawaii’s early transition on its website.
• Subscribers in Non-Local-into-Local Markets. DIRECTV has taken additional steps to inform those subscribers in non-local-into-local markets about what they need to do to be ready for the digital transition, including: (1) letters sent in October and December 2008, as well as two sent in January 2009; (2) emails sent in August 2008 and January and February 2009; and (3) auto calls placed from August 22 through September 13, 2008 and from November 13 through November 21, 2008.
• Subscribers in Local-into-Local Markets That Don’t Receive their Local Broadcast Stations from DIRECTV: DIRECTV now includes the local broadcast stations as part of its programming packages without additional charge. For legacy subscribers that are in local-into-local markets, but do not get their local stations from DIRECTV, DIRECTV had decided to make these stations available free of charge through the transition to help ease the transition and avoid any unnecessary disruption of service.
27 VI. CONCLUSION.
DIRECTV has made significant improvements to its service since the
Commission’s last inquiry, offering more programming options and attracting more subscribers than ever before. DIRECTV also has maintained an extremely competitive price structure despite facing regulatory obstacles not encountered by other MVPDs and increasing competition from emerging video providers. In the coming year, the
Commission should remain watchful to deter exercises of market power and local regulatory authority that could compromise more vibrant competition and meaningful consumer choice in video programming services.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
William M. Wiltshire Susan Eid Michael Nilsson Senior Vice President, Government Affairs S. Roberts Carter Stacy R. Fuller WILTSHIRE & GRANNIS LLP Vice President, Regulatory Affairs 1200 Eighteenth Street, NW DIRECTV, INC. Washington DC 20036 901 F Street, Suite 600 (202) 730-1300 Washington, DC 20004 (202) 383-6300 Counsel for DIRECTV, Inc.
May 20, 2009
28
LIST OF EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION NO.
1 2007 DIRECTV Choice™ Programming Package
2 2007 DIRECTV Choice Xtra™ Programming Package
3 2007 DIRECTV Premier™ Programming Package
4 2007 BÁSICO™ Programming Package
5 2007 FAMILIAR™ Programming Package
6 2007 FAMILIAR ÚLTRA™ Programming Package
7 2007 LO MÁXIMO™ Programming Package
8 Current DIRECTV Channel Lineup (English)
9 Current DIRECTV Channel Lineup (Spanish)
10 2007 DIRECTV FAMILY™ Programming Package
11 DIRECTV FAQ: Top Questions
Exhibit 1 DIRECTV - CHOICE http://web.archive.org/web/20070525132154/http://www.directv.com/...
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV - CHOICE
Order CHOICE for $39.99/mo Build your DIRECTV® System with the value-packed CHOICE package with over 140 channels for only $39.99/mo after $10 mail-in rebate.
Get DIRECTV Now
Our Basic Variety Package
Featuring over 140 top channels including movies, sports, family favorites and 50 XM Satellite Radio channels as well as local channels. A great value in television entertainment all in 100% digital-quality picture and sound. Click here to determine which regional sports networks are available in your area.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels
A&E 265 TCT Network 377
ABC Family 311 TNT 245
American Movie Classics (AMC) 254 TV Guide Channel 237
Animal Planet 282 TV Land 301
BBC America 264 TV One 241
BYU TV 374 The 101™ 101
Black Entertainment Television (BET) 329 The Church Channel 371
Bloomberg Television 353 The History Channel 269
Bravo 273 The Learning Channel (TLC) 280
C-SPAN 350 The Weather Channel 362
C-SPAN2 351 The Word 373
CNBC 355 Toon Disney 292
CNBC World 357 Travel Channel 277
1 of 3 DIRECTV - CHOICE http://web.archive.org/web/20070525132154/http://www.directv.com/...
CNN 202 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372
Cartoon Network 296 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) 256
Comedy Central 249 USA Network 242
Country Music Television (CMT) 327 Univision 402
Court TV 246 VH1 335
Current TV 366 WE: Women's Entertainment 260
DIRECTV NEWS MIX 102 World Harvest Television 321
DIRECTV SPORTS MIX 104 XM: America 808
Daystar 369 XM: Audio Visions 856
Discovery Channel 278 XM: BPM 859
Discovery Kids 294 XM: Beyond Jazz 852
Disney Channel (East) 290 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812
Disney Channel (West) 291 XM: Bluesville 854
ESPN 206 XM: Chrome 861
ESPN2 209 XM: Cinemagic 822
ESPNEWS 207 XM: Deep Tracks 840
EWTN 422 XM: Escape 820
FINE LIVING 232 XM: Ethel 834
FX 248 XM: Flight 26 818
FitTV 368 XM: High Standards 853
Food Network 231 XM: Highway 16 814
Fox News Channel 360 XM: Lucy 838
Fuse 339 XM: RAW - XL 846
GOD TV 365 XM: Real Jazz 850
GSN, the network for games 309 XM: Special X 848
Galavision 404 XM: Spirit 827
GemsTV 233 XM: Squizz - XL 835
HITN-TV* 438 XM: Suite 62 843
Hallmark Channel 312 XM: The 40s 801
Headline News 204 XM: The 50s 802
Home & Garden Television 229 XM: The 60s 803
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 70s 804
ION Television 255 XM: The 80s 805
Independent Film Channel 550 XM: The 90s 806
Lifetime 252 XM: The Blend 821
Lifetime Movie Network 253 XM: The City 847
Link TV 375 XM: The Heart 819
MSNBC 356 XM: The Joint 863
MTV 331 XM: The Loft 836
2 of 3 DIRECTV - CHOICE http://web.archive.org/web/20070525132154/http://www.directv.com/...
MTV2 333 XM: The Message 826
NASA TV 376 XM: The Move 858
NFL Network 212 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845
NRB 378 XM: The System 860
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 XM: Top 20 on 20 816
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: Top Tracks 833
Noggin/The N 298 XM: US Country 809
QVC 317 XM: VOX 865
RFD-TV 379 XM: Watercolors 851
ReelzChannel 225 XM: Willie's Place 811
SCI FI Channel 244 XM: World Zone 862
SOAPnet 262 XM: X Country 810
ShopNBC 370 XM: XM Café 832
Spike 325 XM: XM Chill 857
SportSouth 631 XM: XM Classics 864
TBS 247 XM: XM Hitlist 817
XM: XM Pops 866
Add $4.99/mo. lease fee for second and each additional receiver.
Programming and pricing subject to change. In select markets, programming and pricing may vary. If local channels are not available in your area, you can still enjoy CHOICE programming for $3 less than the listed price.
To view the channel line-up for base packages other than CHOICE, CHOICE XTRA, PREMIER or FAMILY, click here.
†Eligibility based on service address.
3 of 3
Exhibit 2 DIRECTV - CHOICE XTRA Page 1 of 3
About DIRECTV | Investor Relations | DIRECTV For Business | MDU
DIRECTV - CHOICE XTRA
How To Order
Build your DIRECTV® System with the added variety of the CHOICE XTRA package with over 185 channels for only $44.99/mo after $10 mail-in rebate.
Get DIRECTV Now
Our Most Popular Entertainment Package
Over 185 of our most popular television channels, including the best in movies, sports, music, documentary, educational, specialty and family programming. This package includes everything in our CHOICE package plus hard–to–find channels you won't find everywhere else such as Biography, PBS KIDS Sprout, History International Channel, E!, The Golf Channel, Nicktoons Network and Boomerang. 68 XM Satellite Radio channels are included, as well as local channels all in 100% digital–quality picture and sound. Click here to determine which regional sports networks are available in your area.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
nmlkji Show All nmlkj Movies + Events nmlkj Sports nmlkj Entertainment + Music nmlkj Family + Kids nmlkj News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels
265 247 A&E TBS
ABC Family 311 TCT Network 377 254 245 American Movie Classics (AMC) TNT
Animal Planet 282 TV Guide Channel 237 264 301 BBC America TV Land
BET J 330 TV One 241
BYU TV 374 The 101™ 101 329 266 Black Entertainment Television (BET) The Biography Channel
Bloomberg Television 353 The Church Channel 371 297 605 Boomerang The Golf Channel
Bravo 273 The History Channel 269 350 280 C-SPAN The Learning Channel (TLC)
C-SPAN2 351 The Science Channel 284 355 362 CNBC The Weather Channel
CNBC World 357 The Word 373 202 292 CNN Toon Disney
Cartoon Network 296 Travel Channel 277 257 372 Chiller Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN)
Comedy Central 249 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) 256 327 242 Country Music Television (CMT) USA Network
Court TV 246 Univision 402 DIRECTV - CHOICE XTRA Page 2 of 3
366 335 Current TV VH1
DIRECTV NEWS MIX 102 VH1 Classic 337
DIRECTV SPORTS MIX 104 Versus 608 230 260 DIY Network WE: Women's Entertainment
Daystar 369 World Harvest Television 321 278 808 Discovery Channel XM: America
Discovery Health Channel 279 XM: Audio Visions 856 286 859 Discovery Home XM: BPM
Discovery Kids 294 XM: Beyond Jazz 852 285 837 Discovery Times Channel XM: Big Tracks
Disney Channel (East) 290 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812 291 854 Disney Channel (West) XM: Bluesville
E! Entertainment Television 236 XM: Boneyard - XL 830 206 872 ESPN XM: Caliente
ESPN CLASSIC 208 XM: Chrome 861 209 822 ESPN2 XM: Cinemagic
ESPNEWS 207 XM: Deep Tracks 840
EWTN 422 XM: Enlighten 828 232 820 FINE LIVING XM: Escape
FUEL TV 612 XM: Ethel 834 248 855 FX XM: Fine Tuning
FitTV 368 XM: Flight 26 818 231 839 Food Network XM: Fred
Fox Movie Channel 258 XM: Fuego 870 360 853 Fox News Channel XM: High Standards
Fox Reality 250 XM: Highway 16 814 339 841 Fuse XM: Liquid Metal - XL
G4 videogame tv 354 XM: Lucy 838 365 823 GOD TV XM: On Broadway
GSN, the network for games 309 XM: RAW - XL 846 404 867 Galavision XM: Radio Disney
GemsTV 233 XM: Real Jazz 850
Great American Country 326 XM: Special X 848 438 827 HITN-TV* XM: Spirit
Hallmark Channel 312 XM: Squizz - XL 835 204 843 Headline News XM: Suite 62
History International 271 XM: The 40s 801 229 802 Home & Garden Television XM: The 50s
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 60s 803 255 804 ION Television XM: The 70s
Independent Film Channel 550 XM: The 80s 805 252 806 Lifetime XM: The 90s
Lifetime Movie Network 253 XM: The Blend 821 261 847 Lifetime Real Women XM: The City
Link TV 375 XM: The Groove 844 263 819 Logo XM: The Heart
MSNBC 356 XM: The Heat 825 DIRECTV - CHOICE XTRA Page 3 of 3
331 863 MTV XM: The Joint
MTV2 333 XM: The Loft 836
Military Channel 287 XM: The Message 826 376 858 NASA TV XM: The Move
NFL Network 212 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845 378 860 NRB XM: The System
National Geographic Channel 276 XM: The Torch 829 299 813 Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) XM: The Village
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: The Virus - XL 879 302 816 Nicktoons Network XM: Top 20 on 20
Noggin/The N 298 XM: Top Tracks 833 251 824 Oxygen XM: U-Pop
PBS Kids Sprout 295 XM: US Country 809 317 865 QVC XM: VOX
RFD-TV 379 XM: Watercolors 851 225 811 ReelzChannel XM: Willie's Place
SCI FI Channel 244 XM: World Zone 862
SOAPnet 262 XM: X Country 810 370 832 ShopNBC XM: XM Café
Sleuth 308 XM: XM Chill 857 607 864 Speed Channel XM: XM Classics
Spike 325 XM: XM Hitlist 817 631 868 SportSouth XM: XM Kids
Style 235 XM: XM Pops 866 307 831 Superstation WGN XM: XMU
Add $4.99/mo. lease fee for second and each additional receiver.
Programming and pricing subject to change. In select markets, programming and pricing may vary. If local channels are not available in your area, you can still enjoy TOTAL CHOICE PLUS programming for $3 less than the listed price.
To view the channel line-up for base packages other than CHOICE, CHOICE XTRA, PREMIER or FAMILY, click here.
†Eligibility based on service address.
Exhibit 3 DIRECTV - PREMIER http://web.archive.org/web/20070217132433/directv.com/DTVAPP/pac...
DIRECTV - PREMIER
How To Order Build your DIRECTV® System with the best package — PREMIER. Over 250 channels for only $99.99 per month.
Order Now
Our Best Entertainment Package Plus DVR Service
Our very best entertainment package that offers a world of premium entertainment including movies, sports, music, special events and local channels. Over 250 top networks in 100% digital quality, 31 premium movie channels featuring 7 channels of HBO, 12 channels of Starz Super Pack, 9 channels of SHOWTIME UNLIMITED, and 3 channels of Cinemax, plus more than 30 sports networks with SPORTS PACK. This package also lets you enjoy TV on your terms with DVR service to pause and rewind live TV, record a season of your favorite show with the touch of a button and save up to 100 hours of programming — no discs or tapes needed. This package is the simple way to enjoy the best of television with premium movie and sports channels with industry–leading DVR service that let's you watch on your schedule.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels
A&E 265 SHOWTIME (West) 540
ABC Family 311 SHOWTIME Extreme 542
Altitude Sports & Entertainment 644 SHOWTIME HDTV 543
America's Store 243 SHOWTIME Showcase 539
American Movie Classics (AMC) 254 SHOWTIME TOO 538
Animal Planet 282 SOAPnet 262
BBC America 264 ShopNBC 370
BET J 330 Sleuth 308
BYU TV 374 Speed Channel 607
Black Entertainment Television (BET) 329 Spike 325
Bloomberg Television 353 SportSouth 631
Boomerang 297 SportsNet New York 625
1 of 5 DIRECTV - PREMIER http://web.archive.org/web/20070217132433/directv.com/DTVAPP/pac...
Bravo 273 SportsTime Ohio 657
C-SPAN 350 Starz (East) 520
C-SPAN2 351 Starz (West) 521
CNBC 355 Starz - Encore (East) 526
CNBC World 357 Starz - Encore (West) 527
CNN 202 Starz - Encore Action 532
CSTV: College Sports Television 610 Starz - Encore Drama 531
Cartoon Network 296 Starz - Encore Love 528
Cinemax (East) 512 Starz - Encore Mystery 530
Cinemax (West) 514 Starz - Encore Wam 533
Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) 640 Starz - Encore Westerns 529
Comcast SportsNet (Mid-Atlantic) 629 Starz Edge 522
Comcast SportsNet (West) 656 Starz InBlack 523
Comedy Central 249 Style 235
Country Music Television (CMT) 327 Sun Sports 632
Court TV 203 Sundance Channel 549
Current TV 366 Superstation WGN 307
DIRECTV NEWS MIX 102 TBS 247
DIRECTV SPORTS MIX 104 TCT Network 377
DIY Network 230 TNT 245
Daystar 369 TV Guide Channel 237
Discovery Channel 278 TV Land 301
Discovery Health Channel 279 TV One 241
Discovery Home 286 TVG - The Interactive Horseracing 602 Network Discovery Kids 294 The 101™ 101 Discovery Times Channel 285 The Biography Channel 266 Disney Channel (East) 290 The Church Channel 371 Disney Channel (West) 291 The Golf Channel 605 E! Entertainment Television 236 The History Channel 269 ESPN 206 The Learning Channel (TLC) 280 ESPN CLASSIC 208 The Movie Channel (East) 544 ESPN2 209 The Movie Channel (West) 545 ESPNEWS 207 The Outdoor Channel 606 ESPNU 609 The Science Channel 284 EWTN 422 The Weather Channel 362 FINE LIVING 232 The Word 373 FLIX 547 Toon Disney 292 FSN ARIZONA 649 Travel Channel 277 FSN BAY AREA 654 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372 FSN CINCINNATI 638 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) 256 FSN DETROIT 636
2 of 5 DIRECTV - PREMIER http://web.archive.org/web/20070217132433/directv.com/DTVAPP/pac...
FSN FLORIDA 634 USA Network 242
FSN MIDWEST 647 Univision 402
FSN NEW ENGLAND 620 VH1 335
FSN NEW YORK 624 VH1 Classic 337
FSN NORTH 641 Versus 608
FSN NORTHWEST 651 WE: Women's Entertainment 260
FSN OHIO 637 World Harvest Television 321
FSN PITTSBURGH 628 XM: America 808
FSN PRIME TICKET 653 XM: Audio Visions 856
FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN 645 XM: BPM 859
FSN SOUTH 630 XM: Beyond Jazz 852
FSN SOUTHWEST 643 XM: Big Tracks 837
FSN WEST 652 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812
FUEL TV 612 XM: Bluesville 854
FX 248 XM: Boneyard - XL 830
FitTV 368 XM: Caliente 872
Food Network 231 XM: Chrome 861
Fox Movie Channel 258 XM: Cinemagic 822
Fox News Channel 360 XM: Deep Tracks 840
Fox Reality 250 XM: Enlighten 828
Fox Soccer Channel 613 XM: Escape 820
Fuse 339 XM: Ethel 834
G4 videogame tv 354 XM: Fine Tuning 855
GOD TV 365 XM: Flight 26 818
GSN, the network for games 309 XM: Fred 839
Galavision 404 XM: Fuego 870
GemsTV 233 XM: High Standards 853
GolTV 614 XM: Highway 16 814
Great American Country 326 XM: Liquid Metal - XL 841
HBO (East) 501 XM: Lucy 838
HBO (West) 504 XM: On Broadway 823
HBO Family (East) 507 XM: RAW - XL 846
HBO Family (West) 508 XM: Radio Disney 867
HBO HDTV 509 XM: Real Jazz 850
HBO Signature 503 XM: Special X 848
HBO2 (East) 502 XM: Spirit 827
HBO2 (West) 505 XM: Squizz - XL 835
HITN-TV* 438 XM: Suite 62 843
Hallmark Channel 312 XM: The 40s 801
Headline News 204 XM: The 50s 802
History International 271 XM: The 60s 803
3 of 5 DIRECTV - PREMIER http://web.archive.org/web/20070217132433/directv.com/DTVAPP/pac...
Home & Garden Television 229 XM: The 70s 804
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 80s 805
ION MEDIA NETWORKS 255 XM: The 90s 806
Independent Film Channel 550 XM: The Blend 821
Lifetime 252 XM: The City 847
Lifetime Movie Network 253 XM: The Groove 844
Lifetime Real Women 261 XM: The Heart 819
Link TV 375 XM: The Heat 825
Logo 263 XM: The Joint 863
MASN 626 XM: The Loft 836
MSNBC 356 XM: The Message 826
MTV 331 XM: The Move 858
MTV2 333 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845
Madison Square Garden (MSG) 621 XM: The System 860
Military Channel 287 XM: The Torch 829
MoreMAX 513 XM: The Village 813
NASA TV 376 XM: The Virus - XL 879
NBA TV 601 XM: Top 20 on 20 816
NFL Network 212 XM: Top Tracks 833
NRB 378 XM: U-Pop 824
National Geographic Channel 276 XM: US Country 809
New England Sports Network 623 XM: VOX 865
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 XM: Watercolors 851
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: Willie's Place 811
Nicktoons Network 302 XM: World Zone 862
Noggin/The N 298 XM: X Country 810
Oxygen 251 XM: XM Café 832
PBS Kids Sprout 295 XM: XM Chill 857
QVC 317 XM: XM Classics 864
RFD-TV 379 XM: XM Hitlist 817
ReelzChannel 225 XM: XM Kids 868
SCI FI Channel 244 XM: XM Pops 866
SHOWTIME (East) 537 XM: XMU 831
YES Network 622
Add $4.99/mo. lease fee for second and each additional receiver.
Programming and pricing subject to change. In select markets, programming and pricing may vary. If local channels are not available in your area, you can still enjoy PREMIER programming for $3 less than the listed price.
To view the channel line-up for base packages other than CHOICE, CHOICE XTRA, PREMIER or FAMILY, click here.
†Eligibility based on service address.
4 of 5 DIRECTV - PREMIER http://web.archive.org/web/20070217132433/directv.com/DTVAPP/pac...
5 of 5
Exhibit 4 DIRECTV - BÁSICO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050717/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV - BÁSICO
Order BÁSICO You can also customize your package by adding movie packages, sports subscriptions, high-definition programming, other international channels and more.
Order Now
Over 60 Channels for Only $29.99/mo En Español
The BÁSICO package delivers more than 60 channels of quality programming, including more than 40 Spanish–language channels* in many markets and more than 25 English–language channels.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
*Includes English–language broadcast channels with alternate Spanish audio.
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels Spanish-language Channels
Boomerang 297 SUR PERU 429
CNN en Español 419 TV Chile 408
Caracol TV 417 TV VENEZUELA 409
Cartoon Network 296 Teléfe Internacional 411
Centroamérica 428 Telemundo (East) 405
Cine Latino 423 Telemundo (West) 406
Discovery en Español 413 Television Dominicana 434
ESPN Deportes 432 Television Española (TVE) 407 Internacional Ecuavisa Internacional 421 Toon Disney 292 Fox Sports en Español 425 TyC Sports 427 GOD TV 365 Univision 402 Galavision 404 Univision (West) 403 GolTV 426 WAPA America 414 HITN-TV* 438 XM: Aguila 871 LATINOAMERICA TV 430 XM: Caliente 872 MEXICANAL 412 XM: Caricia 875 MHD 332 XM: Fuego 870 MTV TR3S 416
1 of 2 DIRECTV - BÁSICO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050717/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
Mexico 22 418 XM: Luna 873
ONCE México* 415 XM: Vibra 874
SUR Mexico 420 XM: Viva 876
mun2 410
English-language Channels
BYU TV 374 NASA TV 376
C-SPAN 350 QVC 317
C-SPAN2 351 RFD-TV 379
Daystar 369 ShopNBC 370
EWTN 422 TCT Network 377
GOD TV 365 The 101™ 101
Home Shopping Network 240 The Church Channel 371
Link TV 375 The Word 373
MHD 332 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372
World Harvest Television 321
Programming and pricing subject to change. Hardware and programming sold separately.
2 of 2
Exhibit 5 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR http://web.archive.org/web/20070530120827/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV - FAMILIAR
Order FAMILIAR Get over 140 channels, and also customize your package by adding premium movie packages, sports subscriptions, high-definition programming and other international channels.
Order Now
Over 140 Channels for Only $42.99/mo En Español
Get more sports, movies, music and family programming, including Spanish–language local channels, in many markets. The FAMILIAR package delivers your favorite Spanish–language channels, plus more than 100 top English channels.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels Spanish-language Channels
Boomerang 297 SUR Mexico 420
CNN en Español 419 SUR PERU 429
Caracol TV 417 TV Chile 408
Cartoon Network 296 TV VENEZUELA 409
Centroamérica 428 Teléfe Internacional 411
Cine Latino 423 Telemundo (East) 405
Discovery en Español 413 Telemundo (West) 406
ESPN Deportes 432 Television Española (TVE) 407 Internacional Ecuavisa Internacional 421 Toon Disney 292 Fox Sports en Español 425 TyC Sports 427 GOD TV 365 Univision 402 Galavision 404 Univision (West) 403 GolTV 426 WAPA America 414 Great American Country 326 XM: Aguila 871 HITN-TV* 438 XM: Caliente 872 LATINOAMERICA TV 430 XM: Caricia 875 MEXICANAL 412 XM: Fuego 870 MTV TR3S 416 XM: Luna 873 Mexico 22 418
1 of 3 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR http://web.archive.org/web/20070530120827/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
XM: Vibra 874 NDTV Color Vision 424 XM: Viva 876 ONCE México* 415 mun2 410
English-language Channels
A&E 265 XM: America 808
Animal Planet 282 XM: Audio Visions 856
BYU TV 374 XM: BPM 859
Bravo 273 XM: Beyond Jazz 852
C-SPAN 350 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812
C-SPAN2 351 XM: Bluesville 854
CNN 202 XM: Chrome 861
Daystar 369 XM: Cinemagic 822
Discovery Channel 278 XM: Deep Tracks 840
Disney Channel (East) 290 XM: Escape 820
Disney Channel (West) 291 XM: Ethel 834
ESPN 206 XM: Flight 26 818
ESPN2 209 XM: High Standards 853
ESPNEWS 207 XM: Highway 16 814
EWTN 422 XM: Lucy 838
Food Network 231 XM: RAW - XL 846
Fox News Channel 360 XM: Real Jazz 850
Fox Sports en Español 616 XM: Special X 848
GOD TV 365 XM: Spirit 827
GemsTV 233 XM: Squizz - XL 835
Great American Country 326 XM: Suite 62 843
Headline News 204 XM: The 40s 801
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 50s 802
Link TV 375 XM: The 60s 803
MSNBC 356 XM: The 70s 804
MTV 331 XM: The 80s 805
NASA TV 376 XM: The 90s 806
NRB 378 XM: The Blend 821
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 XM: The City 847
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: The Heart 819
QVC 317 XM: The Joint 863
RFD-TV 379 XM: The Loft 836
ShopNBC 370 XM: The Message 826
TBS 247 XM: The Move 858
2 of 3 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR http://web.archive.org/web/20070530120827/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
TCT Network 377 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845
TV Guide Channel 237 XM: The System 860
TV Land 301 XM: Top 20 on 20 816
The 101™ 101 XM: Top Tracks 833
The Church Channel 371 XM: US Country 809
The History Channel 269 XM: VOX 865
The Learning Channel (TLC) 280 XM: Watercolors 851
The Weather Channel 362 XM: Willie's Place 811
The Word 373 XM: World Zone 862
Travel Channel 277 XM: X Country 810
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372 XM: XM Café 832
USA Network 242 XM: XM Chill 857
VH1 335 XM: XM Classics 864
World Harvest Television 321 XM: XM Hitlist 817
XM: XM Pops 866
Programming and pricing subject to change. Hardware and programming sold separately.
3 of 3
Exhibit 6 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR ÚLTRA http://web.archive.org/web/20070625012802/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV - FAMILIAR ÚLTRA
Order FAMILIAR ÚLTRA™ FAMILIAR ÚLTRA™ delivers more than 200 top channels the whole family will love. You can also customize your package by adding movie packages, sports subscriptions, high-definition programming and international channels.
Order Now
Over 200 Channels for Only $51.99/mo En Español
FAMILIAR ÚLTRA offers something for everyone, with more than 200 quality channels, including more sports with your regional sports network, kids' programming and family favorites.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels Spanish-language Channels
Boomerang 297 Ovation TV 274
CNN en Español 419 SUR Mexico 420
Caracol TV 417 SUR PERU 429
Cartoon Network 296 TV Chile 408
Centroamérica 428 TV VENEZUELA 409
Cine Latino 423 Teléfe Internacional 411
Discovery en Español 413 Telemundo (East) 405
ESPN Deportes 432 Telemundo (West) 406
Ecuavisa Internacional 421 Television Española (TVE) 407 Internacional Fox Sports en Español 425 Toon Disney 292 GOD TV 365 TyC Sports 427 Galavision 404 Univision 402 GolTV 426 Univision (West) 403 Great American Country 326 WAPA America 414
1 of 4 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR ÚLTRA http://web.archive.org/web/20070625012802/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
HITN-TV* 438 XM: Aguila 871 LATINOAMERICA TV 430 XM: Caliente 872 MEXICANAL 412 XM: Caricia 875 MTV TR3S 416 XM: Fuego 870 Mexico 22 418 XM: Luna 873 NDTV Color Vision 424 XM: Vibra 874 ONCE México* 415 XM: Viva 876
mun2 410
English-language Channels
A&E 265 The Golf Channel 605
ABC Family 311 The History Channel 269
American Movie Classics (AMC) 254 The Learning Channel (TLC) 280
Animal Planet 282 The Science Channel 284
BET J 330 The Weather Channel 362
BYU TV 374 The Word 373
Black Entertainment Television (BET) 329 Travel Channel 277
Bloomberg Television 353 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372
Bravo 273 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) 256
C-SPAN 350 USA Network 242
C-SPAN2 351 VH1 335
CNBC World 357 VH1 Classic 337
CNN 202 Versus 608
Comedy Central 249 WE: Women's Entertainment 260
Country Music Television (CMT) 327 World Harvest Television 321
Court TV 246 XM: America 808
Current TV 366 XM: Audio Visions 856
DIY Network 230 XM: BPM 859
Daystar 369 XM: Beyond Jazz 852
Discovery Channel 278 XM: Big Tracks 837
Discovery Home 286 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812
Discovery Kids 294 XM: Bluesville 854
Discovery Times Channel 285 XM: Boneyard - XL 830
Disney Channel (East) 290 XM: Chrome 861
Disney Channel (West) 291 XM: Cinemagic 822
E! Entertainment Television 236 XM: Deep Tracks 840
ESPN 206 XM: Enlighten 828
ESPN2 209 XM: Escape 820
ESPNEWS 207 XM: Ethel 834
2 of 4 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR ÚLTRA http://web.archive.org/web/20070625012802/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
EWTN 422 XM: Fine Tuning 855
FINE LIVING 232 XM: Flight 26 818
FUEL TV 612 XM: Fred 839
FX 248 XM: High Standards 853
FitTV 368 XM: Highway 16 814
Food Network 231 XM: Liquid Metal - XL 841
Fox News Channel 360 XM: Lucy 838
Fox Sports en Español 616 XM: On Broadway 823
GOD TV 365 XM: RAW - XL 846
GSN, the network for games 309 XM: Radio Disney 867
GemsTV 233 XM: Real Jazz 850
Great American Country 326 XM: Special X 848
Hallmark Channel 312 XM: Spirit 827
Headline News 204 XM: Squizz - XL 835
History International 271 XM: Suite 62 843
Home & Garden Television 229 XM: The 40s 801
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 50s 802
Independent Film Channel 550 XM: The 60s 803
Lifetime 252 XM: The 70s 804
Link TV 375 XM: The 80s 805
MSNBC 356 XM: The 90s 806
MTV 331 XM: The Blend 821
MTV2 333 XM: The City 847
Military Channel 287 XM: The Groove 844
NASA TV 376 XM: The Heart 819
NFL Network 212 XM: The Heat 825
NRB 378 XM: The Joint 863
National Geographic Channel 276 XM: The Loft 836
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 XM: The Message 826
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: The Move 858
Nicktoons Network 302 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845
Noggin/The N 298 XM: The System 860
Ovation TV 274 XM: The Torch 829
Oxygen 251 XM: The Village 813
PBS Kids Sprout 295 XM: The Virus - XL 879
QVC 317 XM: Top 20 on 20 816
RFD-TV 379 XM: Top Tracks 833
SCI FI Channel 244 XM: U-Pop 824
SOAPnet 262 XM: US Country 809
ShopNBC 370 XM: VOX 865
Speed Channel 607 XM: Watercolors 851
3 of 4 DIRECTV - FAMILIAR ÚLTRA http://web.archive.org/web/20070625012802/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
Spike 325 XM: Willie's Place 811
TBS 247 XM: World Zone 862
TCT Network 377 XM: X Country 810
TNT 245 XM: XM Café 832
TV Guide Channel 237 XM: XM Chill 857
TV Land 301 XM: XM Classics 864
The 101™ 101 XM: XM Hitlist 817
The Biography Channel 266 XM: XM Kids 868
The Church Channel 371 XM: XM Pops 866
XM: XMU 831
Programming and pricing subject to change. Hardware and programming sold separately.
4 of 4
Exhibit 7 DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050116/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO
Order LO MÁXIMO™ Get all your English and Spanish-language favorites, plus 32 premium movie channels like HBO® , HBO Latino®®® , HBO Latino , Starz , Showtime® and Cinemax® . Also get all the specialty sports networks of SPORTS PACK and over 70 XM Satellite Radio channels — including seven Latin music channels.
Order Now
Over 260 Channels for Only $99.99/mo En Español
Enjoy the biggest and best Spanish-language package DIRECTV has to offer. LO MÁXIMO™ includes all the usual favorites, plus over 30 premium movie channels, more than 25 specialty and regional sports networks with SPORTS PACK and 70 XM Satellite Radio channels. Plus, you'll get Spanish–language locals in many markets.
You can also download and print our handy channel lineup (pdf).
Channel Lineup
Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News
Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All Channels Spanish-language Channels
Boomerang 297 SUR PERU 429
CNN en Español 419 TV Chile 408
Caracol TV 417 TV VENEZUELA 409
Cartoon Network 296 Teléfe Internacional 411
Centroamérica 428 Telemundo (East) 405
Cine Latino 423 Telemundo (West) 406
Discovery en Español 413 Television Dominicana 434
ESPN Deportes 432 Television Española (TVE) 407 Internacional Ecuavisa Internacional 421 Toon Disney 292 Fox Sports en Español 425 TyC Sports 427 GOD TV 365 Univision 402 Galavision 404 Univision (West) 403 GolTV 426
1 of 5 DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050116/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
HITN-TV* 438 WAPA America 414
LATINOAMERICA TV 430 XM: Aguila 871
MEXICANAL 412 XM: Caliente 872
MHD 332 XM: Caricia 875
MTV TR3S 416 XM: Fuego 870
Mexico 22 418 XM: Luna 873
ONCE México* 415 XM: Vibra 874
SUR Mexico 420 XM: Viva 876
mun2 410
English-language Channels
A&E 265 SHOWTIME Showcase 539
ABC Family 311 SHOWTIME TOO 538
Altitude Sports & Entertainment 644 SOAPnet 262
American Movie Classics (AMC) 254 ShopNBC 370
Animal Planet 282 Speed Channel 607
BET J 330 Spike 325
BYU TV 374 SportsNet New York 625
Black Entertainment Television (BET) 329 Starz (East) 520
Bloomberg Television 353 Starz (West) 521
Bravo 273 Starz - Encore (East) 526
C-SPAN 350 Starz - Encore (West) 527
C-SPAN2 351 Starz - Encore Action 532
CNBC World 357 Starz - Encore Drama 531
CNN 202 Starz - Encore Love 528
CSTV: College Sports Television 610 Starz - Encore Mystery 530
Cinemax (East) 512 Starz - Encore Wam 533
Cinemax (West) 514 Starz - Encore Westerns 529
Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) 640 Starz Edge 522
Comcast SportsNet (Mid-Atlantic) 629 Starz InBlack 523
Comcast SportsNet (West) 656 Sun Sports 632
Comedy Central 249 Sundance Channel 549
Country Music Television (CMT) 327 TBS 247
Court TV 246 TCT Network 377
Current TV 366 TNT 245
DIRECTV SPORTS MIX 104 TV Guide Channel 237
DIY Network 230 TV Land 301
Daystar 369 TVG - The Interactive Horseracing 602 Network Discovery Channel 278 The 101™ 101
2 of 5 DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050116/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
Discovery Home 286 The Biography Channel 266
Discovery Kids 294 The Church Channel 371
Discovery Times Channel 285 The Golf Channel 605
Disney Channel (East) 290 The History Channel 269
Disney Channel (West) 291 The Learning Channel (TLC) 280
E! Entertainment Television 236 The Movie Channel (East) 544
ESPN 206 The Movie Channel (West) 545
ESPN2 209 The Science Channel 284
ESPNEWS 207 The Weather Channel 362
ESPNU 609 The Word 373
EWTN 422 Travel Channel 277
FINE LIVING 232 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372
FLIX 547 Turner Classic Movies (TCM) 256
FSN ARIZONA 649 USA Network 242
FSN BAY AREA 654 VH1 335
FSN CINCINNATI 638 VH1 Classic 337
FSN DETROIT 636 Versus 608
FSN FLORIDA 634 WE: Women's Entertainment 260
FSN MIDWEST 647 World Harvest Television 321
FSN NEW ENGLAND 620 XM: America 808
FSN NEW YORK 624 XM: Audio Visions 856
FSN NORTH 641 XM: BPM 859
FSN NORTHWEST 651 XM: Beyond Jazz 852
FSN OHIO 637 XM: Big Tracks 837
FSN PITTSBURGH 628 XM: Bluegrass Junction 812
FSN PRIME TICKET 653 XM: Bluesville 854
FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN 645 XM: Boneyard - XL 830
FSN SOUTH 630 XM: Chrome 861
FSN SOUTHWEST 643 XM: Cinemagic 822
FSN WEST 652 XM: Deep Tracks 840
FUEL TV 612 XM: Enlighten 828
FX 248 XM: Escape 820
FitTV 368 XM: Ethel 834
Food Network 231 XM: Fine Tuning 855
Fox News Channel 360 XM: Flight 26 818
Fox Soccer Channel 613 XM: Fred 839
Fox Sports en Español 616 XM: High Standards 853
GOD TV 365 XM: Highway 16 814
GSN, the network for games 309 XM: Liquid Metal - XL 841
GemsTV 233 XM: Lucy 838
Great American Country 326 XM: On Broadway 823
3 of 5 DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050116/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
HBO (East) 501 XM: RAW - XL 846
HBO (West) 504 XM: Radio Disney 867
HBO Family (East) 507 XM: Real Jazz 850
HBO Family (West) 508 XM: Special X 848
HBO Latino 511 XM: Spirit 827
HBO Signature 503 XM: Squizz - XL 835
HBO2 (East) 502 XM: Suite 62 843
HBO2 (West) 505 XM: The 40s 801
Hallmark Channel 312 XM: The 50s 802
Headline News 204 XM: The 60s 803
History International 271 XM: The 70s 804
Home & Garden Television 229 XM: The 80s 805
Home Shopping Network 240 XM: The 90s 806
Independent Film Channel 550 XM: The Blend 821
Lifetime 252 XM: The City 847
Link TV 375 XM: The Groove 844
MHD 332 XM: The Heart 819
MSNBC 356 XM: The Heat 825
MTV 331 XM: The Joint 863
MTV2 333 XM: The Loft 836
Madison Square Garden (MSG) 621 XM: The Message 826
Military Channel 287 XM: The Move 858
MoreMAX 513 XM: The Rhyme - XL 845
NASA TV 376 XM: The System 860
NBA TV 601 XM: The Torch 829
NFL Network 212 XM: The Village 813
NRB 378 XM: The Virus - XL 879
National Geographic Channel 276 XM: Top 20 on 20 816
New England Sports Network 623 XM: Top Tracks 833
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 XM: U-Pop 824
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 XM: US Country 809
Nicktoons Network 302 XM: VOX 865
Noggin/The N 298 XM: Watercolors 851
Outdoor Channel 606 XM: Willie's Place 811
Ovation TV 274 XM: World Zone 862
Oxygen 251 XM: X Country 810
PBS Kids Sprout 295 XM: XM Café 832
QVC 317 XM: XM Chill 857
RFD-TV 379 XM: XM Classics 864
SCI FI Channel 244 XM: XM Hitlist 817
SHOWTIME (East) 537 XM: XM Kids 868
4 of 5 DIRECTV - LO MÁXIMO http://web.archive.org/web/20070714050116/www.directv.com/DTVAP...
SHOWTIME (West) 540 XM: XM Pops 866
SHOWTIME Extreme 542 XM: XMU 831
SHOWTIME HDTV 543 YES Network 622
DIRECTV premium programming services are generally offered on a monthly basis. If you downgrade your premium programming options within thirty (30) days of adding a new service to your account, you may be subject to a $10.00 fee.
5 of 5
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About DIRECTV | Contact Us | Investor Relations DIRECTV - FAMILY Order FAMILY for $29.99/mo. Build your DIRECTV® System with our FAMILY entertainment package. Over 40 channels for $29.99 per month. Get DIRECTV Now Our Family Entertainment Package Over 40 channels of family programming suitable for all ages, including local channels. Get a variety of educational, religious and entertainment programming the whole family will love. PLUS MANY OF YOUR FAVORITE INDEPENDENT CHANNELS IN SELECT MARKETS You can also download and print our handy channel lineup(pdf). Channel Lineup Show All Movies + Events Sports Entertainment + Music Family + Kids News Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All Channels BYU TV 374 NASA TV 376 Bloomberg Television 353 NRB 378 Boomerang 297 National Geographic Channel * 276 C-SPAN 350 Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 C-SPAN2 351 Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 DIY Network 230 Nicktoons Network 302 Daystar 369 Noggin/The N 298 Discovery Kids 294 ONCE México* 415 Disney Channel (East) 290 PBS Kids Sprout 295 1 of 2 DIRECTV - FAMILY http://web.archive.org/web/20071015025306/www.directv.com... Disney Channel (West) 291 QVC 317 EWTN 422 RFD-TV 379 *Channel available in HD. To FitTV 368 ShopNBC 316 access DIRECTV High-Definition programming, a three LNB 231 377 Food Network * TCT Network multi-satellite dish antenna, GOD TV 365 The Science Channel * 284 DIRECTV® HD Receiver, high-definition television and GemsTV 233 The Weather Channel * 362 HD Access fee ($9.99/mo.) are required. HITN-TV* 438 The Word 373 Add $4.99/mo. lease fee for Hallmark Channel 312 Toon Disney 292 second and each additional Headline News 204 Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) 372 receiver. Home & Garden Television 229 World Harvest Television 321 Blackout restrictions apply to regional sports networks. Home Shopping Network 240 XM: Radio Disney 867 Professional and collegiate sports subscriptions sold Link TV 375 XM: XM Kids 868 separately. Blackout restrictions apply to Turner South. Available only in AL, GA, MS, TN, SC and sections of NC as determined by zip code. Programming and pricing subject to change. In select markets, programming and pricing may vary. †Eligibility based on service address. 2 of 2 Exhibit 11 DIRECTV: Top Questions http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetId=3460036 Order Now 1-888-777-2454 DIRECTV for: Residential Buildings | Businesses | Transportation Login | Register What's on TV My Account Search Packages Premiums HD Sports International Exclusive Services Receivers DIRECTV delivers the best HD channels—and more of them than anyone. Support FAQFAQ Programming Equipment Services Sound & Picture On-Screen Guide Statements & Payments Orders Installation Profile Top Questions FAQ Customer Service I live in apartment or condo. Can I get a DIRECTV System? Rebate Start by asking your landlord, property manager or homeowners' association if you may install a DIRECTV® System on your rooftop or Programming other building location. Sports If you're not authorized to mount the dish on the roof or the side of the building, try your patio or balcony. Just make sure you have a Equipment clear view of the Southern sky. Your system installation may require structural modifications that may be limited or restricted by the terms of your lease, rental Services agreement or covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). To avoid delays in your installation, we ask that you obtain written or Sound & Picture verbal permission from your landlord, homeowners' association or property manager (or, alternatively, review your lease/rental On-Screen Guide agreement/HOA CC&Rs to confirm permission is not required) prior to scheduling your installation. To help you in your request, Statements & Payments please use our Installation Permission form. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a rule that generally forbids local governments and homeowners' associations Orders from enforcing unreasonable restrictions regarding the installation of satellite dishes one meter or smaller. For more information, Installation visit the FCC website. Profile Will I need to pay for expensive equipment? No, you can get FREE standard installation of the equipment you need for a standard DIRECTV System in up to four rooms of your home. Purchase of 24 months of any DIRECTV base programming package ($29.99/mo. or above) or qualifying international services New On DIRECTV bundle required. New customers only (lease required). Lease fee $5.00/mo. for 2nd and each additional receiver. Just order online, call 1-888-777-2454 or see your participating local retailer for details. Latest DIRECTV News Tips and Tricks Why lease the DIRECTV equipment? Set your DVR Online Browse Top Movies As the technology in our receivers becomes more advanced, leasing allows us to continue to provide the latest equipment to you — at DIRECTV on DEMAND minimal cost. Leasing also permits affordable upgrades and free replacement receivers. Online Assistant Is the monthly lease fee different for different equipment? The monthly lease fee is $5.00 per receiver, though we waive this fee on your first receiver. This low monthly fee is the same for standard receivers, DVRs, HD receivers and HD DVRs. Get the Inside Scoop Sign up to get the hottest If I move, can I take the receiving equipment with me? DIRECTV offers delivered to Of course! Call us at 1-877-616-MOVE (1-877-616-6683) before you move so you can take advantage of the DIRECTV MOVERS your inbox. Never miss CONNECTION™, a free program for our customers who change residences and want to keep their DIRECTV service. All you have to do another exclusive offer is bring your receiving equipment to your new residence and leave the dish behind at your old residence. again! If you're moving to Alaska or Hawaii, you may need new receiving equipment. If you're moving outside the United States, unfortunately we won't be able to serve you — we are legally prohibited from offering services outside the United States. However, if Enter Your Email Address you're moving to Latin America, check out DIRECTV Latin America. Sports blackouts and your ability to receive local channels or broadcast network services may be affected by your new address. Sign Up Now Can I get DIRECTV programming on more than one television set in my house? Using separate DIRECTV Receivers for each of the TVs in your home gives you the flexibility of watching different programs on different television sets. There is a $5.00/month additional fee for your secondary and each additional receiver. If I have more than one receiver do I have to pay a full monthly subscription for each receiver? SUPPORT Programming | Equipment | Services | Sound & Picture | On-Screen Guide | Statements & Payments | Orders | Installation | Profile | Tech Forum | Online Assistant | FAQ CUSTOMER SERVICE Contact Us | Site Feedback | Security | Agreements | Referrals | Rebates | Moving | Digital Transition | Go Green | DIRECTV REWARDS™ Visa® Card ABOUT US Our Company | Customer Promise | Tune In DIRECTV | Investor Relations | Press Releases | Corporate Citizenship | Careers | Find a Retailer | Ad Sales Site Map | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Legal | Prime TV Notice ©2009 DIRECTV, Inc. 1 of 3 DIRECTV: Top Questions http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetId=3460036 No. DIRECTV allows you to connect more than one television in a single household to our services. The programming you request for the primary access card in your receiver is copied for all of the access cards in the other receivers and you are authorized to receive this same level of programming on these televisions. When you receive programming on additional receivers, we verify that all of your receivers are continuously connected to the same land-based phone line. If we find that one of the receivers is not connected to the phone line, we will discontinue service to that receiver and you will need to call us to re-establish that service. With so many channels, how will I sort through them all? The DIRECTV receiving equipment not only brings you lots of channels, it helps you manage your options. Your on-screen program guide helps you quickly find what you're looking for. And you can set up favorite channels lists to make surfing even easier. Also, our channel neighborhoods make it easy to find the type of programming that interests you: Programming Channels Pay Per View Movies and Events 100-199 Entertainment and Arts 200-340 News and Information 350-399 DIRECTV PARA TODOS Channels 400-425 Premium Movies 500-550 Adult 594-599 Premium Sports 600-799 Music 800-851 Who can access their accounts at directv.com? At this time, only residential customers of DIRECTV. Commercial customers and other special account types should call 1-800- DIRECTV. Why do I have a DVR monthly fee? The monthly fee for the DVR service is just $6.00 and covers every DIRECTV Plus DVR in your home. The monthly DVR fee is included in CHOICE XTRA™ + DVR and CHOICE XTRA™ + HD DVR packages. My bill is higher than I expected. Why? Some of our offers involve a rebate, which you must redeem online or by mail. You will begin receiving rebate credits on your monthly DIRECTV bill 6-8 weeks after we receive your online redemption or 8-10 weeks after we receive your mail-in redemption. Go to directv.com/rebate to see if you qualify for any rebates. If you've already redeemed your rebate, sign in to your account online and click on Activity Since Last Bill to see if any credits have applied to your account since your last bill. You may also be seeing charges for receiver lease fees if you have more than one receiver. We waive the lease fee for your first receiver, but there is a monthly $5 lease fee for each additional receiver. How do I read my first bill? DIRECTV bills you for a full month of service at the start of your bill cycle. A bill is usually generated for your first month of service a few days after you activate service. We've organized your new statement to be easier to read and understand. Refer to the page Understanding My Bill for more information. Why do I need the protection plan if I lease my equipment? The equipment leasing fee is for your receiver only. Leasing the receiver allows us to provide the latest equipment with minimal upfront cost, affordable upgrade options, and if the receiver fails we will replace it at no charge. The protection plan is also a great option to cover equipment other than the receiver. With the protection plan you will have access to service calls from a trained technician if we can't fix the problem over the phone, dish alignments, replacement of defective remotes and other components such as cables, multi-switches, or splitters, as well as free technical troubleshooting 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. I am charged a lease fee. I paid for my equipment upfront, so don't I own it? As technology becomes more advanced, leasing allows us to provide the latest equipment with minimal upfront cost to the customer. The upgrade fees allow us to keep our monthly lease fees low. Many leased items require an upfront payment as well as monthly fees. Just like leasing a car, a customer pays an amount upfront and that amount allows the customer and the company to keep the monthly lease fee low. How can I compare programming packages and change my programming online? You will find information about all of our programming packages at directv.com/packages. You can compare pricing information by signing into your account and clicking on the "Change Package" link in the left navigation bar. How can I pay my bill or update my payment info online? 2 of 3 DIRECTV: Top Questions http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetId=3460036 To pay your account balance today using a credit card, debit card or electronic check (EFT), just sign in at directv.com and click on "Payment" under the "My Account" tab at the top of the page. After making your payment you can also set up recurring monthly payments by clicking on "Auto Payment" in the same section. After you've signed up, the easiest way to update your automatic credit card is to sign into your account at directv.com. Once you're logged in click on "Update Credit Card" in the "My Account" section. If you haven't registered at directv.com, you can either register today, or call 1-800-531-5000 and pay your bill through our Automated Phone System. There's no charge for either of these payment methods, and payments post almost immediately. You can also make a payment over the phone with one of our representatives for a $5.00 phone assistance fee. How can I upgrade my equipment or add a receiver? You can add a receiver or upgrade your equipment for as little as $99 for a DVR or HD Receiver or $199 for an HD DVR (applicable taxes, shipping & handling charges may also apply). Depending on your individual equipment/system setup, an installation fee may apply. Installation fees range from $0 to $99. To upgrade online, just sign into your account and click on "Add Receiver" from the left navigation menu. Any installation fees will be presented to you prior to completion of your order. 3 of 3