ADVISORY/DIRECTV Files Suit Against Six Restaurants/Bars; Complaint Alleges Misuse Of DIRECTV Programming.

Business Editors & Entertainment Writers

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT: DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation,
      announced today that it has filed a civil suit against six
      independent restaurants/bars for illegal use of DIRECTV(R)
      programming. The suits are the result of investigations
      conducted by the DIRECTV Office of Signal Integrity.

      The complaints allege that the owners of each
      establishment publicly displayed, without
      appropriate authorization, DIRECTV programming - a
      violation of the Federal Communications Act that
      prohibits the unauthorized receipt and use of
      satellite communications. DIRECTV offers several
      commercial-programming packages for restaurant, bar
      and nightclub owners that are for display only in
      public establishments.

      Each DIRECTV suit filed seeks $110,000 in damages
      for each violation under the Federal Communications
      Act. The complaint also seeks an order prohibiting
      the defendants from continuing with the unauthorized
      display of DIRECTV programming, and compensation of
      all costs incurred by DIRECTV in pursuing these
      violations.

WHO:  DIRECTV, Inc. filed claims against the following
      commercial establishments:

      Punchinello's --                Chicago
      Da Udder Brudders --            Chicago
      Brudders --                     Chicago
      The Union --                    Chicago
      Grumpy John's --                Tempe, Ariz.
      Metro Cinema/Bogart's Lounge -- Melbourne, Fla.

WHERE: The complaints were filed in appropriate Federal
       District Courts local to each establishment in
       Chicago, Tempe, Ariz., and Melbourne, Fla.

WHEN:  Announced officially on Thursday, Sept. 14