Direct Satellite TV Blog

DIRECTV Kick Starts the 4th of July Celebration with Songs of Praise for America to Debut June 30 Exclusively on DIRECTV

El Segundo, Calif., June 20, 2007 — DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television provider, adds a burst of patriotism to the programming line up with Songs of Praise for America, a musical celebration in honor of our nation's birthday. Hosted by NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip and Dove Award-winner Natalie Grant, the special will debut June 30 and run throughout the 4th of July holiday on DIRECTV's exclusive and inspirational Channel 103.

A follow-up to the tremendously popular Songs of Praise series debut last year, Songs of Praise for America will take viewers on a musical celebration surrounding the 4th of July. During the 60-minute special, DIRECTV viewers will be treated to Michael W. Smith's performance of There She Stands, Nicole C. Mullen's rendition of Freedom, and Mark Schultz singing Letters from War. The special will also include inspirational performances from the USMA Cadet Glee Club, Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Throughout the program, viewers will watch everyday citizens share their memories of the holiday, and what it means to be Americans.

"We're celebrating the 4th from sea to shining sea with performances from the nation's most inspirational artists and choirs," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We've got Darrell Waltrip, Natalie Grant and some of the nation's finest servicemen to celebrate this great nation, and we're letting our customers join in the spectacular with an unprecedented five-day broadcast."

Songs of Praise for America is part of an ongoing DIRECTV initiative to present more family-friendly and faith-based programming to DIRECTV subscribers. The special will air alongside Sunday Masses from Notre Dame on DIRECTV's Channel 103.

Songs of Praise for America is produced by DIRECTV Original Entertainment in conjunction with Propeller Consulting and Triple Horse Entertainment for broadcast exclusively on DIRECTV and is available at no additional cost to all DIRECTV subscribers.

DIRECTV CONTINUES INNOVATION IN SPORTS PROGRAMMING AS THE FIRST BROADCASTER TO AIR PROFESSIONAL VIDEO GAMING COMPETITION LIVE

Segundo, Calif., June 5, 2007—DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television provider, today announced that the Championship Gaming Series (CGS) will now air live when it begins its exclusive run on DIRECTV's original entertainment channel, The 101. The broadcast, which was originally slated to be videotaped and aired at a later date, will be the first-ever gaming event to present all the action as it happens, allowing fans at home to experience professional gaming match-ups as they would any other sport. The groundbreaking coverage will commence with the start of the CGS league on July 9 with two, 2-hour shows of new programming each week on The 101, leading up to the National Championships.

"If you can't catch a sporting event live, then it's not a true professional sport," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We're giving the CGS the same star treatment as NFL Sunday Ticket and all of our innovative sports programming—capturing all the competition, sideline interaction, and behind-the-scenes excitement. Broadcasting live and in HD will give goose bumps to every professional video game athlete in the country. And goose bumps look even better in HD."

"For years the only gaming available to fans has been through the internet or taped highlight shows, both of which are usually weeks or even months old," added Andy Reif, chief executive officer of the CGS. "Now, with DIRECTV's help, we are finally able to provide gaming the coverage platform it deserves and truly show it as a real sport. Starting July 9, fans will have the chance to watch their favorite gamer or team compete without a tape delay or low-definition cyber-feed."

Legendary 11-time Emmy Award-winning sports producer Mike Burks will take the helm of the CGS television coverage, applying his expertise in sports to capture the thrilling atmosphere and non-stop action of CGS league events. Burks will employ multiple high-definition cameras throughout the league arenas and plant countless virtual cameras inside each of the games, to ensure no angle is left uncovered. CGS coverage will also feature behind the scenes and background segments on each of the six teams during league telecasts.

Following the U.S National Championship, the CGS will turn its focus to other parts of the world with events in London, Dubai, Shanghai, Sydney and Singapore. The World Championship will be distributed to over 100 million homes with broadcasts on BSkyB, STAR, and DIRECTV.

The inaugural season of the CGS begins next week with the national combine events June 9-11 at the Fox Studios in Los Angeles, followed by the league draft on June 12 at the Playboy mansion. Coverage of these events will also air on DIRECTV's The 101 in a special pre-season special leading up to the season debut on July 9.