DIRECTV Appoints John Shelton Senior Vice President of Sales and Distribution

Shelton, who joins the company today, will report to John Suranyi,president of DIRECTV Sales and Service. Shelton will be responsiblefor the management of DIRECTV's distribution network and thedevelopment of sales programs for DIRECTV's independent dealernetwork, consumer electronics retailers, the Commercial and MultipleDwelling Unit segments and Special Markets.

"Along with his exceptional management skills, John has more than20 years of sales and distribution experience in the wirelesscommunications industry and brings with him an extraordinary record ofsuccess as an executive for one of the nation's premier wirelesscompanies," said Suranyi. "He will be a tremendous asset to oursenior leadership team and to the company as a whole as we look tofurther extend our leadership in both content and technology in themarketplace."

"I'm excited to be part of a consumer-focused, innovativeorganization like DIRECTV," said Shelton. "And I look forward tocontributing to the continued growth of the DIRECTV customer base andbuilding on an already robust sales and distribution network."

Shelton joins DIRECTV following a 13-year career at NextelCommunications, where he served as North Region vice president since2003. In this position he was responsible for more than half ofNextel's business throughout the Northeast and Midwest and wasinstrumental in advancing a number of new company initiativesincluding the launch of Boost Mobile, data services and sales forceautomation.

Prior to serving as North Region vice president, Shelton held avariety of executive level posts at Nextel, including senior vicepresident of Sales Distribution, and president of its Midwestern andWestern regions. In those positions he was responsible for designingand implementing company-wide sales distribution plans for segment andchannel expansion.

Before joining Nextel, Shelton was president of Powerfone Corp., acompany that provided specialize mobile radio services, and from 1986to 1993, he held a variety of management positions with severalleading cellular phone companies including PacTel, CyberTel, BellAtlantic Mobile and U.S. Cellular. Prior to his career in wirelesscommunication, Shelton was general manager at Group W Cable from 1983to 1986.

Shelton holds an accounting degree from the University ofRichmond.

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital television serviceprovider with more than 15.4 million customers. DIRECTV and theCyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV(NYSE:DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichanneltelevision entertainment. DIRECTV is approximately 37 percent owned byNews Corporation.