On December 8, 1997, a second satellite, Galaxy VIII-i, was launched to expand the DIRECTV service in Latin America. The new satellite provides DIRECTV with 32 transponders to cover all of Latin America and the Caribbean. This satellite has the capacity to broadcast more than 300 audio and video channels, along with cutting-edge data and entertainment services being developed today. DIRECTV offers more channels and has a greater coverage than any other direct-to-home service in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since the launch of service in 1996, DIRECTV now covers 97 percent of its target market and reaches more than 1 million customers in the region. DIRECTV is currently available in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and several island nations in the Caribbean, reaching a total of 27 markets.

Subscribers to the DIRECTV service receive the best entertainment options with sharp digital images and CD-quality sound. The programming is a mix of the best international entertainment providers from Latin America, United States, Europe and Asia. DIRECTV was the first service to introduce an interactive programming guide and pay-per-view to Latin America. Today it offers more than 50 pay-per-view channels with blockbuster hits from the top seven U.S. studios and over 20 independent suppliers. Overall, DIRECTV broadcasts more than 5,000 hours of programming a day.

DIRECTV Latin America currently operates five broadcast centers located in Long Beach, California, USA; Mexico City, Mexico; Caracas, Venezuela; São Paulo, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The company has offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Caracas, Venezuela; Fort Lauderdale, USA; Mexico City, Mexico and São Paulo, Brazil.

November 2000

For more information, Please visit our website at: http://www.directvla.com