HNS Launches TiVo-Equipped DIRECTV Digital Satellite Recorder

[Gregg Lengling]

GERMANTOWN, Md., Nov 25, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Hughes Network Systems (HNS), the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions and leading manufacturer of satellite TV receivers, announced the first shipment of its new TiVo(R)-equipped Digital Satellite Recorder (DSR) manufactured for DIRECTV, Inc.

The new Hughes-built DIRECTV(R) Digital Satellite Recorder is a set-top box that combines a DIRECTV receiver with an internal hard drive, which can digitally record up to 35 hours of programming. Its shipment this week will ensure that it is available to consumers in time for the holiday shopping season, HNS said. The new product is expected to retail for approximately $200.

"This product gives customers complete control of their entertainment viewing experience by integrating DIRECTV programming, the DIRECTV Digital Video Recording Service and the digital recording capability of the Hughes DIRECTV DSR into a single, seamless offering," said Allen McCabe, assistant vice president of sales for Hughes Network Systems. "By simply pushing buttons on the remote, customers can control live TV programs to record, pause, instant replay and rewind, as well as play back recorded programs in normal speed, slow motion or frame by frame."

By using a "WishList" feature, viewers can direct the DSR receiver to find and record shows based on favorite actors, directors, sports teams and subjects. And built-in dual tuners means two programs can be recorded at the same time, or record one program while watching another.

"The DIRECTV DSR is in keeping with Hughes Network Systems' focus on technological leadership and excellence in satellite products and services," said McCabe. The company has won the Best of Innovations Award at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show, and Frost & Sullivan's Market Engineering Technology Award for the last two consecutive years.

The new product will be available at major national and regional consumer electronics retailers in time for the holiday selling season. It will also be available to independent retailers and satellite dealers through two Hughes- certified distributors: Perfect 10 Distributing and Recreational Sports & Imports (RS&I).

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, Inc. (HNS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hughes Electronics Corporation (HUGHES), is the world's leading provider of broadband satellite network solutions for businesses and consumers, with more than 500,000 systems ordered or shipped to customers in 85 countries. HNS pioneered the development of high-speed satellite Internet access services, which it markets globally under the DIRECWAY(R) brand. In addition, HNS is a leading manufacturer of DIRECTV(R) satellite television receivers, having shipped more than 10 million systems to date. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, HNS maintains sales and support offices worldwide. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). To learn more about HNS, please visit http://www.hns.com  .