DIRECTV and DISH Support Passage of STELA Reauthorization by U.S. House of Representatives

DIRECTV and DISH Network issued the following statement today in support of Congressional efforts to reauthorize the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA):

"On behalf of our 34 million DIRECTV and DISH satellite television customers, we thank the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee, for their bipartisan work to reauthorize STELA for five more years. We support H.R. 4572, the ‘STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014,’ as an important step in Congress’ 2014 STELA reauthorization process.

"Critically, the legislation ensures continuity of service to more than 1.5 million distant signal customers who would, otherwise, lose service at the end of this year. It also addresses one of the most egregious forms of retransmission consent abuse – joint negotiating agreements among broadcasters."

About DIRECTV: DIRECTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services. Through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in the United States, Brazil, Mexico and other countries in Latin America, DIRECTV provides digital television service to more than 20 million customers in the United States and more than 18 million customers in Latin America. For more information on DIRECTV please visit http://www.directv.com.

About DISH: DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides approximately 14.097 million pay-TV subscribers, as of March 31, 2014, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most choices at the best value. Subscribers enjoy a high definition line-up with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corporation is a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.

DIRECTVAndrew Reinsdorf, [e-mail] NetworkJeff Blum, [e-mail]