Providing millions of Americans with superior digital television service isn’t the only way that DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) is using the sky to bring unparalleled programming to consumers. Over the next two weeks, its newly launched blimp – the DIRECTV Starship – will fly over Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando, Fla., showing NFL Network game telecasts and promoting DIRECTV’s superior high-definition service to cable customers, who do not receive NFL Network due to a shut out by their local cable provider, Bright House Networks.
While DIRECTV customers have always enjoyed the NFL Network at no extra charge, big cable companies want to force customers to pay an additional monthly service fee by placing it on a special programming tier. Nationally, Time Warner Cable does not carry the NFL Network at all and Comcast only carries it as a pay extra premium service. This situation has caused millions of fans to be deprived of some of the most exciting and anticipated NFL and college bowl games of the season telecast exclusively on NFL Network.
“Once again, big cable is simply reluctant to enhance the programming options they provide their customers,” said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president, Advertising and Public Relations DIRECTV, Inc. “We’re seizing this unique opportunity to reinforce again why DIRECTV is, hands down, the superior television service and one that is committed to consistently bring the best programming to our customers.”
“NFL Network continues to demonstrate our commitment to our fans by going to great heights to give them access to our popular content,” said Dena Kaplan, NFL Network’s senior vice president of marketing. “DIRECTV was NFL Network’s first distribution partner and for more than four years now has been taking advantage of the opportunities to use NFL content in unique and exciting ways for its customers.”
The DIRECTV Starship “fly over” project will begin this Thursday in Tampa where local residents can simply step outside and look to the sky to enjoy the NFL Network’s broadcast of the Denver Broncos-Houston Texans game. The “fly overs” continue the following Saturday, this time above St. Petersburg for the Cincinnati Bengals-San Francisco 49ers NFL Network broadcast. The following week, the Starship will visit the Orlando area for Thursday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-St. Louis Rams broadcast and that Saturday’s Dallas Cowboys-Carolina Panthers broadcast.
The first of its kind to operate in North America, and one of only two worldwide, the blimp and its 2,100-square foot video light sign display DIRECTV HD spots and messaging in full color. The 178-foot long blimp, emblazoned in DIRECTV blue and white, features the 70x30-foot full color monitor just beneath the DIRECTV logo. The video light sign, with a resolution of 33,600 total pixels, is the largest ever made for a blimp. The airship can travel up to 35 miles per hour and remain airborne up to six hours.
By calling 1-800-DIRECTV or visiting directv.com, customers can enjoy the NFL Network in addition to the best sports programming available anywhere including NFL SUNDAY TICKET™ , NASCAR HOTPASS™, MEGA MARCH MADNESS™ and the U.S. Open Interactive service. DIRECTV has continually displayed an unwavering commitment to being the undisputed leader in exclusive sports and entertainment services, interactive services and high definition programming.
About DIRECTV
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to 16.6 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution by offering more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.
About NFL Network
In 2007, NFL Network will air nearly 200 football games, including eight regular season NFL games, 52 preseason games, 98 game replays, Super Bowl and NFL Classics, plus the Insight Bowl, Texas Bowl and Senior Bowl. NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the first television network fully dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log onto www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network