DIRECTV To Use Ka-band Earth Station Antenna Systems for High-Definition Television Services
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Advanced Antenna Systems Will Optimize New High-Performance Satellites
Duluth, GA - ViaSat has been selected by direct-to-home satellite broadcaster DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE: DTV) to provide four 9.1-meter Ka-band earth station antenna systems for uplinking high-definition television (HDTV) services. The antenna systems will enable DIRECTV to expand its HDTV services over new Ka-band satellites, including the recently launched Spaceway satellites.
As part of the contract, ViaSat will be responsible for system design, production, installation, testing and certification of the complete antenna systems, including RF and control subsystems. These turnkey, high performance systems will be an integral part of the DIRECTV Southwest Uplink Facility (SWUF) in Arizona.
"The Arizona-based uplink center is one of six uplink facilities that will provide the foundation for the delivery of hundreds of local HD channels," said Romulo Pontual, DIRECTV chief technology officer. "Expanding our HD programming is one of the cornerstones of our brand strategy to provide the best entertainment experience for DIRECTV customers, and sets us apart from our competition."
The nation's leading provider of digital television service, DIRECTV is in the midst of a dramatic expansion of its programming capacity for the transmission of hundreds of local and national HD channels, as well as new interactive and enhanced services and standard-definition programming. With the launch of DIRECTV 10 and 11 in 2007, DIRECTV will have the ability to deliver more than 1,500 local HD and digital channels and 150 national HD channels.
"These systems will use high-performance Ka-band antenna technology already developed and successfully deployed by ViaSat for a U.S. government Ka-band program," said John Zlogar, VP and general manager of ViaSat Antenna Systems. "This award further solidifies our position as a leading supplier of Ka-band earth station antenna systems."
About DIRECTV, Inc.
DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading digital multichannel television service provider with more than 15 million customers. DIRECTV is approximately 37 percent owned by News Corporation. DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc.
Safe Harbor Statement
Portions of this release, particularly statements about the performance and capabilities of ViaSat products, may contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. ViaSat wishes to caution you that there are some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: ViaSat's ability to perform under the existing contract, product design flaws or defects, changes in product supply or component pricing, changes in relationships with, or the financial condition of, customers or suppliers, changes in government regulations, changes in economic conditions globally and in the communications markets in particular, potential product liability, infringement and other claims, and other factors affecting the communications industry generally. ViaSat refers you to the documents it files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the section titled Factors That May Affect Future Performance in ViaSat's Form 10-Ks and subsequent Form 10-Qs. These documents contain and identify other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking statements. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

