Bell Atlantic Brings Its New TV Service to Philadelphia and Northern Delaware, Offering Consumers an Alternative to Cable

Bell Atlantic Brings Its New TV Service to Philadelphia and
Northern Delaware, Offering Consumers an Alternative to Cable

New Subscribers Can Save $200 in Programming
Costs When They Sign Up Before February 21

January 25, 1999

RESTON, Va. - Consumers who night after night flip through their cable
channels searching for something to watch no longer have to settle for
reruns of "The Brady Bunch."

Bell Atlantic Video is now providing consumers in Philadelphia and
northern Delaware with a real choice in television service -- one that offers
more than 200 channels of programming, digital-quality pictures and CD-
quality sound from satellite industry leaders DIRECTV and U.S. Satellite
Broadcasting (USSB)*, as well as local broadcast television reception.

(Bell Atlantic Video launched its television service in the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area and in New Jersey last year.)

"With Bell Atlantic's television service, residents of Philadelphia and
northern Delaware have another alternative," said Dick Beville, president
of Bell Atlantic Video. "We think there is nothing more frustrating than
paying monthly bills if your television service doesn't give you what you
want to watch. That's why Bell Atlantic gives television viewers
extensive programming choice, local broadcast reception and competitive
prices that add up to real value."

Bell Atlantic's complete package includes:

• Professional installation for $199 (which can be paid in four monthly
  installments of $49.75). This includes installation of the DIRECTV
  System - an 18-inch satellite dish and an advanced, set-top receiver
  with remote control - and a high-quality, off-air antenna to deliver
  local broadcast channels to all televisions previously hooked up to
  cable.

• Rental option for set-top boxes - eliminating up-front equipment costs.
  At $5.99 a month per set-top box, consumers can enjoy the
  technological advantages of a high-end, digital set-top box without
  purchase and maintenance requirements.

• Simplified ordering and billing - consolidating all programming costs
  from DIRECTV and USSB, and all equipment fees into one, easy-to-
  read bill from Bell Atlantic Video.

• Customer service from a leading telecommunications company 24
  hours a day, seven days a week - coverage often unavailable from
  cable TV companies.

Concurrent with the introduction of Bell Atlantic's television service in
Philadelphia and northern Delaware, the company is offering new
subscribers $200 of programming when they sign up for service and order
the top programming packages from DIRECTV** and USSB by Feb. 21.
The offer includes two free months of the DIRECTV Total Choice**
Platinum monthly package (a $95.98 value), one free month of USSB's
Entertainment Unlimited package (a $32.99 value), and DIRECTV and
USSB programming certificates worth $74. (Customer must accept offer
at activation to receive full $200 of programming.)

"With the enormous amount of consumer interest in digital satellite
television in recent years, Bell Atlantic Video saw a terrific opportunity to
offer consumers what our research tells us they want - more programming
choices, easily accessible local channel reception and competitive
pricing," said Beville. "Bell Atlantic Video is the answer for consumers
looking for an easy route to better home entertainment."

Bell Atlantic customers can choose a variety of programming packages
from DIRECTV, the most popular featuring more than 60 top networks
and 31 commercial-free music channels for $29.99 per month. They also
can choose from a selection of premium movie channels from USSB, such
as five channels of HBO for an additional $10.99 per month. With all
programming packages, subscribers have access to as many as 55 pay per
view choices a day, special event pay per view selections, and a number of
professional and collegiate sports subscription packages.

"We hope to change the expectations of television viewers by offering
them the best in service, quality and choice," said Beville. In addition to
Philadelphia and northern Delaware, Bell Atlantic Video plans to bring the
service to other Northeast markets this year.

More information on the service is available by calling 1-888-379-2355
toll-free or on Bell Atlantic's World Wide Web site at
www.bellatlantic.com/digitaltv. Certain restrictions apply.

DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service with
more than 4.5 million subscribers nationwide. The service offers access
to more than 185 channels of digital entertainment, including popular
networks such as CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN and USA Network.

United States Satellite Broadcasting Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: USSB),
provides consumers nationwide with an unprecedented collection of more
than 20 premium movie channels from HBO and Showtime. Only via the
DIRECTV System can consumers get programming from USSB and
DIRECTV. USSB's headquarters are located in St. Paul, Minn.

Located in Reston, Va., Bell Atlantic Video is a subsidiary of Bell
Atlantic. Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight
million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are
premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market
leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.

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*United States Satellite Broadcasting Company, Inc., U.S. Satellite
Broadcasting and USSB are service marks of United States Satellite
Broadcasting Company, Inc. USSB services available only within the
United States. USSB reserves the right to change programming services,
programming packages, prices and terms and conditions at any time.

**DIRECTV and Total Choice are registered trademarks of DIRECTV,
Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The earnings of Hughes
Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to
GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.
Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.directv.com.