Bell Atlantic Mobile Stores Provide One-Stop Shopping For DIRECTV

Bell Atlantic Mobile Stores Provide One-Stop
Shopping For DIRECTV

Stores Offer First Retail Presence for Satellite TV Services
Distributed by Bell Atlantic Video

September 7, 1999

RESTON, Va. -- Busy consumers in the Washington metropolitan area
now can take advantage of convenient, one-stop shopping for satellite
television service without worry of buying, taking home and installing
equipment.

Starting this month, shoppers in four Bell Atlantic Mobile (BAM) stores in
the Washington metropolitan area can use Bell Atlantic Video kiosks to
preview and order DIRECTV* programming and arrange for professional
installation from Bell Atlantic Video.

"Bell Atlantic Mobile products and DIRECTV programming appeal
to the same type of consumers -- those who use new technologies to make
the most of their time," said Dick Beville, president of Bell Atlantic
Video. "It makes perfect sense to make DIRECTV from Bell
Atlantic Video available to Bell Atlantic Mobile customers where they
shop."

Bell Atlantic Video displays with live DIRECTV programming will be
located in Bell Atlantic Mobile stores in Reston and Fairfax, Va., and
Lanham and Rockville, Md. Telephones there provide direct connections
to Bell Atlantic Video representatives who can discuss features of the
DIRECTV System, programming choices, installation options and costs.

"This direct access to Bell Atlantic Video is beneficial for our
customers and Bell Atlantic," said Patrick Devlin, executive director
of stores for Bell Atlantic Mobile. "We expect DIRECTV will draw
more customers into our stores and give those who are there to order
cellular service easy access to an exciting product."

After getting all the information they need about DIRECTV, customers
can order the service, choose the programming they want, schedule an
installation date and arrange for payment over the phone. Bell Atlantic
will arrange for delivery and installation of the DIRECTV System
equipment.

To promote DIRECTV in the stores, Bell Atlantic Video will offer prizes
to 24 winners of a drawing to be held in December. Four grand-prize
winners will receive a free DIRECTV System with standard professional
installation. Customers who visit one of the four stores this fall can enter
the contest when they speak with a Bell Atlantic representative on a
display phone or call the toll-free number provided by a display brochure.

Bell Atlantic's DIRECTV package includes:

• inch satellite dish, receiver and remote control -- for only $199. This
  includes installation of 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. For $5.99 a month per set-top box, consumers can enjoy the
  technological advantages of a high-end, digital set-top box and remote
  control without needing to purchase or maintain equipment.

• Simplified ordering and billing -- consolidating all programming costs
  from DIRECTV, 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.

Bell Atlantic customers can choose a variety of programming packages.
Total Choice*, the most popular DIRECTV programming package,
features more than 60 top networks and 31 commercial-free music
channels for $29.99 per month. Customers can also choose from a
selection of premium movie packages, offering multiple channels from
such networks as HBO, STARZ! and SHOWTIME.

With each programming package, subscribers have access to as many as
55 pay per view choices a day, special event pay per view selections, and
every professional and collegiate sports subscription available.

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

DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service with
more than 7.4 million customers, including customers subscribing to the
medium-power PRIMESTAR By DIRECTV service.

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 more than 43 million telephone access lines
and nearly 10 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.

*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.

HBO is a registered service mark of TIME WARNER Entertainment
Company, L.P. SHOWTIME is a service mark of SHOWTIME
Networks, Inc., a VIACOM Company.