Bell Atlantic Offers Ultimate Television Experience (Phone Interruptions Excluded)

Bell Atlantic Offers Ultimate Television
Experience (Phone Interruptions Excluded)

Bell Atlantic Video Brings Caller ID Service to the
Television Screen for New Jersey Subscribers

May 5, 1999

RESTON, Va. - Imagine the frustration of being interrupted by a phone
call in the middle of watching TV. Is it your daughter, mother or a
telemarketer? Now you can find out without ever leaving the couch.

Bell Atlantic is offering New Jersey residents the ultimate in
"frustration-free" television. Television viewers who subscribe
to DIRECTV* satellite television through Bell Atlantic can now find out
who is calling during their favorite show or movie when they have Caller
ID service displayed on their television screen.

In a trial offer, the company has packaged its DIRECTV offering with
TVMessengerPlus**, a product that displays callers' names and phone
numbers on the television screen for consumers who subscribe to Caller
ID telephone service. The offer provides TVMessengerPlus free to
consumers in New Jersey who order a DIRECTV System from Bell
Atlantic Video by July 11.

"Bell Atlantic has already solved the frustration of flipping through
channels only to find reruns and commercials by offering its customers
more television choices with DIRECTV and U.S. Satellite
Broadcasting," said Dick Beville, president of Bell Atlantic Video.
"Now we're giving subscribers power over telephone interruptions.
By combining extensive programming choices with Caller ID service on
the television, we're offering our customers uninterrupted television
utopia."

Developed by TriNexus Technologies, TVMessengerPlus works with
Caller ID to display incoming callers' names and numbers on the TV
screen and keep a record of callers' names, phone numbers and times of
calls. For subscribers who have both Caller ID and Call Waiting,
TVMessengerPlus displays the number of an incoming call on the
television screen even when the phone is in use. Bell Atlantic offers Caller
ID with Name for $7.50 per month to its New Jersey customers.

Consumers in New Jersey can receive free TVMessengerPlus equipment
by ordering a DIRECTV System from Bell Atlantic Video between May 7
and July 11. Installation and activation of DIRECTV must be completed
by July 21.

Bell Atlantic's complete satellite television package includes:

• Professional installation of the DIRECTV System - an 18-inch
  satellite dish and an advanced, set-top receiver with remote control - for
  just $99 during this promotion. A high-quality, off-air antenna to deliver
  local broadcast channels to all televisions previously hooked up to cable
  can be installed for $100.

• Rental option for set-top boxes - eliminating up-front equipment costs.
  At $5.99 per month for each set-top box, New Jersey residents 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
  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
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 packages from USSB.
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.

Bell Atlantic Video television service is available in the metropolitan areas
of Washington, DC and Philadelphia, as well as in the states of New
Jersey and Delaware. The company also 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 by visiting 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 4.8 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.

U. S. Satellite Broadcasting (Nasdaq: USSB), provides consumers
nationwide with an unprecedented collection of more than 20 premium
movie channels including 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 43 million telephone access lines and nine 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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*DIRECTV is a registered trademark 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.
** TVMessengerPlus is a registered trademark of TriNexus Technologies,
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.