Bell Atlantic Video Offers DIRECTV* Programming in the New York Area, Giving Consumers an Alternate Television Provider

Bell Atlantic Video Offers DIRECTV* Programming in the New York Area, Giving Consumers an Alternate Television Provider

MAY 1, 2000

NEW YORK - New York area residents who flip through their cable channels night after night searching for something to watch now have a new choice for their television service provider. Through Bell Atlantic Video, consumers have access to more than 210 channels of DIRECTV^* programming - including local channels such as WABC - with digital-quality picture and sound. Bell Atlantic Video is now offering this service in select areas of Nassau and Suffolk counties with a free standard installation offer through May 31, 2000. This service will be available in Queens and Kings counties on May 15, 2000.

"With this launch, most residents of Long Island, Brooklyn and Queens will now have access to one-stop shopping for satellite television services," said Dick Beville, president of Bell Atlantic Video. "Bell Atlantic Video has a terrific opportunity to offer consumers what our research tells us they want - more programming choices, easily accessible local channels and competitive pricing. Bell Atlantic Video is the answer for consumers looking for an easy route to robust home entertainment."

The special offer includes:

• Professional installation of the DIRECTV System - an 18-inch satellite dish, one receiver and remote control. Bell Atlantic's free installation represents a $99 savings off the standard installation price.

• A rental option for the DIRECTV System receiver - eliminating up-front equipment costs. For $5.99 a month per receiver, New York customers can enjoy the technological advantages of a high-end, digital set-top box and remote control without any purchase requirements.

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

• Customer Service available seven days a week from Bell Atlantic Video.

Customers can choose a variety of programming packages from DIRECTV. The most popular package, DIRECTV TOTAL CHOICE^*, features more than 100 popular channels. Customers can also choose from a selection of premium movie packages, offering multiple channels from such networks as HBO, STARZ! and SHOWTIME.

New York customers can also order the Local Channels Package for an additional $5.99 a month. The package includes: WABC (ABC, channel 7), WNYW (FOX, channel 5), WCBS (CBS, channel 2), WNBC, (NBC, channel 4) and a PBS national feed. With all DIRECTV programming packages, subscribers have access to as many as 55 pay-per-view choices a day, including movies, special event pay-per-view selections, as well as access to a number of professional and collegiate sports subscriptions.

"We hope to change the expectations of television viewers by offering them superb service, quality and choice," said Beville. Bell Atlantic Video also offers DIRECTV programming in the Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas, as well as in Delaware and New Jersey.

More information on the service is available by calling 1-877-828-7470 toll-free or by visiting Bell Atlantic's World Wide Web site at bellatlantic.com/digitaltv. Certain restrictions
apply.

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 44 million telephone access lines and more than 20 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, Inc. is the nation's leading service provider of digital satellite television entertainment with more than 8.3 million customers, including customers subscribing to the medium-power PRIMESTAR by DIRECTV service. DIRECTV® and TOTAL CHOICE® are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). 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. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.