DIRECTV and IGN Entertainment

Video Gaming Competition Revolutionized with First Full-Scale Television Coverage Bringing Together World-Class Athletes, Sponsors and Production Team

DIRECTV, the nation's leading digital television service provider, is about to forever change the face of televised sports and score a broadcast landmark with the Championship Gaming Invitational, a special event to be taped July 21-22 and to air in August on DIRECTV as part of its original programming lineup. The special represents DIRECTV's entree into the world of professional video gaming, providing production values and storytelling that will raise the sport to a new level.

Teaming up with IGN Entertainment, Microsoft Xbox, Mountain Dew, Fox Interactive Media (FIM) and Best Buy, DIRECTV will present this international, two-day challenge featuring huge prize purses for top finishers and instant money payouts. Competitors will face off in extreme games such as Electronic Arts(TM) Battlefield 2(TM), Microsoft Game Studio's(TM) Project Gotham Racing(R) 3 and Halo(R) 2, Tecmo's(R) Dead or Alive(R) 4, and Valve's(R) Counter-Strike(TM) 1.6.

"We believe that professional video gaming is the next big thing in sports entertainment and we are dedicated to creating and televising the best gaming experience available anywhere," said David Hill, president of DIRECTV Entertainment. "This invitational will prove that commitment as we gather together some of the most talented players, the hottest production team and innovative set designers to create a truly unique video gaming environment and a one-of-a-kind television event."

"The video gaming world has never seen anything like this," added Dale Strang, executive vice president and general manager of IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media. "This two-day invitational will take pro gaming to the next level by treating it like a sport and its players as athletes. It is unprecedented."

Arthur Smith and Kent Weed from powerhouse entertainment production company, A. Smith & Co., will executive produce the special along with 11-time Emmy award-winning sports producer Mike Burks. Together, they will place the viewer inside the action with a detailed, close-up look into the arena and events taking place on and off the field. Sean Atkins of A. Smith & Co. will serve as co-executive producer. Acclaimed set designer Jeff Hall will transform a 16,000-square-foot airplane hanger, at the former Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco, into an indoor arena for video gaming -- complete with a center stage and surrounding stadium.

DIRECTV will add its expertise in professional sports coverage by giving viewers the most unlimited access to players and the field including play-by-play commentary and a unique, point-of-view perspective. Production values will be unmatched for a gaming competition as 16 different HD cameras surrounding the arena combine with Dolby Pro Logic 5.1 surround sound to bring viewers inside the game to capture all elements of the competition.

To ensure standards of professional competition and fairness, DIRECTV has enlisted some of the best experts in the industry to create and administer rules for this unique event.

The Championship Gaming Invitational is one of three gaming specials DIRECTV will air in 2006. The special is designed to set the stage for the previously announced Championship Gaming Series, a new professional gaming league in association with IGN Entertainment, Microsoft Xbox, Best Buy, and Mountain Dew. The league will form in 2007 with competitions airing exclusively on DIRECTV.

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SOURCE: DIRECTV