YES Interactive only on DIRECTV

"YES Interactive only on DIRECTV," the first-ever interactive television content for Major League Baseball, is now available as part of New York Yankees telecasts on the YES Network (www.yesnetwork.com) and broadcast by DIRECTV within the Yankees home television territory. Created to bring Yankees fans closer than ever to their favorite team and players, "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV" is a co-production of the YES Network, DIRECTV, Inc., and MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM).

With "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV," YES is the first network -- regional or national, sports or otherwise -- to offer its viewers true, single-screen interactive Major League Baseball content. MLBAM, operator of MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, is the source for the application's constantly updated statistics, scores, records and other data feeds. The new service is available at no additional charge to DIRECTV customers who live within the Yankees home television territory and have an interactive DIRECTV receiver.

In addition to offering fans a full array of constantly updated interactive statistics, box scores, standings and player biographical information for every Yankees game on YES, "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV" will also boast a unique Bonus Cam feature during YES telecasts of Yankees home games. The split-screen Bonus Cam will enable fans to follow their favorite players like never before via an extra camera angle focusing on select players and situations throughout the game.

Informational CD-ROM and screen grabs available to media upon request.

* Highlights of "YES Interactive only on DIRECTV" An in-game box score, with an inning-by-inning game score and game statistics for both the Yankees and their opponent
* Bonus Cam, available during YES telecasts of all Yankees home games, featuring split-screen isolated in-game coverage of an individual player or situation on the field, as well as pre-game activity such as batting practice, warm-ups and infield practice
* A scoreboard providing up-to-the-minute scores from around the league each day, including the inning, runners on base and number of outs for each game
* Major League Baseball statistical leaders updated daily; sortable among batters by batting average, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, on-base percentage and sortable among pitchers by won-loss record, ERA, saves and strikeouts
* Major League Baseball standings updated daily, containing wild card races and denoting teams which have clinched their division or have secured a wild-card berth
* "Due Up" graphics which provide viewers with a preview of the next three batters for the team coming up to bat, along with their hitting statistics for that particular game; viewers will also be able to scroll through the entire batting order for each team
* Player profiles containing bio information for both the Yankees and the opposing team
* YES Scoop, intriguing background information on Yankees players
* The complete month-by-month 2006 Yankees schedule, featuring results of previously played games and YES game broadcast information for upcoming games

"`YES Interactive only on DIRECTV' puts Yankees fans in the director's chair," said Ray Hopkins, COO of the YES Network. "The various features of `YES Interactive only on DIRECTV' will provide Yankees fans with unprecedented access to the Bronx Bombers. This offering, in partnership with DIRECTV and MLBAM, is yet another example of YES taking advantage of the latest interactive technology in order to enhance the Yankees fan experience."

"Beyond the action on the field, the story of baseball is told through its statistics, box scores, team standings and the personalities of its players, and Yankees fans now have all of that information at their fingertips through YES/DIRECTV interactive content," said Eric Shanks, executive vice president, DIRECTV Entertainment. "We believe this is the future of sports TV programming -- a deeply engaging viewing experience where fans have the ultimate in convenience, control and quality -- and we can't think of a better or more appropriate way to begin the interactive TV revolution than with the YES Network and the most storied franchise in baseball."

The YES Network (Channel 622) is available as part of DIRECTV's TOTAL CHOICE monthly programming service to residential customers in the Yankees home television territory, including New York and Connecticut, and areas of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For DIRECTV customers living in these areas who want to access the enhanced features, DIRECTV is offering a free interactive receiver or DIRECTV Plus DVR receiver (with a programming commitment) through Aug. 31.

The YES Network has been the most-watched regional sports network in the country for three years running (2003, 2004, 2005), and also was the nation's most-watched regional sports network in the first half of the 2006 broadcast year. During the first half of 2006, YES claimed more viewers in the New York DMA than the other three New York regional sports networks (MSG Network, SportsNet New York and Fox Sports New York) combined, and also out-performed ESPN and ESPN2 in New York in Primetime.

“To make the switch to DIRECTV, Call Expert Satellite, DIRECTV’s Preferred On-Line Retailer, at 800-431-1221.”

SOURCE: DIRECTV