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The DIRECTV HD Starship Puts the 'High' in High-Def with the World's Largest LED Screen in the Sky
By Shane Sturgeon
Publisher & Chief Technologist
Posted on October 24, 2007
Category: General Interest
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The DIRECTV HD Starship Puts the 'High' in High-Def with the World's Largest LED Screen in the Sky

State-of-the-Art Blimp to Carry DIRECTV HD Message to Fans During 2007 MLB World Series


EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2007--DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, is taking its high-definition dominance to the next level -- that would be 1,000 feet above Boston's Fenway Park -- aboard the DIRECTV HD Starship, a blimp specially equipped with an HD aerial camera system and the world's largest airborne LED video screen.

The first of its kind to operate in North America and one of only two worldwide, the blimp and its 2,100-square foot video light sign will display DIRECTV HD spots and messaging in full color when it makes its debut over Fenway Park tonight for the first game of the 2007 MLB World Series.

The flying LED billboard is part of a massive marketing campaign launched recently by DIRECTV that includes national TV and print ads underscoring DIRECTV's industry-leading offer of more than 70 national HD channels with up to 100 by the end of the year.

The blimp, operated by the Lightship Group, will also provide HD aerial camera shots for the Fox Sports broadcast of the 2007 MLB World Series in Boston. The DIRECTV HD blimp will also travel to NFL and college football games this season and NASCAR races next year.

"We've taken the HD high ground from the competition, now we've commandeered the airspace above to let consumers know who has best and most HD programming," said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president, Advertising and Public Relations, DIRECTV, Inc. "And who better to send that message to than sports fans who have been driving the growth of HD. In this case the medium -- an HD aerial camera system and a giant, airborne LED video screen -- really is the message. DIRECTV offers a colossal HD experience."

The 178-foot long blimp, emblazoned in DIRECTV blue and white, features the 70x30-foot full color monitor just beneath the DIRECTV logo. The video light sign, with a resolution of 33,600 total pixels, is the largest ever made for a blimp. The airship can travel up to 35 miles per hour and remain airborne up to six hours.


About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 16.3 million customers in the United States, through exclusive content, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 250 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming and the most comprehensive collection of sports programming available anywhere, including NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) and MLB EXTRA INNINGS(R). DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV) also leads the digital television technology revolution with exclusives such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET SuperFan(TM), US Open Interactive and YES Network Interactive and will soon have the capacity to offer over 150 national HD channels. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.

CONTACT: DIRECTV, Inc.
Robert Mercer, 310-964-4683
or
Darris Gringeri, 212-462-5136
or
Leader Enterprises
Marc Altieri, 562-546-6002

SOURCE: DIRECTV, Inc.

Posted by Shane Sturgeon, October 24, 2007 06:41 AM

Reader Commentary

See Forum Topic: The DIRECTV HD Starship Puts the 'High' in High-Def with the (1 replies)
Oct 24, 8:30am
How very obnoxious. Almost as bad as the video billboards in LA (at least). Something the tech world can be proud of. Anybody seen the movie Idiocrasy?
Showing only excerpts from 1 out of 2, Read More

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About Shane Sturgeon

Shane Sturgeon is the Co-Publisher and Chief Technologist of HDTV Magazine, an industry publication with HDTV roots going back to 1984, when Dale Cripps founded The HDTV Newsletter. Today, HDTV Magazine is a leading online resource for HDTV news and information and captures the eyes and imaginations of over 3 million visitors annually. Mr. Sturgeon has a background in information technology and has served in various consulting capacities for Fortune 500 companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Proctor & Gamble and Nationwide Insurance. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Wright State University.