THE DILLON PANTHERS ARE SET TO KICK OFF A NEW DRAMA-FILLED YEAR AS FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS LAUNCHES SEASON THREE COMMERICAL-FREE ON DIRECTV'S 101 NETWORK, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., September 23, 2008 � The critically-acclaimed drama series Friday Night Lights returns to television for its highly anticipated third season, airing first on DIRECTV's The 101 Network (Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT) beginning October 1. Universally praised by critics and hailed as one of the top ten shows on television by Time magazine and Entertainment Weekly, the series arrives at its new home (channel 101 on the DIRECTV dial) in a commercial-free and extended format for the entire season.

This season, Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) has to cope with an uncertain team after the graduation of star running back Smash Williams (Gaius Charles). Smash is dealing with his own demons after a season-ending injury causes him to lose his college scholarship while Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is in danger of having his starting quarterback position taken away from him when a new freshman phenom arrives on the scene. Meanwhile Tami (Connie Britton) faces stressful challenges as the new principal of Dillon High School as she continues to struggle with raising her teenage daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden). Tyra (Adrienne Palicki) is determined to get out of Dillon and into a good college by overcoming her past academic problems and with the help of a few friends, she's encourage her to make a run for student body president. But a budding romance between Tyra and a rodeo star leaves her ambitions and Landry on the sidelines. And finally, this season gives fans what they have been waiting for as Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) and Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) finally become a couple!

DIRECTV's The 101 Network is the only place for viewers to catch all-new episodes of Friday Night Lights this fall. All thirteen new episodes of season three will air on DIRECTV and then on NBC in February 2009. In addition to the exclusive premiere, The 101 Network will feature a specially produced extended version of Friday Night Lights that will be commercial-free. The 101 Network will also broadcast Live From Dillon, a new live weekly television show featuring interviews with cast members where viewers get the chance to call in and chat with their favorite characters and find out what's in store for this season. It all happens on The 101 Network only on DIRECTV.

The series is executive produced by Peter Berg, Jason Katims, Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Sarah Aubrey and Jeffrey Reiner. Friday Night Lights is a production of Imagine Entertainment, Universal Media Studio and Film 44.

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