Critically Acclaimed Damages Moves to DIRECTV With Brand New Episodes Airing Exclusively on DIRECTV's 101 Network

DIRECTV Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television Partner to Produce 20 New Episodes To Air Over Two Consecutive Seasons in 2011 and 2012

CULVER CITY & EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- DIRECTV and Sony Pictures Television will team up to bring the award-winning DAMAGES, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, back with brand new episodes to be produced early next year and debuting exclusively on DIRECTV. Emmy winner Glenn Close, Emmy nominee Rose Byrne and other principal cast members will return for the new episodes.

"We're thrilled to have a new home for the show and our team of award-winning writers, producers and actors will not only maintain that standard of excellence, but deliver our best seasons yet"

Unlike DIRECTV's current deal for Friday Night Lights, whereby the show airs first on DIRECTV and then on NBC, the new episodes of DAMAGES will air only on DIRECTV. Additionally, DIRECTV will have the rights to air previously produced seasons 1 through 3.

"We're excited to partner with Sony Pictures Television as we breathe new life into this outstanding drama," said Patty Ishimoto, general manager of The 101 Network and vice president of entertainment for DIRECTV. "It's a win for our customers because only they will be able to see these new episodes and another great step forward for DIRECTV as we continue to build our growing portfolio of exclusive, award winning programming."

"DAMAGES is simply one of the best shows on television, and we're grateful to DIRECTV for the opportunity to produce more episodes of this groundbreaking show," said Jamie Erlicht, president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television.

"We're thrilled to have a new home for the show and our team of award-winning writers, producers and actors will not only maintain that standard of excellence, but deliver our best seasons yet," added Zack Van Amburg, president, programming and production, Sony Pictures Television.

"FX was very proud to have developed one of the best scripted series on television, but, in order to have a future, the show needed DIRECTV and we are thrilled they stepped in," said John Landgraf, President & General Manager, FX Networks, who also heads FX Productions. "Sony Pictures Television is a great production partner and we at FX Productions are excited for these next two seasons."

Over its first three seasons on television, DAMAGES has featured what is arguably the most impressive cast and guest stars of any series on television � Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan, Ted Danson, �eljko Ivanek, Anastasia Griffith, Noah Bean, Tom Aldrege, Philip Bosco, Nichael Nouri, Peter Facinelli, Peter Reigert, Mario Van Peebles, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant, John Doman, Clarke Peters, Kevin Corrigan, Paige Turco, Tom Noonan, Garret Dillahunt, Campbell Scott, Martin Short, Lily Tomlin, Keith Carradine, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Michael Gaston, Darren Goldstein, Sarah Wynter and Reiko Aylesworth.

DAMAGES recently received five Emmy Award nominations for its critically acclaimed third season, Glenn Close for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Rose Byrne for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, �eljko Ivanek for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Ted Danson for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series and Lily Tomlin for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.

The series earned seven Emmy Award nominations in each of its first two seasons and Close became the first actress from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Lead Actress in a Drama; �eljko Ivanek became the first actor from a basic cable series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for a Drama Series, and DAMAGES was the first basic cable series to take home the Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. DAMAGES and AMC's Mad Men were the first basic cable series to be nominated in for Outstanding Drama Series. In its first season, DAMAGES earned the most Golden Globes nominations of any series in television with Glenn Close winning for Best Actress in a TV Series � Drama.

The show was created and is executive produced by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman.

DAMAGES is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with FX Productions.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV (NASDAQ:DTV) is the world's most popular video service delivering state-of-the-art technology, unmatched programming, the most comprehensive sports packages available and industry leading customer service to its more than 25.6 million customers in the U.S. and Latin America. In the U.S., DIRECTV offers its 18.6 million customers more than 160 HD channels and Dolby-Digital(R) 5.1 theater-quality sound (when available), access to exclusive sports programming such as NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), award winning technology like its DIRECTV(R) DVR Scheduler and higher customer satisfaction than the leading cable companies for nine years running. DIRECTV Latin America, through its subsidiaries and affiliated companies in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and other Latin American countries, leads the pay-TV category in technology, programming and service, delivering an unrivaled digital television experience to 7 million customers. DIRECTV sports and entertainment properties include three Regional Sports Networks (Northwest, Rocky Mountain and Pittsburgh) as well as a 65 percent interest in Game Show Network. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please call 1-800-DIRECTV or visit directv.com.

About Sony Pictures Television

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leading producer of local language scripted and non-scripted programming. SPT also sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio, which includes branded networks AXN, Sony Entertainment Television, and Animax, is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 122 channel feeds available in more than 140 countries, reaching almost 440 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, a new 3D network, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.