SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported) December 11, 2002
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GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 1-143 38-0572515
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (313)-556-5000
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On December 11, 2002, DIRECTV, Inc. ("DIRECTV"), a subsidiary of Hughes
Electronics Corporation ("Hughes"), announced a five-year agreement to extend
and expand DIRECTV's exclusive rights to carry NFL SUNDAY TICKET, the
subscription television package that delivers up to 14 games each week during
the NFL season. The announcement is as follows:
NFL and DIRECTV Extend and Expand Exclusive
NFL SUNDAY TICKET Agreement for Five Years
NFL CHANNEL to Launch on DIRECTV
NEW YORK, NY and EL SEGUNDO, CA, December 11, 2002 - The National Football
League and DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service
provider, announced today a five-year agreement to extend and expand DIRECTV's
exclusive rights to carry NFL SUNDAY TICKET, the subscription television package
that delivers up to 14 games each week during the NFL season. Financial terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.
The agreement includes a commitment to expand services to NFL fans,
including the launch of the NFL CHANNEL on DIRECTV as early as next year. The
NFL CHANNEL will be the first year-round television programming service fully
dedicated to the NFL and the sport of football. The NFL CHANNEL will be
available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, on a year-round basis.
DIRECTV will continue to have exclusive satellite television rights to NFL
SUNDAY TICKET through 2007 and exclusive multichannel television rights through
2005. In addition, the new agreement gives DIRECTV the opportunity for the first
time to offer NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscribers exclusive enhanced technical
innovations, including high-definition game telecasts, viewer-selected cameras
and replays, and other advanced digital technology.
"We are excited to extend our association with America's number-one
satellite television distributor," NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "Our
partnership with DIRECTV will continue to complement and support our broadcast
television packages that allow us to put all of our games on free, over-the-air
television. This agreement also continues the NFL tradition of leadership in
sports television technology by developing more opportunities for fans to
experience high-definition television and other new high-tech and interactive
innovations, including a new year-round NFL CHANNEL."
"For the past eight years on Sundays during football season, fans in homes
all over the country have made DIRECTV their viewing destination of choice to
catch unrivaled NFL action," said Eddy W. Hartenstein, DIRECTV chairman and CEO.
"DIRECTV and NFL SUNDAY TICKET are a football lover's dream come true and we are
delighted to renew our long-standing partnership with the NFL. NFL SUNDAY TICKET
has been a significant programming differentiator for DIRECTV, helping us build
a loyal subscriber base. As we look ahead, we are excited to offer football fans
nationwide compelling new programming services--including high-definition and
enhanced broadcasts--that they can't get elsewhere."
NFL SUNDAY TICKET subscribers can view all out-of-market NFL games every
Sunday during the regular season, up to 14 games each week.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service
provider with more than 11 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design
logo are trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. HUGHES
is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, broadband
services, satellite-based private business networks, and global video and data
broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are
used to calculate the earnings attributable to the General Motors Class H common
stock (NYSE: GMH). For more information, visit www.DIRECTV.com.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
Date December 19, 2002
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By
/s/Peter R. Bible
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(Peter R. Bible,
Chief Accounting Officer)
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