DIRECTV Selects Universal Electronics to Design Interactive Remotes

UEI Interactive Remotes to Be Utilized for Replacement and Promotional Purposes Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (Nasdaq: UEIC) today announced an agreement with DIRECTV Inc. to provide digital interactive remote control units to the digital satellite television leader for replacement and promotional purposes. With the UEI-developed units, DIRECTV customers will have the ability to unify their audiovisual systems and control a variety of digital home services with a single DIRECTV-branded universal remote.

"With the wealth of content and services that DIRECTV subscribers can access, it's been essential to provide an intelligent remote control that can interact easily with customers as well as communicate with other integrated home entertainment systems," said Carl Brown, DIRECTV's senior vice president of supply chain and manufacturer relations. "With the UEI remote, the DIRECTV system becomes the central access point or hub for all integrated home entertainment systems."

"We are very excited to have been selected as DIRECTV's newest technology partner," said Robert P. Lilleness, UEI president and chief operating officer. "With our unique blend of innovative technology and broad support of other home entertainment components, UEI puts control back into the hands of the users by giving them one central device to manage all their systems."

With the new interactive remote control units, DIRECTV customers will get a smart, truly universal remote supported by UEI's premium library of more than 100,000 preprogrammed infrared codes. The remote has the ability to operate every model of DIRECTV receiver, along with a TV, DVD, VCR, PVR or other entertainment system component, including audio. UEI's patented upgradeability gives DIRECTV more control in shipping product to customers quickly, because the UEI remote will be compatible with other devices as they are brought to market.

DIRECTV customers will enjoy the following benefits from their UEI Interactive remotes:

• Backlighting of frequently used guide keys for lights-out viewing ease
• Instant, UEI-preprogrammed access to movie and sports listings
• One-button access to services available on DIRECTV INTERACTIVE, including up-to-the-minute sports scores, news headlines, weather forecasts and other information related to the enhanced programs they are viewing
• The ability to order free product samples, request coupons from commercials and shop for merchandise via the Interactive remote

About DIRECTV
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service provider with more than 10 million customers. DIRECTV, the Cyclone Design logo and DIRECTV INTERACTIVE are trademarks of DIRECTV Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. HUGHES is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment, and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of General Motors Corp., are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock. Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.DIRECTV.com.

About Universal Electronics
Universal Electronics Inc., based in Southern California, develops software, and builds and markets preprogrammed, easy-to-use wireless control devices and chips principally for home entertainment equipment and the subscription broadcast market. The company's product lines include such wireless interface technologies as combination keyboard/remotes and touch-screen remotes. UEI licenses its patented technologies and database of infrared codes to companies selling into the cable and satellite industries, and to original equipment manufacturers. The company also sells its universal remote control products to distributors and retailers in Europe, Asia, South America and Australia under the One For All(R) brand name. Visit UEI at www.uei.com.

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SOURCE DIRECTV Inc.