DIRECTV'S The 101 Network Rolls Out All New Commercial-Free Fall Season Line Up on October 1

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DIRECTV’s The 101® Network kicks off the new season with its biggest fall line up to date including season three of the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights and its new companion show Live From Dillon, as well as brand new seasons of returning shows Supreme Court of Comedy and Rock & A Hard Place and a sneak preview of the new original series from Starz Entertainment, Crash—all commercial-free and in HD.

It all starts on Wednesday, October 1 when the highly anticipated third season of Friday Night Lights makes its 101 Network debut at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series will air in HD and commercial-free for the first time ever, allowing fans to experience all the drama, suspense, action and adventure that viewers have come to love from the critically acclaimed series--with no interruptions. The new season will follow Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) as he copes with an uncertain team after the graduation of star running back Smash Williams (Gaius Charles). Fans will also watch Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) adjust to her role as the new Dillon High School principal and how her new duties affect the Taylor family, both at home and at the school. Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), Lyla (Minka Kelly) and Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) enter senior year this season and deal with the pressures of high school romance, playing for the team and life after graduation. It’s the most action packed season yet and DIRECTV subscribers get to watch the episodes first before the show’s NBC run in 2009.

Friday Night Lights fans will get to spend more time with their favorite cast members on the new companion television show Live From Dillon (Wednesdays immediately following Friday Night Lights beginning October 15). The program will feature different cast members each week as they discuss their characters, plot lines and even take live viewer questions. The Taylor Family (Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton and Aimee Teegarden) are scheduled to appear on the first episode.

As part of the new season, DIRECTV’s original series Rock & A Hard Place and Supreme Court of Comedy both return for a second season on October 21 for a fun-filled “Rock and Rule” Tuesday night. Meat Loaf returns as the host of Rock & A Hard Place (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT), a trivia game show that pits rock legends from the past and present against each other in a game of wits, wisdom and kazoos — all in the name of charity. The 12 new episodes will feature match ups like Bananarama vs. Right Said Fred, Lisa Lisa vs. Da Brat and Tony Orlando vs. Jeffrey Osborne.

Following “Rock” at 10 p.m. ET/PT is Supreme Court of Comedy. It’s People’s Court with a twist as real plaintiffs and defendants with real small claims cases decide to forego the traditional legal system in lieu of having their cases tried by America’s truest judges of character, comedians. Dom Irerra will once again preside as “Chief Justice” while Jamie Kennedy, Tom Arnold, Jon Lovitz, Paula Poundstone, George Wallace, Tom Papa, Aries Spears and a host of other comedians try their hand as the court’s “counselors” inside the World Famous Laugh Factory.

In addition to original series premieres, DIRECTV’s The 101 Network will also feature a sneak peak of Crash, the first original drama series from Starz Entertainment on October 1. From the producers of the Academy Award^®-winning Best Motion Picture of 2006, Crash is a provocative new 13-episode drama starring an ensemble cast led by film icon Dennis Hopper. Set in Los Angeles, the new series explores the complexities of social and racial tolerance and the meaning of the American dream through characters whose lives intersect and collide. The 101 Network will premiere the first episode of Crash along with a “Making Of” special featuring a behind the scenes look at the series starting October 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT in anticipation of its Starz primetime premiere on October 17.

More than just another channel number on DIRECTV’s programming line-up, The 101 Network strives to provide its viewers with quality programming that can’t be found anywhere else. Viewers enjoy critically acclaimed shows, previews of the season’s newest hits, and commercial-free entertainment, all in crystal clear HD. To get The 101 Network, simply call 1-800-DIRECTV or go to www.directv.com to sign up for the nation’s leading satellite television service.

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. (NASDAQ:DTV - News), the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to more than 17.1 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with more than 130 HD channels. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 265 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed national cable companies for eight years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.