LodgeNet, DIRECTV to Bring NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) to Hotel Guests Across The U.S.

LodgeNet, DIRECTV to Bring NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) to Hotel Guests Across The U.S.

Hotel SportsNet(SM) to Offer Guests First Ever Pay-Per-Day Subscription Access to NFL Programming Package When Season Kicks Off September 11

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation (NASDAQ:LNET), the world's largest provider of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels, and DIRECTV Inc., the nation's leading digital television service provider, today announced a hotel industry innovation that will bring DIRECTV's exclusive NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) sports subscription package to guest rooms for the upcoming NFL season.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000310/LODGELOGO )

Through its Hotel SportsNet service, LodgeNet will offer guests all regular season, Sunday afternoon games broadcast through NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) (subject to local blackout restrictions). NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) programming begins at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on September 11, 2005.

"This agreement eliminates the restrictions that limited guests' Sunday afternoon football options to one or two regionally televised games," said Steven D. Truckenmiller, Senior Vice President Programming & Content Management for LodgeNet. "With the weekly slate of NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) action at guests' fingertips, the home team is still 'on' no matter where they go -- not to mention fantasy leaguers who can follow all their players with a few clicks of the remote." Truckenmiller added that he believes NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM) could potentially help hoteliers drive revenue not only through local promotions and sports-fan business, but by driving additional minibar and room service orders.

"For years pro football fans have been frustrated when their travels take them outside their home team's coverage area. That's all about to change as we team with LodgeNet to bring the most popular sports subscription package to hotel rooms for the first time in history," said Jim Arnold, senior vice president, Sales, DIRECTV, Inc. "NFL SUNDAY TICKET(TM), which features more than 200 games during the regular season, is a dream come true for football fans. Whether it's a Patriots fan on the road in California or a Dolphins fan visiting New York, we are delighted that we can deliver the widest possible array of NFL coverage available."

DIRECTV also provides free-to-guest programming to more than 535,000 LodgeNet served rooms.

Introduced in 2003, LodgeNet's industry-first Hotel SportsNet service combines landmark programming agreements and patent-pending technology to deliver daily subscription sports programming to guest rooms. Other Hotel SportsNet offerings allow traveling sports fans to enjoy access to NBA League Pass (professional basketball), ESPN GamePlan (major college football) and ESPN Full Court (major college basketball).

About DIRECTV, Inc.

DIRECTV, Inc. is the nation's leading and fastest-growing digital multichannel television service provider with more than 14.6 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV (NYSE:DTV) is a world-leading provider of digital multichannel television entertainment services. DIRECTV is approximately 34 percent owned by News Corporation.

About LodgeNet

LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation ( http://www.lodgenet.com/ ) is the world's largest provider of interactive television and broadband solutions to hotels, including resort and casino hotels, throughout the United States and Canada as well as select international markets. These services include on- demand movies, music and music videos, on-demand videogames, Internet on television, and television on-demand programming, as well as high-speed Internet access, all designed to serve the needs of the lodging industry and the traveling public. LodgeNet provides service to more than one million interactive guest pay rooms and serves more than 6,000 hotel properties worldwide. LodgeNet estimates that during 2004 approximately 275 million travelers had access to LodgeNet's interactive television systems. LodgeNet is listed on NASDAQ and trades under the symbol LNET.

Certain statements in this Press Release constitute "forward-looking statements." When used in this Press Release, the words "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "no assurance" and similar expressions and statements which are made in the future tense, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in this Press Release, such factors include, among others, the following: the effects of economic conditions, including in particular the economic condition of the lodging industry, competition, demand for our product and services, programming availability and quality, technological developments, developmental difficulties and delays, relationships with clients and property owners, the availability of capital to finance growth, the impact of government regulations, international crises, acts of terrorism, public health issues, risks related to the security of our data systems, and other factors detailed, from time to time, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Press Release. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000310/LODGELOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation

CONTACT: Ann Parker, Director of Corporate Communications of LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation, +1-605-988-1000, communications@lodgenet.com

Web site: http://www.lodgenet.com/

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