ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2004)- The Golf Channel recently announced the addition of 4.7 million incremental subscribers through a restructured agreement with satellite provider DIRECTV.

The Golf Channel will be included in DIRECTV's Total Choice Plus package, the company's second-most penetrated tier offering to which more than 6.5 million customers subscribe.

With its current cable and satellite home Nielsen subscriber count at nearly 62 million, the new deal with DIRECTV will allow The Golf Channel to reach into more than 67 million homes in the United States as it approaches its 10th anniversary.

Coupled with steady growth from its cable partners, Golf Channel executives predict to be at or near the 70 million milestones by the end of 2004.

"We're excited that this agreement with DIRECTV will make our programming available to millions of new viewers," said David Manougian, president of The Golf Channel.

"DIRECTV has been a great partner and it is gratifying that they recognize significant value in offering The Golf Channel to an expanded base of their customers."

As television's first, truly niche sports network, The Golf Channel set the standard for other emerging niche networks. It has one of the most sought-after viewer demographic profiles and beams quality shows for a passionate audience.

In addition to these domestic numbers and long-time distribution in Canada and Japan -- and on the heels of launching a 24-hour-a-day channel in the United Kingdom in late 2003 -- The Golf Channel this year has consummated deals to carry its programming in Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines and throughout Scandinavia.

The Golf Channel (http://www.thegolfchannel.com), co-founded by Arnold Palmer and owned by Comcast Corp., features a programming schedule that includes more live golf coverage than any other network -- an extensive blend of golf competition from around the world -- as well as news, instruction and original productions, such as the popular realty series The Big Break.

For details visit Web Site: http://www.thegolfchannel.com