The DirecTV Group (DTV)

Note 5. Asset Impairment Charges

SkyTerra Transaction

As part of the SkyTerra transaction discussed above, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $190.6 million in “Asset impairment charges” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the fourth quarter of 2004 to write-down HNS’ long-lived assets to their fair values based on the agreed upon sales price.

DIRECTV Mexico

As part of the Sky Transactions discussed above, DIRECTV Mexico is in the process of closing its operations and has sold its subscriber list to Sky Mexico. As a result, we recorded a pre-tax charge of $36.5 million in “Asset impairment charges” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the fourth quarter of 2004 to write-down certain of DIRECTV Mexico’s long-lived assets to their fair values.

SPACEWAY Assets

In the third quarter of 2004, we determined that an impairment charge related to the assets of the SPACEWAY program was required. The assets involved include two satellites, SPACEWAY 1 and SPACEWAY 2, nearing completion and scheduled for launch by mid-2005, a third satellite under construction, ground segment equipment and systems and capitalized interest. The SPACEWAY system was designed as a next-generation satellite-based broadband data platform intended to upgrade and expand HNS’ existing broadband data businesses.

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THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (continued)

Our September 2004 decision to use SPACEWAY 1 and SPACEWAY 2 and certain related ground segment equipment to support DIRECTV U.S.’ DTH broadcast business rather than for their original intended use in HNS’ broadband data business triggered a requirement to test the assets for impairment under SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” Since the book value of the SPACEWAY system had been supported by the expected cash flows from the SPACEWAY broadband business plan, and we no longer intended to pursue that business plan as originally contemplated, we considered the assets impaired. Further, a majority of the capitalized value of the SPACEWAY assets related to functionality that will not be utilized for the DTH business. We determined the impairment charge by comparing the fair value of the SPACEWAY assets to their book value as of September 30, 2004. We determined the fair value of SPACEWAY 1 and SPACEWAY 2 and certain related ground segment assets based on the fair value of those assets as configured to DIRECTV U.S.’ DTH business. The estimation of fair value of SPACEWAY 1 and SPACEWAY 2 and related ground segment equipment included an analysis performed by management and an independent valuation firm. We determined the fair value of SPACEWAY 3 based on the fair value of several possible utilizations of this satellite still under construction.

Based on the results of this analysis, we reduced the capitalized value of the SPACEWAY assets in “Satellites, net” by $1.099 billion to $305 million, and the capitalized value in “Property, net” by about $367 million to $30 million. We recorded these reductions as a $1.466 billion pre-tax ($903 million after-tax) charge included in “Asset impairment charges” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the third quarter of 2004.