Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	Note 1: Description of Business and Basis of Presentation DIRECTV, which we sometimes refer to as the company, we, or us, is a leading provider of digital television entertainment in the United States and Latin America. We operate two direct-to-home, or DTH, business units: DIRECTV U.S. and DIRECTV Latin America, which are differentiated by their geographic locations and are engaged in acquiring, promoting, selling and distributing digital entertainment programming primarily via satellite to residential and commercial subscribers. In addition, we own and operate regional sports networks and own a 42% interest in Game Show Network, LLC, or GSN, a television network dedicated to game-related programming and Internet interactive game playing. We account for our investment in GSN using the equity method of accounting. • *DIRECTV U.S.* DIRECTV Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, which we refer to as DIRECTV U.S., is the largest provider of DTH digital television services and the second largest provider in the multi-channel video programming distribution industry in the United States. • *DIRECTV Latin America.* DIRECTV Latin America Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, or DIRECTV Latin America, is a leading provider of DTH digital television services throughout Latin America. DIRECTV Latin America is comprised of: PanAmericana, which provides services in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and certain other countries in the region, and Sky Brasil Servicos Ltda., or Sky Brasil, which is a 93% owned subsidiary. DIRECTV Latin America also includes our 41% equity method investment in Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V., or Sky Mexico, which we include in the PanAmericana segment. • *DIRECTV Sports Networks.* DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC and its subsidiaries, or DSN, is comprised primarily of two wholly owned regional sports networks based in Denver, Colorado and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a regional sports network based in Seattle, Washington in which DSN retains a noncontrolling interest, each of which operates under the brand name ROOT Sports. As further discussed in Note 2 below, on April 16, 2013, DSN transferred 100% of its interest in a regional sports network based in Seattle, Washington, or DSN Northwest, to NW Sports Net LLC. The Seattle Mariners have a majority interest in NW Sports Net LLC and DSN retains a noncontrolling interest, which we account for using the equity method of accounting. The operating results of DSN are reported as part of the "Sports Networks, Eliminations and Other" reporting segment. We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, for interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) that are necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on February 21, 2013, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2013, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on August 2, 2013, and all of our other filings, including Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC after such date and through the date of this report. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported herein. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, our actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.

Note 1: Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

DIRECTV, which we sometimes refer to as the company, we, or us, is a leading provider of digital television entertainment in the United States and Latin America. We operate two direct-to-home, or DTH, business units: DIRECTV U.S. and DIRECTV Latin America, which are differentiated by their geographic locations and are engaged in acquiring, promoting, selling and distributing digital entertainment programming primarily via satellite to residential and commercial subscribers. In addition, we own and operate regional sports networks and own a 42% interest in Game Show Network, LLC, or GSN, a television network dedicated to game-related programming and Internet interactive game playing. We account for our investment in GSN using the equity method of accounting.

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DIRECTV U.S.  DIRECTV Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, which we refer to as DIRECTV U.S., is the largest provider of DTH digital television services and the second largest provider in the multi-channel video programming distribution industry in the United States.

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DIRECTV Latin America.  DIRECTV Latin America Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, or DIRECTV Latin America, is a leading provider of DTH digital television services throughout Latin America. DIRECTV Latin America is comprised of: PanAmericana, which provides services in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and certain other countries in the region, and Sky Brasil Servicos Ltda., or Sky Brasil, which is a 93% owned subsidiary. DIRECTV Latin America also includes our 41% equity method investment in Innova, S. de R.L. de C.V., or Sky Mexico, which we include in the PanAmericana segment.

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DIRECTV Sports Networks.  DIRECTV Sports Networks LLC and its subsidiaries, or DSN, is comprised primarily of two wholly owned regional sports networks based in Denver, Colorado and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a regional sports network based in Seattle, Washington in which DSN retains a noncontrolling interest, each of which operates under the brand name ROOT Sports. As further discussed in Note 2 below, on April 16, 2013, DSN transferred 100% of its interest in a regional sports network based in Seattle, Washington, or DSN Northwest, to NW Sports Net LLC. The Seattle Mariners have a majority interest in NW Sports Net LLC and DSN retains a noncontrolling interest, which we account for using the equity method of accounting. The operating results of DSN are reported as part of the "Sports Networks, Eliminations and Other" reporting segment.

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, for interim financial reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) that are necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the SEC on February 21, 2013, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2013, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on August 2, 2013, and all of our other filings, including Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC after such date and through the date of this report.

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported herein. We base our estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, our actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates.