FURTHER CONSOLIDATION IN DBS INDUSTRY AS DIRECTV GETS USSB

          Hughes Electronics has agreed to acquire U.S. Satellite
     Broadcasting Co. (USSB) in a deal valued at $1.3B, according
     to Biddle & Cauley of the WALL STREET JOURNAL.  The deal
     will combine Hughes' DirecTV unit with USSB, "a step long
     favored by Wall Street."  USSB's 25 channels, consisting
     "mostly" of movie channels, will be added to DirecTV's 185
     channels, bringing the total options to 210.  Consumers will
     no longer need to subscribe to both services to get all
     possible movie offerings (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/15). 
          DIRECTING WHAT YOU SAY: DirecTV will join with the NHL
     on the "Coolest Game On Earth..." contest launched today on
     NHL.com.  Participants are asked to submit a creative ending
     to the statement: "You know you're an NHL fan when...".  A
     panel of judges from the NHL and DirectTV will select ten
     winners who will be awarded a DirectTV satellite system with
     free installation, two months of free programming, and a
     year subscription to "The Hockey News" (NHL).