Filed by Echostar Communications Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Companies: Hughes Electronics Corporation
Commission File No. 0-26035
General Motors Corporation
Commission File No. 1-00143
Date: March 19, 2002
On March 19, 2002, the advertisements and media advisory set forth below were
distributed.
TODAY, 42 MILLION AMERICAN HOMES HAVE LITTLE OR NO REAL ALTERNATIVE TO CABLE FOR
LOCAL PROGRAMMING.
TOMORROW, THEY WILL.
[Map of the United States with portions in color]
[Colored box.] TV Households With No Competitive Alternative Today
[Map of the United States entirely in color]
[Colored box.] TV Households With Competitive Alternative After Merger
TOGETHER, ECHOSTAR(R) AND DIRECTV(R) WILL BRING LOCAL TV CHANNELS AND AFFORDABLE
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO EVERYONE IN AMERICA--VIA SATELLITE.
The EchoStar/DIRECTV merger will give consumers a real alternative to rising
cable rates--it's called "Local Channels, All Americans."
How is this possible? With the combined resources of both EchoStar and DIRECTV,
we'll be able to eliminate 500 duplicate channels, freeing up that space on our
satellites to offer local TV channels. Plus, we've got two advanced spot-beam
satellites already in orbit, two more slated for launch, and a fifth new
satellite planned for construction as soon as our merger is approved. So the
merged company will be able to offer all Americans access to local broadcast
channels with digital-quality picture and sound, as well as high-speed Internet
service via satellite.
And under our plan, everyone will pay the same price for the same service,
whether they live in a village of five homes or a city of five million.
More choice, more freedom--for all Americans.
[ECHOSTAR logo](R) [DIRECTV logo](R)
WHAT DOES THE MERGER MEAN FOR YOU IN WISCONSIN?
o Right now, local channels are only available via satellite in Milwaukee and
Minneapolis/St. Paul. After the merger, they will be available in EVERY MARKET,
including Green Bay, Madison, and Marquette.
o WISCONSIN'S MORE THAN TWO MILLION HOUSEHOLDS will be able to get affordable
high-speed Internet service via satellite.
o More choice for Wisconsin's families--for the first time, there will be a true
competitive alternative to the cable companies.
Hughes, HEC Holdings, Inc., GM and EchoStar intend to file materials with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including a proxy or consent solicitation
statement/prospectus, which will contain important information regarding the
proposed combination of Hughes and EchoStar. A registration statement, including
a preliminary draft consent solicitation statement/information
statement/prospectus has been filed with the SEC. We urge stockholders to read
these documents, which are or will be available for free at the SEC's website,
www.sec.gov and from GM. Information regarding the participants in the
solicitation of GM stockholder approval was filed with the SEC by EchoStar on
November 1, 2001 and by each of GM and Hughes on November 16, 2001. This
advertisement contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in the SEC filings
referenced above. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, our actual
results could differ materially from the expectations in these forward-looking
statements.
(C) 2002 DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo and FEEL THE JOY are
trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. All other
trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owner.
(C) 2002 EchoStar Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.
TODAY, 42 MILLION AMERICAN HOMES HAVE LITTLE OR NO REAL ALTERNATIVE TO CABLE FOR
LOCAL PROGRAMMING.
TOMORROW, THEY WILL.
[Map of the United States with portions in color]
[Colored box.] TV Households With No Competitive Alternative Today
[Map of the United States entirely in color]
[Colored box.] TV Households With Competitive Alternative After Merger
TOGETHER, ECHOSTAR(R) AND DIRECTV(R) WILL BRING LOCAL TV CHANNELS AND AFFORDABLE
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET TO EVERYONE IN AMERICA--VIA SATELLITE.
The EchoStar/DIRECTV merger will give consumers a real alternative to rising
cable rates--it's called "Local Channels, All Americans."
How is this possible? With the combined resources of both EchoStar and DIRECTV,
we'll be able to eliminate 500 duplicate channels, freeing up that space on our
satellites to offer local TV channels. Plus, we've got two advanced spot-beam
satellites already in orbit, two more slated for launch, and a fifth new
satellite planned for construction as soon as our merger is approved. So the
merged company will be able to offer all Americans access to local broadcast
channels with digital-quality picture and sound, as well as high-speed Internet
service via satellite.
And under our plan, everyone will pay the same price for the same service,
whether they live in a village of five homes or a city of five million.
More choice, more freedom--for all Americans.
[ECHOSTAR logo](R) [DIRECTV logo](R)
WHAT DOES THE MERGER MEAN FOR YOU IN MONTANA?
o Montana will go from having none of its TV markets served with local channels
via satellite to ALL NINE SERVED--including Helena, Missoula, Billings, Glendive
and more.
o MONTANA'S MORE THAN 300,000 HOUSEHOLDS will be able to get affordable
high-speed Internet service via satellite.
o More choice for Montana's families--for the first time, there will be a true
competitive alternative to the cable companies.
Hughes, HEC Holdings, Inc., GM and EchoStar intend to file materials with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including a proxy or consent solicitation
statement/prospectus, which will contain important information regarding the
proposed combination of Hughes and EchoStar. A registration statement, including
a preliminary draft consent solicitation statement/information
statement/prospectus has been filed with the SEC. We urge stockholders to read
these documents, which are or will be available for free at the SEC's website,
www.sec.gov and from GM. Information regarding the participants in the
solicitation of GM stockholder approval was filed with the SEC by EchoStar on
November 1, 2001 and by each of GM and Hughes on November 16, 2001. This
advertisement contains forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown
risks and uncertainties, including the risks described in the SEC filings
referenced above. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, our actual
results could differ materially from the expectations in these forward-looking
statements.
(C) 2002 DIRECTV, Inc. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo and FEEL THE JOY are
trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics Corp. All other
trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owner.
(C) 2002 EchoStar Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.
[ECHOSTAR LOGO] [HUGHES LOGO]
5701 South Santa Fe Drive P.O. Box 956
Littleton, CO 80120 200 N. Sepulveda Blvd
El Segundo, CA 90245-0956
================================================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 19, 2002
MEDIA ADVISORY
ECHOSTAR AND DIRECTV PRESENT:
LOCAL CHANNELS AND AFFORDABLE BROADBAND EVERYWHERE IN THE U.S.
Salt Lake City, UT - On March 21, 2002 at 11:30 a.m. there will be a
demonstration showcasing satellite-delivered digital television and high-speed
Internet access - and an explanation of how the proposed merger between EchoStar
Communications Corporation and Hughes Electronics' DIRECTV will make local
channels and high-speed Internet access available to every resident of the
United States. Attendees will be able to surf the Internet, delivered via
satellite, following the demonstration.
THE DEMONSTRATION WILL BE HELD AT THE DEVEREAUX MANSION
(LOCATED AT 351 WEST SOUTH TEMPLE) AT 11:30 ON MARCH 21, 2002.
PRESS INVITED TO ATTEND. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED.
RSVP MANDATORY.
PLEASE CONTACT RAY CHILD AT 255-3729 OR ANNE-MARIE WRIGHT AT 541-8895.
DISH Network is a trademark of EchoStar Communications Corporation. DISH Network
is EchoStar's state-of-the-art direct broadcast satellite TV system that is
capable of offering over 500 channels of digital video and CD-quality audio
programming, as well as advanced satellite TV receiver hardware and
installation. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX). DISH Network
currently serves over 7 million customers. For more information, contact
1-800/333-DISH (3474) or visit www.dishnetwork.com.
DIRECTV is the nation's leading digital satellite television service provider
with more than 10.7 million customers. DIRECTV and the Cyclone Design logo are
registered trademarks of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics
Corporation. HUGHES is the world's leading provider of digital television
entertainment, broadband services, satellite-based private business networks,
and global video and data broadcasting. The earnings of HUGHES, a unit of
General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings per share
attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE: GMH). Visit
DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.DIRECTV.com.
- more -
In connection with the proposed transactions, General Motors Corporation ("GM"),
Hughes Electronics Corporation ("Hughes") and EchoStar Communications
Corporation ("EchoStar") intend to file relevant materials with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including one or more Registration Statement(s) on Form
S-4 that contain a prospectus and proxy/consent solicitation statement. Because
those documents will contain important information, holders of GM $1-2/3 and GM
Class H common stock are urged to read them, if and when they become available.
When filed with the SEC, they will be available for free at the SEC's website,
www.sec.gov, and GM stockholders will receive information at an appropriate time
on how to obtain transaction-related documents for free from GM. Such documents
are not currently available.
GM and its directors and executive officers, Hughes and certain of its officers,
and EchoStar and certain of its executive officers may be deemed to be
participants in GM's solicitation of proxies or consents from the holders of GM
$1-2/3 common stock and GM Class H common stock in connection with the proposed
transactions. Information regarding the participants and their interests in the
solicitation was filed pursuant to Rule 425 with the SEC by EchoStar on November
1, 2001 and by each of GM and Hughes on November 16, 2001. Investors may obtain
additional information regarding the interests of the participants by reading
the prospectus and proxy/consent solicitation statement if and when it becomes
available.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction
in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
Materials included in this document contain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different
from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results of GM,
EchoStar, Hughes, or a combined EchoStar and Hughes to differ materially, many
of which are beyond the control of EchoStar, Hughes or GM include, but are not
limited to, the following: (1) the businesses of EchoStar and Hughes may not be
integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult,
time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected benefits and synergies from
the combination may not be realized within the expected time frame or at all;
(3) revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; (4) operating
costs, customer loss and business disruption including, without limitation,
difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or
suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; (5)
generating the incremental growth in the subscriber base of the combined company
may be more costly or difficult than expected; (6) the regulatory approvals
required for the transaction may not be obtained on the terms expected or on the
anticipated schedule; (7) the effects of legislative and regulatory changes; (8)
an inability to obtain certain retransmission consents; (9) an inability to
retain necessary authorizations from the FCC; (10) an increase in competition
from cable as a result of digital cable or otherwise, direct broadcast
satellite, other satellite system operators, and other providers of subscription
television services; (11) the introduction of new technologies and competitors
into the subscription television business; (12) changes in labor, programming,
equipment and capital costs; (13) future acquisitions, strategic partnership and
divestitures; (14) general business and economic conditions; and (15) other
risks described from time to time in periodic reports filed by EchoStar, Hughes
or GM with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to consider
statements that include the words "may," "will," "would," "could," "should,"
"believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "expects," "plans,"
"anticipates," "intends," "continues," "forecast," "designed," "goal," or the
negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and
forward-looking. This cautionary statement applies to all forward-looking
statements included in this document.