DirecTV to Broadcast SXSW Live on The 101 Network

The nation’s leading satellite TV provider, DirecTV, has announced the lineup for the 2009 South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival. The event, held annually in Austin, Texas, will highlight a variety of performers including:

• Tori Amos
• CKY
• The Decemberists
• Sage Francis
• Shiny Toy Guns
• Ben Harper
• Willie Nile
• Third Eye Blind

DirecTV will broadcast the trendsetting music festival exclusively on The 101 Network, DirecTV’s original entertainment channel. Airing March 20-21 at 5:00 p.m EDT., coverage of SXSW will be available in high definition and 5.1 surround sound.

“For the third year in a row, DIRECTV customers will be able to experience SXSW Live with a front-row seat and an exclusive look into one of the premier music festivals in the world," stated Executive Vice President of Entertainment for DIRECTV, Eric Shanks. "Not only is this larger-than-life television special another free perk that only DIRECTV customers get to experience, there's the added enjoyment of seeing many up-and-coming acts in their first television appearance ever before taking the next step to stardom."

The 101 Network special will include more than 16 live concert performances, behind-the-scenes coverage, exclusive backstage interviews, and updates from various hot spots at SXSW. DirecTV’s coverage is designed to make subscribers feel as though they are experiencing SXSW first hand!

"We are thrilled to continue our annual partnership with DIRECTV for this special live broadcast event," stated Managing Director of SXSW Festivals and Conferences, Roland Swenson. "Advancing our long tradition of innovation, DIRECTV allows us to offer an amazing quantity and quality of video and sound coverage on multiple platforms live from our event. SXSW Live elevates our festival above and beyond the expected, making the SXSW experience available to millions of people around the world."