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HUGHES TO LAUNCH FIRST U.S.- BUILT SATELLITE FOR RUSSIA (photo)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Nov. 12, 1998 -- A Hughes television satellite, the first U.S.-made spacecraft built specifically for a Russian concern, awaits launch here next week.

The satellite is BONUM-1, an HS 376HP (for high-power) model. It will provide digital direct-to-home television services to western Russia for NTV-Plus, a DTH TV subsidiary of Media Most, a major private Moscow media group that also owns NTV, the largest television network in Russia.

There are two windows for launching aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Station on Nov. 19: either between 6:22 and 7:03 p.m. EST (11:22 p.m. Nov. 19 to 12:03 a.m. Nov. 20 GMT) or between 9:14 and 9:23 p.m. EST (2:14 and 2:23 a.m. Nov. 20 GMT).

The spacecraft is owned by BONUM-1, another subsidiary of Media Most. Hughes Space and Communications Company of Los Angeles built the satellite, arranged for launch services, and provided ground station control equipment and controller training. The ground control station is located in Moscow, operated by the BONUM-1 company.

The BONUM-1 satellite carries eight active Ku-band transponders that, as a result of digital compression technology, will be capable of providing up to 50 channels using 75-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. BONUM-1 will be located at 36 degrees East longitude and will have a service life of 11 years.

The reliable and versatile HS 376 is one of the world's most purchased commercial communications satellite models. BONUM-1 will be the 53rd of this model to be launched, and the fifth of this model launched this year.

Hughes Space and Communications is the world's leading manufacturer of commercial geosynchronous communications satellites. It also is a major supplier of spacecraft for communications and space exploration to the U.S. government, and has built weather satellites for the United States and Japan. It is a unit of Hughes Electronics Corporation. The earnings of Hughes Electronics are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to GMH (NYSE symbol) common stock.

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TV Editors: The launch will be carried in the U.S. on Galaxy VI, transponder 24 in C-band, at 99 degrees West. You are welcome to use the transmission for your broadcasts.