DirecTV Group Inc., the biggest U.S. satellite-television service, named Haim Saban to its board, increasing the number of directors to 11.

Saban, is chairman and chief executive of Saban Capital Group Inc. and will join the board immediately, the El Segundo-based satellite TV service said in a statement distributed by Business Wire.

Saban was previously chairman and CEO of News Corp.’s Fox Family Worldwide from 1997 to 2001. DirecTV’s chairman is Rupert Murdoch, controlling shareholder of News Corp.

He also currently serves as chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG and is a member of the Board of Directors of the French broadcaster Television Francaise 1. He previously served as chairman and CEO of Fox Family Worldwide from 1997 to 2001.

DirecTV is 34 percent owned by Fox Entertainment Group, which is approximately 82 percent owned by News Corp.