Employment Agreement between The DIRECTV Group, Inc. and Romulo Pontual Effective January 1, 2004

EXHIBIT 10.5

As of January 1, 2004

Mr. Romulo Pontual

840 Fenimore Road

Larchmont, NY 10538-1115

Dear Romulo:

This letter agreement (“Agreement”) provides the terms of your employment with The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (the “Company”).

(b) If you continue in the employ of the Company after the end of the Term and an extension of your employment has not been negotiated, your employment shall be on an at-will basis at the weekly salary rate paid during your last regular pay period hereunder.

(b) You shall also receive an annual bonus based on the achievement of certain targets established by the CEO of the Company pursuant to a cash bonus plan (“Cash Plan”) for executive officers of the Company to be established with the approval of the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company. If you achieve such targets, your annual bonus shall be no less than 50% of your then current salary (the “Target Bonus”). You acknowledge that such Cash Plan is also subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company and no payments shall be made pursuant to such Cash Plan until and unless the Cash Plan shall have been so approved. However, if such approval is not so obtained by December 31, 2004, the Company will provide you with alternative cash incentive compensation arrangements which would enable you to receive (if applicable targets are achieved) the Target Bonus subject to approval of the Compensation Committee of the Company (or its designee) to such alternative compensation arrangements.

Mr. Romulo Pontual

As of January 1, 2004

Page 2

(c) It is anticipated that the Company will adopt a stock incentive plan, which will provide for the granting of equity awards including stock options, restricted stock or restricted stock units (such plan, if so adopted, is referred to as the “Stock Plan”). Subject to approval of the Stock Plan by the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company, you shall also receive equity compensation (e.g., options or restricted stock) consistent with grants to senior executives of a comparable level of the Company, and in any event such grant shall have a fair market value at least equal to the most recent grant provided to you by News America Incorporated. You acknowledge that such Stock Plan is also subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company and no award shall vest or be exercisable, nor shall any payments be made in respect thereof, until and unless the Stock Plan shall have been so approved. However, if such approval is not so obtained by December 31, 2004, the Company will provide you with alternative compensation arrangements in an amount equal to the value referred to above, subject to approval of the Compensation Committee of the Company (or its designee) as to such alternative compensation arrangements.

(d) You shall receive vacation and other perquisites and all other benefits generally commensurate with comparable executives of the Company.

(b) If you are elected a member of the Board of Directors or to any other office of the Company or any of its affiliates, you agree to serve in such capacity or capacities without additional compensation, unless additional compensation or benefits are paid to comparable executives.

(c) You hereby accept such employment and agree to devote your full time and attention as necessary to fulfill all of the duties of your employment hereunder. During the term of your employment, and for a period of twelve months thereafter (unless you are terminated pursuant to Section 4 (d) below), you will not, in any manner directly or indirectly, engage in any business which competes with the Company or any of its affiliates and will not directly or indirectly own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be employed by, or connected in any manner with any corporation, firm or business that is so engaged. The foregoing does not prohibit you from owning less than five percent (5%) of the outstanding common stock of any company whose shares are publicly traded.

(i) you are convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to a felony;

Mr. Romulo Pontual

As of January 1, 2004

Page 3

(ii) you engage in conduct that constitutes continued willful neglect or willful misconduct in carrying out your duties under this Agreement, resulting, in either case, in economic harm to or damage to the reputation of the Company or any of its affiliates; or

(iii) you breach any material affirmative or negative covenant or undertaking hereunder, which breach is not substantially cured within fifteen days after written notice to you specifying such breach.

If you are terminated for cause, you shall be entitled only to payment of your base salary and accrued vacation pay through the date of termination of your employment for cause.

(b) If your employment is terminated due to death, your estate or beneficiaries, as the case may be, shall be entitled to:

(i) payment of base salary through the date of termination;

(ii) payment of the pro-rated portion of the annual bonus that you received for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination (or Target Bonus, in the event of your death prior to January 1,2005); and

(iii) other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of the Company.

(c) If your employment is terminated due to disability (as defined below), you shall be entitled to the following (but in no event less than the benefits due to you under the then current disability program of the Company):

(i) payment of base salary through the date of termination;

(ii) payment of the pro-rated portion of the annual bonus that you received for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of termination (or Target Bonus, in the event of your disability prior to January 1,2005);

(iii) until the earlier of the end of such disability and the end of the Term, continued participation in medical, dental, hospitalization and life insurance coverage and in all other employee plans and programs in which you were participating on the date of termination; and

(iv) other or additional benefits in accordance with applicable plans and programs of the Company.

Mr. Romulo Pontual

As of January 1, 2004

Page 4

For purposes of this Agreement, “disability” shall mean your inability to substantially perform your duties and responsibilities under this Agreement for a period of 120 consecutive days.

(d) If the Company terminates you for any reason other than those defined in paragraphs 1 (a), (b) or (c) above, then you shall be entitled to:

(i) payment of your then current base salary through the end of the Term;

(ii) payment of your pro rated Target Bonus for the year in which you are terminated; and

(iii) all other benefits as would be called for under this Agreement had your employment not been terminated, until you receive coverage and benefits under the plans and programs of a subsequent employer.

(b) You will not during the term of your employment and for a period of two years thereafter, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt to induce any managerial, sales or supervising employee of the Company or its affiliates to render services to any other person, firm or corporation.

(c) You acknowledge that the relationship between the parties hereto is exclusively that of employer and employee and that the Company’s obligations to you are exclusively contractual in nature. The Company shall be the sole owner of all the fruits and proceeds of your services hereunder, including, but not limited to, all ideas, concepts, formats, suggestions, developments, arrangements, designs, packages, programs, promotions and other intellectual properties which you may create in connection with and during your term of your employment hereunder, free and clear of any claims by you (or anyone claiming under you) of any kind or character whatsoever (other than your right to compensation hereunder). You shall, at the request of the Company, execute such assignments, certificates or other instruments as the Company may from time to time deem necessary or desirable to evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, protect, enforce or defend its right, title and interest in or to any such properties.

(d) All memoranda, notes, records and other documents made or compiled by you, or made available to you during the term of this Agreement concerning the business of the Company or it affiliates shall be the Company’s property and shall be delivered to the Company on the termination of this Agreement or at any other time on request. You shall keep in confidence and shall not use for yourself or others, or divulge to others, any information concerning the business not publicly

Mr. Romulo Pontual

As of January 1, 2004

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available and which is obtained by you as a result of your employment, including but not limited to, trade secrets or processes and information deemed by the Company to be proprietary in nature, unless disclosure is permitted by the Company or required by law.

(e) The Company shall have the right to use your name, biography and likeness in connection with its business, including in advertising its products and services, and may grant this right to others, but not for use as a direct endorsement.

(f) The covenants set forth in sub paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) above shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

Mr. Romulo Pontual

As of January 1, 2004

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Sincerely,

THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.

By:    /s/ Chase Carey

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

THE FOREGOING IS AGREED TO:

/s/    Romulo Pontual

Romulo Pontual

March 16, 2004

Date