Moving To An All-Digital Future, Cablevision Next Year Will Sell Expanded Basic Cable Only in Digital To New Customers

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The transition to digital television is something that is happening across our nation, because digital is a far superior format for delivering television service, both in terms of quality and capacity

Bethpage, NY (PRWEB) March 12, 2009

Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) announced today that it was moving to an all-digital future and would become the first major cable provider in the nation to sell expanded basic service only in digital format to new customers, as of the end of the year. Existing analog customers and all digital customers will continue to receive available analog simulcasts on television sets connected directly to cable.

More than 91 percent of Cablevision's 3.1 million television customers today receive digital service, the highest rate of digital adoption in the country. Approximately 5 percent of the company's cable television customers today receive analog expanded basic service, and these customers will continue to receive this limited service on a grandfathered basis without any required action.

"The transition to digital television is something that is happening across our nation, because digital is a far superior format for delivering television service, both in terms of quality and capacity," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "The vast majority of our customers have already embraced this standard, and Cablevision's move away from analog expanded basic for new customers is the next logical step in an evolution that will deliver clear benefits including more programming, particularly HD, and additional choice."

Cablevision has continued to build value and choice into its iO TV digital cable product, which offers customers:

• 70 channels of free HD, including all of the HD games of all nine New York-area professional sports teams, without the extra equipment or programming fees competitors charge for HD.
• More than 4,000 titles available on demand, including thousands of free selections in various content categories and more than a dozen subscription video on demand options, from established cable brands like HBO, Showtime, Disney, Cinemax and IFC in Theaters to packages including Howard Stern on Demand, Anime Network, WWE and Bollywood Hits.
• iO International, a comprehensive and diverse array of 12 distinct international programming packages, featuring dozens of channels. iO International's many options feature a dynamic mix of in-language television channels from around the world, including Spanish, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Hindi and others.
• Advanced interactive services like Optimum Autos, Optimum Homes and News 12 Interactive, which offers up-to-the-minute local traffic and weather information, in addition to on demand viewing of top local stories, extended coverage and special features like local election debates.
• Advanced features like Caller ID on the TV, for customers who also subscribe to the company's Optimum Voice phone service, and interactive tutorials on Optimum services including iO TV, Optimum WiFi, Optimum Voice and Optimum Online.
• Access to a total of nearly 400 channels, including more than 50 premium movie channels, 48 channels of commercial-free digital music and unique local services like News 12 and News 12 Traffic & Weather.

About Cablevision
Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC) is one of the nation's leading media and entertainment companies. Its cable television operations serve more than 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO TV® digital television, Optimum Online® high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice® digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv, through Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, and serves the New York area as publisher of Newsday and other niche publications through Newsday Media Group. In addition to these businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, and the Chicago Theatre, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

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