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Cablevision Urges Tennis Channel to Honor Contract and Make Its Service Available to Cablevision Customers for U.S. Open

Posted on: Friday, 28 August 2009, 12:30 CDT

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today urged the Tennis Channel to make its service available to Cablevision customers under its valid affiliation agreement, in time for the start of the U.S. Open tennis tournament. To mark this addition to the iO Sports Pak, and to ensure that customers can experience the Tennis Channel's coverage of the U.S. Open at no additional charge, Cablevision said that upon the launch of the channel in both standard-definition and HD it would offer new Sports Pak customers the first month of the service free.

Cablevision has opened up channels 399 (standard-definition) and 795 (HD) for the Tennis Channel, and provided the programmer with all of the technical information it needs to "flip the switch" and authorize Cablevision and its customers to receive its service. Cablevision is carrying the Tennis Channel under an existing agreement between the programmer and the National Cable Television Cooperative, of which Cablevision is a member.

"The Tennis Channel has suggested that it is prepared to deny New York-area tennis fans its coverage of the U.S. Open, and instead attempt to extract millions of dollars by forcing all Cablevision customers to receive and pay for the Tennis Channel, whether they want it or not," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "We have a valid agreement. We expect the Tennis Channel to authorize Cablevision to receive its service. In addition, upon the launch of the Tennis Channel on Cablevision, we will welcome new iO Sports Pak customers by making the sports tier available free for the first month."

The company noted that Cablevision customers will still experience more than 130 hours of live U.S. Open coverage, including the best and most meaningful matches, in both standard-definition and HD on CBS and ESPN2.

Available for just $5.95 per month to digital cable customers who have Family Cable service and above, the iO Sports Pak already includes 15 top sports and lifestyle networks, many available in both standard-definition and HD.

For more information on the iO Sports Pak, visit http://www.optimum.com/io/sports

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(R) digital television, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice(R) 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.

SOURCE Cablevision Systems Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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