iO and News 12 Partner to Bring Digital Cable Customers Comprehensive Local Election Coverage on Demand

iO and News 12 Partner to Bring Digital Cable Customers Comprehensive Local Election Coverage on Demand

iO Customers Will Enjoy Unprecedented, Unlimited on Demand Access to Award-Winning News 12 Coverage of Local Races and Debates Through Election Day at No Additional Cost

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a powerful and valuable combination of cable-exclusive programming and cable-only technology, Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC), today announced that it is making comprehensive local election coverage from News 12 Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey available to all iO: Interactive Optimum(R) digital cable customers on demand and at no additional charge. News 12 networks local election coverage and debates will be available through News 12 Interactive, which can be accessed on channel 612 or through the "Enhanced TV" category on the iO menu guide.

"This is an exciting combination of programming and technology exclusive to cable, which together are capable of delivering real and meaningful value to our customers," said Patricia Gottesman, Cablevision's executive vice president of product management and marketing. "Each election year, News 12 presents viewers with the region's most complete election coverage. We are extremely pleased to be able to present our iO digital cable customers with this first-of-its-kind opportunity to view this award-winning local coverage on demand, at no additional cost."

Long Island residents will have access to daily updates of the News 12 "Island Vote 2005" series coverage on demand. Westchester viewers will be able to access debates among candidates running for Westchester County District Attorney and Westchester County Executive. Connecticut electoral debates available on demand will cover Easton, Fairfield, Orange, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk and Stratford. New Jersey residents will be able to watch the November 3 gubernatorial debate on demand. Local election coverage and debates will become available to iO customers within 24 hours after the coverage airs live on News 12, and will remain available through election day.

"Since its inception, News 12 has been proud to provide the region's most comprehensive local election coverage, and we are pleased to take full advantage of iO's superior digital technology to make this important information even more accessible to our viewers, on demand," said Patrick Dolan, President of News 12 Networks. "Whether on News 12 or through News 12 Interactive, we are committed to bringing our viewers all the information necessary to fully participate in the democratic process and make intelligent and informed decisions in the voting booth on election day."

With more than 1.7 million iO customers as of June 30, nearly 58 percent of Cablevision's cable customers are iO digital cable customers, the highest digital penetration in the nation. iO offers customers access to more than 200 channels, including 50 premium movie channels, 45 channels of commercial- free digital music, more than 1,200 titles available on demand at all times, an interactive programming guide, 18 high-definition programming services available at no additional cost and groundbreaking interactive television applications, including subscription games packages.

About Optimum(R)

Optimum, Cablevision Systems Corporation's (NYSE:CVC) suite of advanced digital cable services includes iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet and Optimum Voice(R) digital voice-over-cable, all delivered over the company's fiber-rich, state-of-the-art network that passes 4.4 million homes in the New York metropolitan area. All Optimum services have achieved industry-leading penetrations with more than 1.7 million iO digital cable customers, or nearly 58 percent of all cable customers, more than 1.5 million Optimum Online customers at 34 percent penetration of homes-passed and 478,000 Optimum Voice customers. Optimum customers receive unprecedented value from Optimum's award-winning digital cable service, the nation's top rated high-speed Internet service and a dependable and feature-rich voice service.

About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation's leading entertainment and telecommunications companies. Its cable television operations serve 3 million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO: Interactive Optimum digital television, Optimum Online high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable, and its Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE and other national and regional networks. In addition to its telecommunications and programming 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, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

Source: Cablevision Systems Corporation

CONTACT: Jim Maiella, +1-516-803-3947, or Marie Stenberg, +1-516-803-2352, both for Cablevision Systems Corporation

Web site: http://www.cablevision.com/

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