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International Entertainment News

Monday, February 28, 2005

Cablevision and Rentrak Launch Groundbreaking On Demand Rating System

Cablevision and Rentrak Launch Groundbreaking On Demand Rating System

Partnership Major Step in Encouraging Programmers to Embrace On Demand Programming Model

OnDemand Essentials Delivers Census Level Data vs. Sample Data to Programmers, Advertisers

BETHPAGE, N.Y. and PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC), and Rentrak Corporation (NASDAQ:RENT) today announced an agreement to activate OnDemand Essentials(TM), a groundbreaking proprietary system created by Rentrak to measure and report aggregated video on demand (VOD) usage data. OnDemand Essentials will deliver timely, in-depth, customizable analysis of anonymous on demand viewing data to help Cablevision and its programming partners better understand viewer preferences for on demand content.

"We are very pleased to be working with Rentrak in such an innovative way to measure on demand viewing habits in the aggregate, information that we believe will have a significant and beneficial effect on the entire cable industry as we work with programmers to make even more content available to customers on demand," said Kristin Dolan, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "We believe that Cablevision's robust offering of more than 1,200 on demand titles is one of the key reasons we have been able to achieve an industry-leading digital video penetration of more than 45 percent. With Rentrak's measuring system in place, we will be able to demonstrate usage that we hope will encourage programmers to further embrace this platform."

Rentrak's engagement with Cablevision will begin with a one-year trial of OnDemand Essentials during which technical data feed protocols, reporting formats, staff training and other ramp-up activities will be conducted. The trial period allows Rentrak to customize OnDemand Essentials' capabilities to Cablevision and its customers and ensure smooth operations once aggregated data begins to be accumulated from iO(R) digital cable customers.

"We are pleased to begin working with Cablevision, a recognized industry leader in providing on demand content, to continue setting the pace for precise measurement of VOD usage," said Cathy Hetzel, senior vice president, OnDemand Essentials at Rentrak. "OnDemand Essentials is specifically designed to assist Cablevision in making faster and better informed decisions about their offerings and to deliver more efficient and accurate VOD usage measurement to their content providers."

Video on demand is a key component of Cablevision's iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable service featuring a wide variety of programming including new release and library movie titles; eight premium subscription on demand services from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Disney Channel, Anime Network, IFC, here! TV, and Playboy; and free on demand content from a variety of sources including Mag Rack, Sportskook, PBS and C-SPAN.

With nearly 1.5 million iO customers at the end of 2004, more than 50 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, 16 high-definition programming services and groundbreaking interactive television applications including iO Games. No other cable or satellite provider exceeds the breadth and depth of the iO service or gives customers more control over their television experience.

About OnDemand Essentials

OnDemand Essentials provides cable operators, content providers (including broadcast/cable networks, studios) and advertisers with a real-time transactional tracking and reporting system to view and analyze on-demand content. The product is an extension of Rentrak's Essentials suite of business intelligence products customized for the entertainment industry. OnDemand Essentials clients have password protected, real-time, web browser- based 24x7 access to on demand consumer usage data at various access levels based on business and privacy rules. A sophisticated toolset aggregates and reports data across multiple vendors in one easy to use report system. Clients using the OnDemand Essentials system are able to instantly analyze and interpret their own business data to identify trends, program and promote more effectively by identifying trends, as well as track their performance against the broader business sector in which they operate. Comcast Cable Communications and Insight Communications are also using Rentrak's OnDemand Essentials service. Music Choice was previously announced as the first content provider to subscribe to the service.

About Rentrak Corporation

Rentrak Corporation, a Portland, Oregon-based information management and business intelligence company, is the developer of the Essentials(TM) suite of information management products that are used by clients in the media, entertainment, retail and manufacturing industries. Through the specialized vertical market editions of the Essentials web-based applications that are customized to the needs of each licensee, marketers are able to collect, manage and analyze detailed point-of-sale and supply chain data on a real-time basis. The Essentials(TM) suite of services offers bottom-line enhancing and competitive advantages to executives by providing timely and actionable insight into both their own company's performance, as well as perspective from access to aggregated industry-wide data. For further information, please refer to Rentrak's corporate Web site at http://www.rentrak.com/ .

About Cablevision

Cablevision Systems Corporation is one of the nation's leading entertainment and telecommunications 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: Interactive Optimum digital television offering, Optimum Online high-speed Internet service, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable service, 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 is the controlling owner of 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. Additional information about Cablevision Systems Corporation is available on the Web at www.cablevision.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

When used in this discussion, the words "anticipates," "expects," "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Additional risk factors that could affect Rentrak's business are described in Rentrak's March 31, 2004, annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, and subsequent quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Statements about potential future industry trends and growth prospects in each of the company's operating divisions are forward-looking, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release and include many factors that are outside the direct control of Rentrak. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute a suggestion by the company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statements are material. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise these forward- looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in this release will not be realized.

Press Contacts Investors
Rentrak Cablevision Rentrak
Sallie Olmsted/Susan Yin Marie Stenberg Ron Parham
310-854-8124/8145 516-803-2352 503-924-1186

Source: Rentrak Corporation

CONTACT: media, Sallie Olmsted, +1-310-854-8124, or Susan Yin,
+1-310-854-8145, both of Rentrak; or Marie Stenberg of Cablevision,
+1-516-803-2352; or investors, Ron Parham of Rentrak, +1-503-924-1186

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

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

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