Cablevision Launches 'Optimum Rewards'

Cablevision Launches 'Optimum Rewards'

New Program Extends Triple-Play Offer To All Cablevision Customers, With Opportunity To Save $300 Per Year Off Standard Rates

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE:CVC) today announced the launch of "Optimum Rewards," an initiative that delivers significant value by extending discounts to any customer who takes all three of Cablevision's Optimum digital services - iO: Interactive Optimum(R) digital cable, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet and Optimum Voice(R) flat-rate unlimited calling.

Optimum Rewards customers who take all three of Cablevision's Optimum services will see a credit of $25 per month on their Cablevision bill. The overall savings for customers of all three services amounts to $300 per year. Customers currently taking advantage of other promotional offers can participate in Optimum Rewards when those promotional price offers expire. To qualify for participation in Optimum Rewards, customers must be iO digital cable customers at the Family Cable level or above.

Cablevision will begin phasing in Optimum Rewards on a limited basis this month, and expects the program to be fully deployed across the company's service area by the end of the year. Customers are being notified individually regarding their eligibility to participate in Optimum Rewards.

Cablevision has a long history of marketing leadership in the cable industry, the most recent example of which was the company's innovative triple-play offer that went into effect last summer and gave new customers the ability to purchase digital video, high-speed Internet and voice services for just $29.95 per month each for one year.

"We were very successful with our triple-play offer which, for strategic and operational reasons, was offered only to new customers," said Patricia Gottesman, Cablevision's executive vice president of product management and marketing. "With the launch of Optimum Rewards, we are extending a triple-play offer to all of our current customers -- driving additional value to those who take all three of our Optimum services. We believe Optimum Rewards will be a compelling incentive for existing customers to upgrade to our full bundle of Optimum services."

"Optimum Rewards will give Cablevision additional flexibility and creativity in the way we market our services, help attract more three-product customers and promote retention of our most valuable customers," Gottesman continued. "These benefits, plus the ability to drive reduced churn and efficiencies in our customer service and installation processes, make this customer-friendly program a sound business proposition for Cablevision."

Cablevision's consumer services have achieved significant marketplace success. The company has the highest digital cable penetration in the country, the most penetrated high-speed Internet service in the country and the most penetrated digital voice-over-cable service.

Cablevision's consumer services include:

iO: Interactive Optimum Digital Cable


Cablevision's digital video service is far superior to satellite television, with hundreds of channels and features and functionality satellite can't offer, such as more than 1,200 titles of on demand programming available any time at the touch of a button, with full control over the viewing experience. iO customers also enjoy access to 16 high-definition programming services -- more HDTV than is available from DirecTV or Dish -- at no additional cost, and new interactive features such as subscription games packages and local traffic and weather information.

Optimum Online High-Speed Internet

More than three out of four broadband customers in Cablevision's service area choose Optimum Online, the New York metropolitan area's fastest and most reliable high-speed Internet service -- more than three times faster than DSL. With maximum downstream speeds of 10 Mbps, 1 Mbps upstream, Optimum Online recently received the highest overall rating in the 17th Annual PC Magazine Reader Satisfaction Survey of Internet service providers, and won the coveted PC Magazine Reader's Choice Award. Optimum Online customers also receive critical security tools for free, including firewall and anti-virus software and parental controls.

Optimum Voice Unlimited Flat-Rate Calling

Offering unlimited calling across the U.S. and Canada and a wide variety of calling features for a flat rate of just $34.95 per month, Optimum Voice offers customers the best value in voice. Through its integration with Optimum Online, the service also offers advanced features and functions not available from any other provider, including a dedicated Internet portal, "My Optimum Voice," through which customers can receive voicemail messages from any Internet-connected computer in the world, review and sort calling records, and manage other account preferences. Optimum Voice includes enhanced 911 access and other popular calling features including caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, directory assistance and the ability to direct-dial international calls, for an additional fee, at rates that are more than 25 percent below those charged by other leading providers. Optimum Voice is a voice service available exclusively to Optimum Online customers.

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. Rainbow also is a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net. In 2003, Cablevision's Rainbow DBS launched its VOOM satellite service, the first service to offer a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) television programming. 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 http://www.cablevision.com/.


Source: Cablevision Systems Corp.

CONTACT: Jim Maiella of Cablevision Systems Corp., +1-516-803-3947

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


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