Cablevision and Sesame Workshop Partner to Launch First Ever Television Package of Sesame Street Themed Interactive Games for Children

Cablevision and Sesame Workshop Partner to Launch First Ever Television Package of Sesame Street Themed Interactive Games for Children

Cablevision's iO Digital Cable Customers Can Access Package Of Sesame Games Designed For Children Ages 2 To 5

Educational and Entertaining Games Are Easily Controlled Through The TV Remote

BETHPAGE, N.Y., and NEW YORK, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE:CVC) and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, today announced the launch of Sesame Street Games, a new subscription interactive games service featuring the Muppets from Sesame Street available to iO: Interactive Optimum(R) digital cable customers throughout the New York metropolitan area. The Sesame Street Games package offers unlimited access to fun, easy-to-play games designed to educate and entertain young children ages 2 to 5 with Elmo, Grover, Zoe and the rest of their favorite Sesame Street characters by pressing a single button on the television remote control.

"This new games package, developed in cooperation with Sesame Workshop, is a perfect example of the power of digital cable to serve customers in new and exciting ways that add value to the television experience," said Patrick Donoghue, Cablevision's vice president, digital television and broadband development. "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer our iO customers the industry's first educational and entertaining subscription games package dedicated to young children."

"Sesame Workshop is always seeking new ways to present learning opportunities to our audience and we are thrilled to be able to bring them the Sesame Street Games package through Cablevision's iO digital cable service," said Gary E. Knell, President and CEO, Sesame Workshop. "Sesame Street helped change the landscape of television by using it as an educational tool and we are continuing to innovate in this medium through the creation of this interactive service that extends the Sesame Street experience."

With Sesame Street games, children extend their learning from Sesame Street by interacting with their favorite characters as often as they like, any time of day. The Sesame Street Games package gives children a fun way to learn about letters, numbers, shapes, colors, science, problem solving, sharing, caring and more. The package will feature three new Sesame Street themed games each month. Games currently available in the package include:

* Leaf Collage - Children learn colors and counting while helping Elmo
make a leaf collage.
* Thanks for the Letters - Encourages children to learn food names and the
letters they begin with at the same time. Children choose a letter and
then help Zoe make a meal using foods that start with that letter.
* Tickle Elmo - This game is filled with laughter as children tickle Elmo
as much as they like to make him giggle.

As with all of Sesame Workshop's content, an extensive research study was conducted to help identify game play patterns that would enable young children, ages two to five, to use a remote control to make choices on a television screen. The results of this research led directly to the design of the three game play modes that are used in the Sesame Street Games package: Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten. The service also offers Demo and Help sections, which explains each game play mode, and guides parents to choose the mode that is most appropriate for their child. The prototype of the Sesame Street Games package earned three Interactive Television Emmy nominations.

The Sesame Street Games package is available to all iO digital cable customers for $4.95 per month. Using the iO auto-upgrade feature, customers can instantly purchase the Sesame Street Games package directly through the television by using a remote control and following on-screen prompts. Before purchasing, iO customers may view a free animated information video about the Sesame Street Games package. Customers in some areas may be required to exchange their digital cable box to receive iO Games. For more information about the Sesame Street Games package on iO, please visit channel 610 or www.io.tv.

With more than 1.8 million iO customers as of September 30, more than 60 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 and groundbreaking interactive television applications including subscription games packages.

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award- winning programs like Dragon Tales and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, Pinky Dinky Doo and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, Sagwa and Pinky products right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at www.sesameworkshop.org.

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 Corp.

CONTACT: Pam Hacker, Sesame Workshop, +1-212-875-6225,
pam.hacker@sesameworkshop.org; Marie Stenberg, Cablevision, +1-516-803-2352,
MSTENBER@cablevision.com

Web site: http://www.cablevision.com/
http://www.sesameworkshop.org/
http://www.io.tv/

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