Cablevision HDTV

[Marcus Carr]

Cablevision to stop selling analog TV by year-end

Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:39am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York cable operator Cablevision Systems Corp (CVC.N) said on Thursday it will stop selling analog television packages by the end of 2009 as it moves to become an all-digital service.

The company said just five percent of its 3.1 million video customers currently receive its analog expanded basic package and these customers will continue to receive the limited service without any required action.

But the cable company, which has the highest digital service penetration of any major U.S. cable operator, will no longer market analog TV packages to customers.

A company spokesman pointed out that Cablevision is already going all-digital in some parts of New York City including parts of the Bronx and Brooklyn.

One advantage of going all-digital for cable companies is that it frees up capacity on an operator's system. One analog TV channel takes up the capacity for up to eight to ten digital channels. Most operators deliver an analog simulcast alongside the digital signals.

Cablevision, like other U.S. cable operators, has traditionally delivered analog TV signals and gradually converted its customers to digital packages since the introduction of broadcast digital signals in the U.S.

Satellite TV providers like DirecTV Group (DTV.O) and DISH Network Corp (DISH.O) as well as newcomers like Verizon Communications (VZ.N) and AT&T Inc (T.N) only deliver digital video signals.

With more customers expecting to watch high definition programing on flat-screen TVs many customers have already converted to digital TV.

The migration of cable subscribers to digital comes ahead of a U.S. government mandated switch-off of free, over-the-air, analog signals on June 12.

http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...52B0Z120090312

[dm145]

How long before they faze out the 5% holdouts?
I hope they move all but the basic channels to digital, ASAP.
That should free up enough BW for more high quality HD and faster OOL.

[replayrob]

Originally Posted by dm145

How long before they faze out the 5% holdouts

That 5% (analog users) figure is misleading....
In my house for example, we have one TV on a TiVoHD and one other TV using the Cablevision rental SA8300HD DVR. The other 4 TV's are connected directly to cable without a cable box. Those 4 TV's still use analog channels. Once Cablevision phases out analog- those 4 TV's would each require a cable decoder box. I do not plan to rent 5 cable boxes from Cablevision in order to watch TV.
We're taking a step backwards to having only 2 TV's in the house at this point. It's a total money grab by cable with the pretense of being helpful to it's customers. Who knows when they'll shut down the analog channels, but it's going to be a major PITA when they do.

[RemyM]

Perhaps they will start to offer a DTA like Comcast to convert clear QAM to analog for older TV's that people only want basic on when they finally make the full switch.
http://picasaweb.google.com/virgegx/ComcastDTAUnboxing#

[acs12798]

Originally Posted by replayrob

That 5% (analog users) figure is misleading....
In my house for example, we have one TV on a TiVoHD and one other TV using the Cablevision rental SA8300HD DVR. The other 4 TV's are connected directly to cable without a cable box. Those 4 TV's still use analog channels. Once Cablevision phases out analog- those 4 TV's would each require a cable decoder box. I do not plan to rent 5 cable boxes from Cablevision in order to watch TV.
We're taking a step backwards to having only 2 TV's in the house at this point. It's a total money grab by cable with the pretense of being helpful to it's customers. Who knows when they'll shut down the analog channels, but it's going to be a major PITA when they do.

Yup, its an issue in my house too. We have one HD box, a second TV on QAM and 4 tvs on analog but we're counted as a digital house. With my brother out of the house and me gone by July, I doubt they'll get extra boxes and thus will be loosing service.

[dm145]

Originally Posted by replayrob

That 5% (analog users) figure is misleading....
In my house for example, we have one TV on a TiVoHD and one other TV using the Cablevision rental SA8300HD DVR. The other 4 TV's are connected directly to cable without a cable box. Those 4 TV's still use analog channels. Once Cablevision phases out analog- those 4 TV's would each require a cable decoder box. I do not plan to rent 5 cable boxes from Cablevision in order to watch TV.
We're taking a step backwards to having only 2 TV's in the house at this point. It's a total money grab by cable with the pretense of being helpful to it's customers. Who knows when they'll shut down the analog channels, but it's going to be a major PITA when they do.

You would have the same issue with any other provider (box for every tv).
No pretense, with all digital systems they could offer better service for the customers that are actually willing to pay.

[dm145]

Per SatGuys:
Cablevison is adding 30 HD channels in the Bronx and Brooklyn and 8 HD everywhere else.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/cablevis...-hd-crazy.html

Ch. 746 A&E HD
Ch. 747 History Channel HD
Ch. 751 E! HD
Ch. 754 BET HD
Ch. 781 BIO HD
Ch. 784 Crime & Investigation HD
Ch. 785 Palladia HD
Ch. 786 G4 HD
Ch. 788 Outdoor Channel HD
Ch. 789 NBA TV HD
Ch. 807 HBO West HD
Ch. 808 HBO 2 West HD
Ch. 809 HBO Signature West HD
Ch. 810 HBO Family West HD
Ch. 814 Starz West HD
Ch. 815 Starz Comedy HD
Ch. 823 Showtime Extreme HD
Ch. 824 Showtime West HD
Ch. 825 Showtime Too West HD
Ch. 826 Showtime Showcase West HD
Ch . 8** Cinemax West HD (wasn't on list but I think it was skipped)
Ch. 833 Thriller Max HD
Ch. 834 WMAX HD (Cinemax for Women)
Ch. 836 5 Star Max HD
Ch. 841 TMC XTRA HD
Ch. 842 TMC West HD
Ch. 843 TMC XTRA WEST HD
Ch. 845 QVC HD
Ch. 846 Planet Green HD
Ch. 847 Style HD

[Marcus Carr]

Free HD Is In Bloom This Spring For Optimum Customers

30 New High-Definition Channels Arriving In New York City This Week, Popular AETN-Affiliated Channels Launching For All iO TV® Customers iO TV's Free HD Line-Up Will Exceed 100 Channels Across Cablevision's Service Area By June

Bethpage, NY (PRWEB) April 20, 2009 -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced a significant expansion of the free high-definition programming available to its iO TV digital cable customers - starting this week with the addition of 30 new HD channels in New York City, popular AETN-affiliated channels launching everywhere and more than 100 HD channels available across the company's service area by June.

Cablevision's approach to offering an expansive and diverse HD line-up, without the extra equipment or programming fees competitors charge for HD, has resulted in an extremely high rate of HD adoption, with half of all iO TV digital cable customers taking HD service.

"Free HD has become a hallmark of iO TV, and a key point of differentiation over our competitors, so we are very pleased to announce this significant expansion to more than 100 channels of free HD available across our service area," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "With unique local services like News 12 and News 12 Traffic & Weather, a dozen international programming options, advanced features like Caller ID on the TV and every HD game of all nine professional New York-area sports teams, iO TV delivers unbeatable value and choice to our digital cable customers."

The spring HD additions consist of popular networks including: A&E HD, BET HD, E! HD, History HD, Bio HD, Crime & Investigation HD, G4 HD, Palladia HD, Planet Green HD, Style HD, Outdoor Channel HD, NBA TV HD, QVC HD as well as additional HD channels from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and TMC.

With more than 2.8 million iO TV customers, more than 91 percent of Cablevision's cable customers are iO TV digital cable customers, the highest digital penetration in the nation. iO TV offers customers access to up to 400 channels, including 53 premium movie channels, 46 channels of commercial-free digital music, more than 4,000 titles available on demand at all times, an interactive programming guide, free HD and uniquely valuable and relevant interactive television applications including News 12 Interactive. Viewing high-definition programming generally requires a high-definition cable box or CableCARD and an HD-ready television set. A full array of approximately 100 HD VOD movies are also available, starting at $4.95 for a 24-hour rental.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/04/prweb2337654.htm

[DevOne]

Originally Posted by RemyM

Perhaps they will start to offer a DTA like Comcast to convert clear QAM to analog for older TV's that people only want basic on when they finally make the full switch.
http://picasaweb.google.com/virgegx/ComcastDTAUnboxing#

Why not simply offer "extended basic" in ClearQAM and use addressable pole traps?

Despite the additional bandwidth being a boon for HD customers; it's a tremendous loss for every customer with SD sets. OTA is becoming the most convenient choice for my family. I REFUSE to pay an additional $25/month to simply maintain "Family Cable" level services.

[RemyM]

Originally Posted by DevOne

Why not simply offer "extended basic" in ClearQAM and use addressable pole traps?

Despite the additional bandwidth being a boon for HD customers; it's a tremendous loss for every customer with SD sets. OTA is becoming the most convenient choice for my family. I REFUSE to pay an additional $25/month to simply maintain "Family Cable" level services.

Pole traps are a costly alternative and limit flexibility in a digital world. They were the only option with analog, but are not practical anymore.

Cablevision's approach is simple, keep the customers paying the highest bills happy at the expense of those with smaller bills.

[dm145]

Originally Posted by RemyM

Pole traps are a costly alternative and limit flexibility in a digital world. They were the only option with analog, but are not practical anymore.

Cablevision's approach is simple, keep the customers paying the highest bills happy at the expense of those with smaller bills.

it's working, i'm happy

Remy, did you take the day off yesterday?

[RemyM]

Originally Posted by dm145

it's working, i'm happy

Remy, did you take the day off yesterday?

I'm happy too.

Yes, I failed to visit AVS at all yesterday. But on the plus side my property looks very nice after putting down 100 Cu Ft of red cedar mulch in my plant beds.

[DevOne]

Originally Posted by RemyM

Pole traps are a costly alternative and limit flexibility in a digital world. They were the only option with analog, but are not practical anymore.

Cablevision's approach is simple, keep the customers paying the highest bills happy at the expense of those with smaller bills.

The pole trap infrastructure is already in place though (for Long Island at least). I can't see Cablevision abandoning pole traps anyway. It's the only way to protect "Broadcast Basic" subscriptions.

How are addressable pole traps limiting? They provide the MSO the flexibility to set permissions without a truck roll. This is a money grab pure and simple. Forget "ala carte". The FCC needs to tackle the "ClearQAM" issue. STB costs will outpace any savings ala carte will bring subs in multiple TV households.

I can't wait for Hulu/Netflix integration in future TVs. MSO greed and inconvenience are going to price their video service down an abyss (I HATE the iO Guide and DVR). I made this clear to Cablevision when I cancelled service. All the iO Gold subs aren't going to offset a 50% "expanded basic" customer loss.

Considering what passes for HD on cable today (G4-HD), I'd sacrifice further additions to keep analog cable. In fact, analog cable was the SOLE reason my family stayed. To think there was a time when Cable MSOs lobbied for cable tuners in TVs.

[dm145]

Originally Posted by DevOne

The pole trap infrastructure is already in place though (for Long Island at least). I can't see Cablevision abandoning pole traps anyway. It's the only way to protect "Broadcast Basic" subscriptions.

All the iO Gold subs aren't going to offset a 50% "expanded basic" customer loss.

100% digital will protect BB
Where are you getting 50% churn?

[zero7404]

its about time i'm going to be able to watch History in HD....

still experiencing problems with my service tho....

is it a glitch in service or just the 4250HD box, when i'm viewing non-HD channels the 1080i indicator is lit on the box. no gray bars appear on the tv because the tv thinks it's getting a 1080i signal....

it's intermittent, and happens with the 720p indicator as well....

i just got a brand new box a few weeks ago from cablevision, but the issues still persist. perhaps there is a better box to use ? (if it's the box that's the problem)

[RemyM]

^^^^I assume you just hooked up the box and didn't run the setup. The boxes come defaulted to 1080i. It sometimes help to RTM.

http://optimum.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...IHNldHVw&p_li=

http://optimum.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

[zero7404]

you're right, i wasn't aware of this setup feature...but i did choose "Auto DVI/HDMI" as the picture output. not sure if this makes any difference....

so i ran went thru the setup proceedure and ran the advanced setup. in the main settings menu, if i select "Fixed" as the picture format, then i have to choose what format I want to view from the quick settings, otherwise changing the channel will not change the indicator accordingly on the box display.
but if i set the Picture format to "Auto DVI/HDMI", then the options available to me in the quick settings are "Normal", "Stretch", "Zoom"....no specific resolutions are available as with the "Fixed" setting.

i can see how this would be a bit confusing as far as settings are concerned....

[DevOne]

Originally Posted by dm145

100% digital will protect BB
Where are you getting 50% churn?

How does 100% digital protect the unencrypted "Broadcast Basic" tier? Any DTV with a QAM tuner can potentially tune these stations without pole traps.

The 50% number is fabricated. That being said, MSO greed is going to cost them dearly as DTVs converge with the web. LG incorporating Netflix, as well as Adobe AIR for TV platforms are the start. If customers can access services like Hulu directly through their TVs without costly STBs; why pay? People are going to drop cable in droves. My ultimate point was premium subs won't replace revenues from losing half of your standard customer base.

[RemyM]

Originally Posted by zero7404

you're right, i wasn't aware of this setup feature...but i did choose "Auto DVI/HDMI" as the picture output. not sure if this makes any difference.....

If you are using a HDMI cable and set it to "Auto DVI/HDMI" it will stretch SD 4:3 content.

http://optimum.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

So if you want all the various resolutions and don't want SD stretched then you need to use component and not HDMI. If you want to use HDMI but don't want stretching of SD then choose either 720p or 1080i as your fixed setting.

[zero7404]

Originally Posted by RemyM

If you are using a HDMI cable and set it to "Auto DVI/HDMI" it will stretch SD 4:3 content.

http://optimum.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/...i=&p_topview=1

So if you want all the various resolutions and don't want SD stretched then you need to use component and not HDMI. If you want to use HDMI but don't want stretching of SD then choose either 720p or 1080i as your fixed setting.

i always had it set to "Auto DVI/HDMI", but didn't try the setup until your post....
contrary to what you're saying, i use HDMI and it does not stretch SD channels....it never has even before i did that set-top box setup.

[dm145]

Sox vs Rays
I'm getting black screen on 739 TBSHD but it's airing on 39 TBS.

[jpr281]

Originally Posted by dm145

Sox vs Rays
I'm getting black screen on 739 TBSHD but it's airing on 39 TBS.

This is the same problem we had last week, I think it was Phillies vs Braves(?), but nonetheless it was still incorrectly blacked out.

[Ken H]

The newly available TCM HD will be available on Cablevision in the very near future.

[dm145]

as reported by mws194
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...46219&page=999

TCM HD and other new HD channels will be added this week:

Some previously announced:
4 HBO (west coasts)
2 Starz (west coasts)
4 Cinemax (west coasts)
3 TMC (west coasts)
4 Showtime (west coasts)

Planet Green HD
NBATV-HD
Style-HD
QVC-HD
Outdoor Network HD

Some not:
truTV-HD
CartoonNetwork HD
Turner Classic Movies HD
Big Ten Network

MSNBC-HD (starting 6/29)

[Marcus Carr]

Cablevision Now Offering More than 100 Channels of Free HD Across Entire Service Area

Significant Expansion Of High-Definition Line-Up Includes Launch Of MSNBC HD, Additional Sports, News And Entertainment Services

Bethpage, NY (PRWEB) June 23, 2009 -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced the launch of nearly 30 new free HD channels available to iO TV® customers in Connecticut, New Jersey, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, with more than 100 channels of free HD now available across the company's entire service area. The significant expansion of high-definition programming also includes additional HD services for customers in New York City, where most of the new services have already launched, and MSNBC HD.

Cablevision continues to offer customers a broad array of quality HD programming, without the extra equipment or programming fees many competitors charge for HD, which has resulted in the rapid adoption of HD's superior technology. Approximately 1.6 million iO TV digital cable customers are taking HD service, an increase of nearly 40 percent from one year ago.

"We launched HD in 2003 with a philosophy that high-definition programming should be available free to our digital cable customers, and more than 100 HD channels later we have held firm to that commitment, with a great and diverse array of programming that includes all HD games of all nine professional sports teams in our market," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "With more than 100 channels of free HD, thousands of titles of free video on demand, a dozen in-language international programming options, unique local services like News 12 and News 12 Interactive and advanced features like Caller ID on the TV, iO TV offers the best quality and value to our digital cable customers."

The HD additions consist of popular networks including: Big Ten Network HD, Cartoon HD, Turner Classic Movies HD, Planet Green HD, Style HD, Outdoor Channel HD, NBA TV HD, QVC HD, truTV HD as well as additional HD movie channels from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and TMC.

Additionally, Cablevision will launch full-time standard definition religious-themed networks Daystar, Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Trinity Broadcasting Network in all service areas. For complete local channel information, please visit http://optimum.com/channel_lineups.jsp

With more than 2.8 million iO TV customers, more than 91 percent of Cablevision's cable customers are iO TV digital cable customers, the highest digital penetration in the nation. iO TV offers customers access to more than 400 channels, including 53 premium movie channels, 46 channels of commercial-free digital music, more than 6,000 titles available on demand at all times, an interactive programming guide, free HD and uniquely valuable and relevant interactive television applications including News 12 Interactive. Viewing high-definition programming generally requires a high-definition cable box or CableCARD and an HD-ready television set. A full array of approximately 100 HD VOD movies are also available, starting at $4.95 for a 24-hour rental.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/06/prweb2563784.htm

[Marcus Carr]

Comcast, Cablevision Don’t Want to Carry Viacom’s Epix Channel

By Andy Fixmer and Sarah Rabil

July 9 (Bloomberg) -- Comcast Corp., the largest U.S. cable-television provider, and Cablevision Systems Corp. said they aren’t interested in carrying the new Epix premium movie channel.

“It’s a bad idea,” Stephen Burke, Comcast’s chief operating officer, said in an interview at the Allen & Co. media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho. “I haven’t heard of anyone that’s interested.” Consumers already have an adequate number of choices, he said.

Cablevision Chief Executive Officer James Dolan said in a separate interview at the conference that he’s “in perfect agreement” with Burke. Cablevision is the fifth-biggest U.S. provider of cable-TV service.

Epix, owned by Viacom Inc.’s Paramount Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., was created after the three studios failed to reach new agreements to show their movies on CBS Corp.’s Showtime pay channel last year. Epix, which pits Sumner Redstone’s CBS and Viacom against each other, has yet to announce pickup by cable systems ahead of its planned October debut.

“We are in advanced discussions with a number of distribution partners and remain very confident that we will have agreements with them in place at our launch in October 2009,” Mark Greenberg, head of Epix, said in an e-mailed response to the cable companies’ comments.

Epix plans to provide films and original series on pay TV systems and the Internet. Burke said he hasn’t looked at a preview of Epix that was put online to entice cable and satellite TV companies to carry the channel.

Rights to ‘Transformers’

The network will have rights to the studios’ films such as “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Iron Man,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It will go head-to-head with pay channels including Showtime, Time Warner Inc.’s HBO and Liberty Media Corp.’s Starz.

“Transformers,” from Paramount, is the top-grossing film in the U.S. this year with box-office revenue of $310.4 million as of today, according to Box Office Mojo LLC, a Sherman Oaks, California researcher that tracks receipts.

Cablevision, based in Bethpage, New York, rose 20 cents to $17.82 today in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Viacom, based in New York, rose 19 cents to $21.98. Lions Gate, run from Santa Monica, California, gained 12 cents to $5.77. Philadelphia-based Comcast fell 11 cents to $13.39 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

MGM is controlled by Providence Equity Partners Inc. and TPG. Sony Corp. and Comcast have 20 percent stakes, with the remainder belonging to DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Quadrangle Group.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=akMbpdAiHm2w

[Marcus Carr]

Cablevision Looks To Serve Up Tennis Channel For the U.S. Open

Operator Invokes Network's NCTC Contract For Sports Tier Positioning

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/26/2009 2:32:29 PM EDT

Cablevision subscribers may get a chance to see Tennis Channel's coverage of the U.S. Open next week after all.

Availing itself of the network's agreement with the National Cable Television Cooperative, Cablevision has opted to add Tennis Channel to its iO Sports Pak, which includes 15 other networks and retails for $5.99 monthly.

Cablevision would like to position Tennis on channel 399 in standard-definition and 795 in the high-definition format, beginning Friday Aug. 28, three days before the 2009 U.S. Open begins, should Tennis provide its signal.

Cablevision said Tennis is required to do so by its contract with NCTC, which negotiates programming deals for member cable operators.

Tennis couldn't be reached by press time. NCTC declined to comment about member contracts.

A Cablevision spokesman said the operator had informed NCTC of its intention to avail itself of the contract clause this morning, and similarly communicated its wont to Tennis.


The sports network ran print ads last week decrying its inability to come to terms with the New York area's predominant cable operator, and how area tennis fans would miss its extensive coverage of the Grand Slam event, which includes some 72 hours of live match coverage.

The parties have been discussing positioning for many years, with the sports tier being at the crux of those talks. However, Cablevision more recently has offered Tennis both placement on the iO Sports Pak, as well as its iO Gold package, which counts some 300,000 customers. Tennis believes it deserves wider penetration.

"We think this is a great solution that will allow New York tennis fans to see the Tennis Channel's coverage of the U.S. Open," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management, in a statement. "We have opened up channels 399 and 795 for the standard-definition and HD feeds of the Tennis Channel and are looking forward to making the network available to our Sports Pak customers by Friday, in time for the start of the U.S. Open. We hope the leadership of the Tennis Channel will work with us to expedite this process and ensure that New York tennis fans are able to enjoy its coverage of this major event."

http://www.multichannel.com/article/...e_U_S_Open.php

[mws192]

Cablevision fired a new salvo Wednesday in its very public dispute with Tennis Channel, asserting it has a contractual right to carry the channel in its iO Sports Pak and that it intends to do so beginning tomorrow - in time for the start of the U.S. Open Monday.

For that to happen, though, Tennis Channel must make its signal available, and as of early last evening it was assessing its legal options.

The strategic twist came when Cablevision joined the National Cable Television Cooperative, which has an existing agreement with Tennis Channel that Cablevision states it now has a right to exercise.

NCTC members primarily are small and mid-size companies that negotiate deals collectively. When did Cablevision decide to join?

"Recently," a spokesman said.

Cablevision owns Newsday, which last week declined to accept a Tennis Channel ad harshly critical of the company for not carrying the channel. A person familiar with the often convoluted workings of TV distribution who requested anonymity said he was intrigued by Cablevision's tactic, which he called "creative."

Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon was less kind, calling Cablevision's move "one of the craziest things I've ever heard'' in a Sports Business Daily report.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/cablev...nnel-1.1397373

[Marcus Carr]

Speaking of "creative" tactics, they even put out this press release:

Cablevision Will Add The Tennis Channel to iO Sports Pak

Existing NCTC Contract Paves Way For Channel To Be Made Available In Both Standard-Definition And HD To Any Cablevision Customer Who Wants To Receive It

BETHPAGE, N.Y., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) today announced that it has opted to add the Tennis Channel to the iO Sports Pak, in both standard-definition and HD, by virtue of an existing agreement between the channel and the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), of which Cablevision is a member. Other cable operators, including at least one in Cablevision's market, are today carrying the Tennis Channel through this NCTC agreement.

Cablevision has accepted in full the Tennis Channel's agreement with NCTC, granting Cablevision the right to carry the network. The final step in the process will be the Tennis Channel providing its broadcast signal to Cablevision as required by its contract with the NCTC.

"We think this is a great solution that will allow New York tennis fans to see the Tennis Channel's coverage of the U.S. Open," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "We have opened up channels 399 and 795 for the standard-definition and HD feeds of the Tennis Channel and are looking forward to making the network available to our Sports Pak customers by Friday, in time for the start of the U.S. Open. We hope the leadership of the Tennis Channel will work with us to expedite this process and ensure that New York tennis fans are able to enjoy its coverage of this major event."

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. The Tennis Channel and its comprehensive coverage of the sport is a perfect addition to this exciting service.

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

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayRe...5083560&EDATE=

[fredfa]

The Tennis Channel says: not so fast, Cablevision.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/..._NCTC_Play.php