[opendtv] PR: Hold on...Voom's comin'

VOOM Satellite Service to Dramatically Increase Channel Capacity

Ticker
November 23, 2004 12:00am
Source: Business Wire

  Business Wire: BETHPAGE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS=20
WIRE)--Nov. 22, 2004--Rainbow Media Enterprises,=20
a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation,=20
announced today that its year-old VOOM satellite=20
service will dramatically expand in March of next=20
year from its current 39 high-definition channels=20
to more than 70 high-definition channels covering=20
the full continental U.S. (conus).

  "The increase in VOOM's HDTV channels from 39 to=20
more than 70 will allow us to continue to provide=20
more high-definition video services than any=20
other cable or satellite provider," said Tom=20
Dolan, CEO of Rainbow Media Enterprises. "Our=20
plan is to simultaneously add nearly 200 standard=20
definition channels." Mr. Dolan continued.

  To facilitate the expansion, the VOOM service=20
will utilize 16 transponders on the SES Americom=20
AMC-6 satellite, which VOOM refers to as "Rainbow=20
2," previously leased from SES AMERICOM, a SES=20
GLOBAL company.

  Mr. Dolan explained that all the programming=20
transmitted by both Rainbow 1 and Rainbow 2 will=20
utilize a new encoding system from Harmonic,=20
initially configured to run in MPEG-2 and=20
software upgradeable to MPEG-4.

  "Today's announcement is a step forward in our=20
plans to advance VOOM to MPEG-4 later in 2005.=20
All VOOM customers have been provided with=20
set-top boxes capable of receiving the MPEG-4=20
signal and we remain committed to offering more=20
than 400 full continental US channels before the=20
end of 2005," continued Mr. Dolan.

  Adding further dimension to the company's=20
capacity plans, Rainbow Media disclosed that=20
today it filed with the Federal Communications=20
Commission a recently completed contract with=20
Lockheed Martin under which the aerospace company=20
will construct five Ka-band satellites for VOOM.=20
These high power satellites, the first of which=20
is to be completed and launched in approximately=20
34 months, will enable VOOM to increase its=20
channel capacity to more than 5,000 high=20
definition channels when operating in spot beam=20
mode. This will enable VOOM to have spot beams=20
covering the entire United States including=20
Alaska and Hawaii. With these satellites, VOOM=20
will be operating with virtually no capacity=20
constraints. These satellites will be operated at=20
the company's orbital locations at 62W, 71W, 77W,=20
119W and 129W.

  About VOOM and Rainbow DBS

  VOOM, provided by Rainbow DBS, Cablevision=20
System Corporation's satellite division, is the=20
first television service to provide a=20
comprehensive array of high-definition (HD)=20
programming for the rapidly growing but=20
underserved HDTV audience. With a lineup of 39 HD=20
channels, VOOM delivers more HD programming than=20
any other satellite or cable service provider.=20
VOOM's HD lineup includes STARZ! HD, Encore HD,=20
Showtime HD, Playboy Hot HD, ESPN HD, HBO HDTV=20
and Cinemax HDTV, as well as an exclusive package=20
of brand-new, commercial-free VOOM HD Originals=20
such as WorldSport, Equator and Animania. The=20
service also includes 88 of the most popular=20
cable channels in standard-definition (SD), 18=20
digital music channels, and free over-the-air=20
digital broadcast channels in HD, where=20
available. VOOM is offered across the continental=20
United States through local Sears retailers; at=20
BrandsMart USA stores; at Electronics Expo=20
stores; through leading online retailer,=20
Crutchfield Corporation; through O'Rourke Sales=20
Company's independent electronics retailers with=20
approximately 10,000 locations in all 50 states;=20
and through The EDGE Group's 12 regional=20
distributors, including Cutting Edge=20
Distributing, of Aurora, CO; Electronic=20
Stockroom, of San Rafael, CA; Electronic Lane, of=20
Dallas, TX; Electronics Source, of West Palm=20
Beach, FL; BDC Distributing, of Bayside, NY; and=20
Necessities, of Norwell, MA. Customers can also=20
purchase the service by calling 1-800-GET-VOOM or=20
by visiting www.voom.com.

  This release contains statements that constitute=20
forward-looking statements within the meaning of=20
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of=20
1995. Investors are cautioned that any such=20
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of=20
future performance or results and involve risks=20
and uncertainties, and that actual results or=20
developments may differ materially from those in=20
the forward-looking statements as a result of=20
various factors, including financial community=20
and rating agency perceptions of the company and=20
its business, operations, financial condition and=20
the industry in which it operates and the factors=20
described in the company's filings with the=20
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the=20
sections entitled "Risk Factors" and=20
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of=20
=46inancial Condition and Results of Operations"=20
contained therein. The company disclaims any=20
obligation to update the forward-looking=20
statements contained herein.

CONTACT: Sloane & Company Anton Nicholas,=20
212-446-1889 or Rainbow DBS Bo Park, 516-803-6068=20
KEYWORD: NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD:=20
TELEVISION/RADIO CABLE NETWORKING PRODUCT SOURCE:=20
Rainbow Media Enterprises .end=20
(paragraph)<<Business Wire -- 11/22/04>>

<< Copyright =A92004 Business Wire >>
 
 
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