BETHPAGE, N.Y. and BRISTOL, Conn., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. and ESPN today announced the addition of ESPN2 HD to Cablevision's high-definition programming lineup, giving iO TV customers access to 45 high-definition programming services at no additional cost. Effective Friday, December 21, ESPN2 HD will be available across Cablevision's entire service area on iO TV channel 735.

"Cablevision is pleased to add ESPN2 HD to our high-definition programming lineup, as we approach college football bowl season and the exciting sporting events that kick off the New Year," said John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management. "ESPN2 HD is a terrific addition to a high-definition programming lineup that has more than doubled over the last year, as our base of HD customers has continued to grow."

"We are extremely happy to bring ESPN2 HD and a number of this season's exciting college bowl games to Cablevision customers just in time for the holidays," said David Preschlack, executive vice president, Disney and ESPN Networks Affiliate Sales and Marketing. "ESPN2 HD offers outstanding sports programming and together with ESPN HD gives viewers 48 hours of HD sports every day. There's no better way to show off the crystal clear picture of a new HDTV set than with high-definition programming from ESPN."

ESPN2 HD is a 24-hour high-definition simulcast service of ESPN2, and features programming including NASCAR Busch Series, MLB, NCAA college football and basketball, boxing, Little League World Series, X Games, golf, tennis, FIFA World Cup, MLS, and more. First Take, ESPN2's two-hour show weekdays at 10 a.m. ET, is produced in HD and provides the day's first slant on the latest in sports news with discussion, newsmaker interviews and features. The network's morning programming also includes a high-definition television simulcast of ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning.

In 2007, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD will deliver more than 10,000 hours in high definition including all of ESPN's NASCAR coverage, NBA telecasts, MLS telecasts, MLB telecasts, college football telecasts, National Hot Rod Association races and coverage of NFL Monday Night Football. 100 percent of ESPN and ESPN2's Bristol-based studio programming originates in high definition, including SportsCenter, NFL Countdown, NFL Monday Night Countdown, NFL Live, Monday Night Countdown, Baseball Tonight, Mike & Mike in the Morning and First Take. In addition to live sports programming, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD produce individual programs, movies and series.

Unlike its satellite and phone company competitors, Cablevision offers subscribers HD-capable converter boxes at no additional cost over the standard box rental fee, and does not charge any extra fees to receive HD programming. If a customer receives the standard definition feed of a channel as part of their programming package, and there is an HD feed available through iO TV, they receive that format as well.

Cablevision was also the first multi-channel television provider in the nation to offer high-definition video on demand (VOD), and more than 30 continually refreshed HD VOD titles are available anytime for $4.95 each, the same price as standard definition movies, which includes full control over the viewing experience with the ability to pause, fast-forward and rewind. A high-definition cable box and HD-ready television set are required to view high-definition programming.

In an effort to facilitate continued adoption of HDTV, Cablevision recently launched a retail partnership with P.C. Richard & Son, the New York metropolitan area's leading consumer appliance and electronics retailer, that allows customers to conveniently sign up for all three Optimum products -- iO TV digital cable, Optimum Online high-speed Internet and Optimum Voice phone service -- at 35 P.C. Richard & Son retail locations in Cablevision's service territory. Cablevision is also providing its leading digital cable service to more than 30 store locations, so customers can experience the best in high- definition programming while they shop for a new HD television set.

Because of the addition of ESPN2 HD, Cablevision will extend its current HD promotional campaign, "44 Days in HD, on iO TV," by another day. The campaign, which began earlier this month, recognizes each of the high- definition programming services available to iO TV customers, and will conclude in February 2008.

With nearly 2.6 million iO TV customers, approximately 83 percent of Cablevision's cable customers are iO TV digital cable customers, the highest digital penetration in the nation, and nearly 900,000 iO TV customers have at least one HD television set and HD-capable set-top box in the home. iO TV offers customers access to 360 channels, including 53 premium movie channels, 48 channels of commercial-free digital music, more than 1,800 titles available on demand at all times, an interactive programming guide, 45 high-definition programming services and groundbreaking interactive television applications including News 12 Interactive.

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(R) digital television, Optimum Online(R) high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice(R) digital voice-over-cable, and its Optimum Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings LLC operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE tv 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.

CONTACT: For Cablevision, Patrick MacElroy, +1-516-803-1249,
pmacelro@cablevision.com; For ESPN, Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, +1-646-728-6090,
rebecca.oren@espn.com

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