http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061117/nyf097.html?.v=48
Press Release Source: Cablevision Systems Corp.
Cablevision Announces 2007 Pricing
Friday November 17, 4:00 pm ET
Average Cable Television Pricing to Remain Virtually Unchanged, Up Just 1.1 Percent on Average Across All Levels of Service
No Price Increase for Business or Residential Optimum Online(R) High-Speed Internet and Optimum Voice(R) Digital Voice-Over-Cable Customers - Fourth Year Without Price Increase for These Top-Rated and Popular Services
BETHPAGE, N.Y., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC - News) today announced 2007 pricing for the services it provides to residential and business customers in the New York metropolitan area over its fiber-rich network: cable television, high-speed Internet access and digital voice-over-cable.
Cable television pricing will remain virtually unchanged in 2007, up just 1.1 percent on average over current rates. Standard pricing for Cablevision's Optimum Online high-speed Internet service and Optimum Voice digital voice- over-cable service will not increase in 2007, the fourth consecutive year without a price increase for these top-rated services, which continue to lead the nation in consumer acceptance.
"Because of the strong growth of our cable business and success selling voice and high-speed Internet access, our cable television pricing will remain virtually unchanged in 2007, and there will be no price increase for our voice and Internet services for the fourth year in a row," said Patricia Gottesman, Cablevision's executive vice president of product management and marketing. "Cablevision is successful in a competitive market because our Internet access is faster, our phone service performs better and delivers much more value to the customer and our television product is far superior to satellite or telephone company TV."
For the second year in a row, Cablevision's average cable television increase is below the rate of inflation, and the 2007 adjustment continues a history of less significant increases in recent years, as the company has expanded its base of cable television customers and grown its online and voice businesses. Over the last year, Cablevision has added more than 100,000 cable television customers, 363,446 high-speed Internet customers and 500,000 voice customers.
In 2006, Cablevision completed a significant value-added speed increase for its Optimum Online high-speed Internet customers, from up to 10 megabits- per-second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream to 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream at no additional cost, and also launched a premium tier offering speeds of up to 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream.
Also this year, Cablevision launched an innovative international calling plan for its Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable service, Optimum Voice World Call, which gives customers the ability to call anywhere in the world for one low monthly fee.
Cable television programming increases in 2006 included the addition of the new regional sports network featuring the New York Mets, SportsNet New York, to Cablevision's Family Cable line-up, and the addition of a number of new standard-definition channels to its iO digital cable line-up, including WNBC 4.4, WNBC Weather Plus, Eyewitness News Now, The Tube and BBC World News. The company also expanded its industry-leading high-definition line-up, adding four new channels to a list of 22 HD services available to iO customers at no additional cost. HD programming services added in 2006 included TNT HD, WWOR-TV My9, and SportsNet New York.
Cablevision also expanded the more than 1,400 on demand titles available to iO customers, and added three new categories to its free VOD offering with the launch of Thirteen Kids On Demand (PBS), fuse On Demand and TV Guide Spot.
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, Optimum Online high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice 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. Additional information about Cablevision Systems Corporation is available on the Web at
www.cablevision.com.
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Source: Cablevision Systems Corp.
