Series of MSO Agreements Increases Subscribers Growth
to Over Seven Million in 2005
New York, New York – November 11, 2005 – fuse, the nation’s only viewer-driven, all music network, announced today an extension of its distribution agreement with Comcast that will increase the network’s penetration in key markets such as Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Hartford, Miami, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Richmond, San Francisco and Seattle.
As part of this agreement, Comcast will also be able to launch fuse On Demand in markets where it’s not currently offered, bringing exclusive original content, interviews and performances from popular musicians and bands to Comcast’s ON DEMAND service.
Today’s announcement caps off a series of key 2005 fuse market launches by MSOs around the country, that will add more than seven million new subscribers to the network by the end of the year. Since it’s rebranding in May 2003, fuse has grown from 27 million homes to 44 million homes.
“fuse has seen unprecedented subscriber growth in 2005 and we are pleased that cable partners, such as Comcast, understand the unique value we provide the marketplace,” stated Andrea Greenberg, President of Rainbow Media Ventures. “Since our relaunch two and a half years ago, fuse has become the cable home to the valuable young-adult oriented demographic and our interactive approach provides advertisers with a diverse way in reaching these loyal viewers. As the Country’s only viewer driven all-music network, we believe we are filling an important void within the television landscape and take pride in our mission and focus. We look forward to continued growth in the months to come and will work hard to continue developing our multi-platform brand.”
“fuse delivers compelling music content to a target audience that is interested in watching more music whenever and however they want to view it. Music programming is one of the most popular categories on Comcast’s ON DEMAND lineup today – since February the number of orders of on-demand music content has increased 107%. We believe that the addition of fuse to Comcast Digital Cable and ON DEMAND in more key markets will add valuable programming to this increasingly popular category,” stated Alan Dannenbaum, Senior Vice President, Programming for Comcast Cable.
fuse is the first television brand built on convergence from the ground up, where viewers are central drivers of the on-air content. With the highest concentration of 12-24 year-old viewers in television, fuse has an incredibly tech-savvy audience, one that is fully wired and engaged in a two-way dialogue with the network via the Internet, cell phones and other wireless devices. In recent months, fuse has maximized this concept and driven viewership across multiple platforms, integrating them with the linear network, its VOD service and web site.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.4 million cable customers, 8.1 million high-speed Internet customers, and 1.2 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.
The Company’s content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, OLN, G4, AZN Television, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One and four regional Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. Comcast Class A common stock and Class A Special common stock trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbols CMCSA and CMCSK, respectively.
About Fuse
fuse is the nation’s only all-music, viewer-influenced television network, featuring music videos, exclusive artist interviews, live concerts and specials – all rooted in the music experience. Fuse reflects the rapidly changing interests and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience by uniting the media platforms at the center of their communication and entertainment – TV, Web, mobile technologies and interactive gaming and by incorporating their opinions and suggestions into the network’s on-air and online programming. More information about Fuse is available at www.fuse.tv.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country’s most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow’s other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.