Rainbow Sports Networks to Distribute All Home Games in HD
March 10, 2004, Jericho, NY – Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, the television programming subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC), announced today that it has agreed upon new multi-year arrangements with Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), which include long-term carriage for AMC and the extension of existing agreements for Fox Sports Net Bay Area, Fox Sports Net Florida, and Fox Sports Net New England. The companies also announced that the three Fox Sports regional networks will soon distribute all home games of professional sports teams carried by the respective networks in HD. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This agreement speaks to the popularity of AMC, the depth of its film library, the strength of its award-winning original series, and Fox Sports’ powerful line-up of national and regional sports programming,” said Josh Sapan, president and CEO of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. “Comcast has been a longstanding and valued partner for our programming services. We are thrilled to be able to build upon that relationship and continue to deliver our valuable programming to its customers.”
The agreement comes at a time when more viewers are watching AMC than at any time in its history. AMC enjoyed its highest quarterly household primetime delivery ever in the fourth quarter of 2003 and the momentum continues into 2004 with its highest January and February as well. Year-to-date AMC has increased the delivery of Adults 18-49 and 25-54 both by more than 25 percent versus the same period a year ago?.
“We’re pleased to have reached this agreement with Rainbow Media to continue to offer our customers compelling content from AMC and the Fox Sports networks,” said Matt Bond, executive vice president of Programming for Comcast. “We’re particularly excited about the opportunity to offer additional value for our customers with the addition of all home professional games in HDTV for the three Fox regional sports networks.”
– Source Nielsen Media Research, 12/29/03-2/29/04 vs. 12/30/02-03/03/03. M-Su 8-11p
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media’s Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women’s Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 85,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. Over the past three years, AMC has garnered many of the industry’s highest honors, including eight Emmy awards. AMC is “TV for movie people.”
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow Media owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women’s Entertainment; as well as the on-demand services: Mag Rack, sportskool, Uncensored On Demand, World Picks On Demand and World Picks Networks. Rainbow Media’s other businesses include its regional programming services – MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks- in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow Media is also a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.
About Comcast
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Comcast Cable is a division of Comcast Corporation, a developer, manager and operator of broadband cable networks and provider of programming content. Operating in 17 of the United States’ 20 largest metropolitan areas, Comcast is one of the leading communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. Providing basic cable, Digital Cable, high-speed Internet and telephone services, Comcast is the company to look to first for the communications products and services that connect people to what’s important in their lives. The company’s 55,000 employees serve more than 21 million customers.