(New York, NY, October 2, 2002) – Insight Communications will usher in the next generation of VOD content with the launch of Mag Rack, the video-on-demand service of Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc., beginning the week of October 2. The deployment, to reach all of Insight Digital’s VOD-enabled customers, is pursuant to the long-term distribution agreement between Mag Rack and Insight signed in May 2002. Insight is the first MSO to launch the product nationally, giving Insight Digital customers the only service designed for and exclusively available via video-on-demand (VOD).
“Insight is a leader in providing video-on-demand to consumers and we are excited to partner with them on providing a new and dynamic viewing experience for their digital subscribers,” said Matthew Strauss, executive vice president and general manager of Mag Rack. “Insight Digital customers will quickly recognize the benefits of on-demand technology and find that Mag Rack’s in-depth video magazines speak directly to their diverse interests and hobbies.”
“The launch of Mag Rack on our Insight Digital Gateway is exactly the type of value-added product we seek to enhance the offerings on that tier and drive customer usage of the interactive applications,” said Kim D. Kelly, Insight’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Not only will the robust original content be a great complement to the current Gateway services, but it will also begin our VOD re-launch efforts, which will also be further enhanced by upcoming SVOD offerings and a significant expansion of available titles.”
An initial 40 hours of Mag Rack’s video magazines will be packaged as a value-added feature of Insight’s interactive platform, Insight Digital, including Classic Cars, Traveler’s Guide, Maximum Science, Cook with the Pros, Mag Rack Kids Club, Inside Weddings, Yoga Retreat and more. Mag Rack, the video magazine rack, derives its name and inspiration from the special interest magazines found on newsstands.
The initial launch makes Mag Rack available to all of Insight’s 214,000 VOD-enabled homes in the following systems’ Louisville, Lexington, and Covington, KY; Bloomington, Lafayette/Kokomo, Anderson, and Evansville, IN; Columbus, OH; and Champaign and Rockford, IL. As part of the deal with Insight, Mag Rack video-on-demand programming will ultimately be rolled out across its entire digital customer base. A similar multi-year distribution agreement with Charter Communications brings Mag Rack’s total availability to 1.6 million VOD-enabled, digital cable customers.
About Insight Communications
Insight Communications (NASDAQ: ICCI) is the 9th largest cable operator in the United States, serving approximately 1.4 million customers. The company is highly concentrated in the four contiguous states of Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Named “2001 Cable Operator of the Year” by Cablevision Magazine, Insight specializes in offering bundled, state-of-the-art services in mid-sized communities, delivering analog and digital video, high-speed data and the recent deployment of voice telephony in selected markets to its customers.
About Mag Rack
Mag Rack is Rainbow Media Holding’s unique video-on-demand service and the number one choice for authoritative, branded special interest programming. Marketed to cable operators to support the effort to rollout digital set-top boxes and drive VOD adoption, Mag Rack provides customers with maximum programming choice and control. Video magazines available at Mag Rack include’ American Catholic, Aviator’s World, Best of Mag Rack, Better Golf Club, BirdSight, Celebrating Dogs, Classic Cars, Cook with the Pros, Destination’ Nature, Fame & Faith, Healthy By Choice, History of Art, Inside Weddings, Let’s Go Garden, Mag Rack Kids Club, Maximum Science, Mission’ Space, Modern Parent, Motorcycle Freedom, Photography Close Up, Shakespeare, SportsCamp, Take on Life, Tennis Zone, Total Ski, Total Snowboard, Traveler’s Guide, Wine World, Yoga Retreat, and Your Next Car.
About Rainbow Media
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC) and NBC. Rainbow owns and manages AMC, WE: WOMEN’S ENTERTAINMENT, Bravo, IFC (The Independent Film Channel), muchmusic usa, Mag Rack, Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks, and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow is a fifty-percent partner in Fox Sports Net and has a strategic partnership with MGM (NYSE:MGM), which owns a 20% stake in four of Rainbow’s national networks’ AMC, WE: Women’s Entertainment, Bravo and IFC.
Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends identify forward-looking statements. The above forward-looking estimates are subject to risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based upon a variety of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those Insight Communications anticipates. Factors that could have a material and adverse impact on actual results are described in Insight Communications’ annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2002. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements included in Insight Communications’ Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.