Breaking News: Voom Over 70 Channels in March 2005 & 400 SD Channels by end of 2005

[hdtvtechno]

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20041122005901&newsLang=en

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Anton Nicholas
Sloane & Company
212-446-1889

Bo Park
Rainbow DBS
516-803-6068


VOOM Satellite Service to Dramatically Increase Channel Capacity




Bethpage, NY, November 22, 2004 -- Rainbow Media Enterprises, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC), announced today that its year-old VOOM satellite service will dramatically expand in March of next year from its current 39 high-definition channels to more than 70 high-definition channels covering the full continental U.S. (conus).

"The increase in VOOM's HDTV channels from 39 to more than 70 will allow us to continue to provide more high-definition video services than any other cable or satellite provider," said Tom Dolan, CEO of Rainbow Media Enterprises. "Our plan is to simultaneously add nearly 200 standard definition channels." Mr. Dolan continued.

To facilitate the expansion, the VOOM service will utilize 16 transponders on the SES Americom AMC-6 satellite, which VOOM refers to as "Rainbow 2," previously leased from SES AMERICOM, a SES GLOBAL company.

Mr. Dolan explained that all the programming transmitted by both Rainbow 1 and Rainbow 2 will utilize a new encoding system from Harmonic, initially configured to run in MPEG-2 and software upgradeable to MPEG-4.

"Today's announcement is a step forward in our plans to advance VOOM to MPEG-4 later in 2005. All VOOM customers have been provided with set-top boxes capable of receiving the MPEG-4 signal and we remain committed to offering more than 400 full continental US channels before the end of 2005," continued Mr. Dolan.

Adding further dimension to the company's capacity plans, Rainbow Media disclosed that today it filed with the Federal Communications Commission a recently completed contract with Lockheed Martin under which the aerospace company will construct five Ka-band satellites for VOOM. These high power satellites, the first of which is to be completed and launched in approximately 34 months, will enable VOOM to increase its channel capacity to more than 5,000 high definition channels when operating in spot beam mode. This will enable VOOM to have spot beams covering the entire ffice:smarttags" />United States including Alaska and lace w:st="on">Hawaiilace>. With these satellites, VOOM will be operating with virtually no capacity constraints. These satellites will be operated at the company's orbital locations at 62W, 71W, 77W, 119W and 129W.


About VOOM and Rainbow DBS

VOOM, provided by Rainbow DBS, Cablevision System Corporation's satellite division, is the first television service to provide a comprehensive array of high-definition (HD) programming for the rapidly growing but underserved HDTV audience. With a lineup of 39 HD channels, VOOM delivers more HD programming than any other satellite or cable service provider. VOOM's HD lineup includes STARZ! HD, Encore HD, Showtime HD, Playboy Hot HD, ESPN HD, HBO HDTV and Cinemax HDTV, as well as an exclusive package of brand-new, commercial-free VOOM HD Originals such as WorldSport, Equator and Animania. The service also includes 88 of the most popular cable channels in standard-definition (SD), 18 digital music channels, and free over-the-air digital broadcast channels in HD, where available. VOOM is offered across the continental United States through local Sears retailers; at BrandsMart USA stores; at Electronics Expo stores; through leading online retailer, Crutchfield Corporation; through O'Rourke Sales Company's independent electronics retailers with approximately 10,000 locations in all 50 states; and through The EDGE Group's 12 regional distributors, including Cutting Edge Distributing, of Aurora, CO; Electronic Stockroom, of San Rafael, CA; Electronic Lane, of Dallas, TX; Electronics Source, of West Palm Beach, FL; BDC Distributing, of Bayside, NY; and Necessities, of Norwell, MA. Customers can also purchase the service by calling 1-800-GET-VOOM or by visiting //www.voom.com.>>

>>

This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including financial community and rating agency perceptions of the company and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates and the factors described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein. The company disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein.

[Talos4]

VOOM Satellite Service to Dramatically Increase Channel Capacity

In the hopes that current subscribers stop leaving so fast, so lets announce something we can't possibly do.

 Stick a fork in it, the writings on the wall, that dog don't hunt no more, etc, etc,

VOOM will cease to exist by this time next year, either belly up or... Rupert has lot's of money


:guns: VOOM

[AndrewP]

I have Voom and not even thinking leaving it.
Why to leave? Did somebody has HBO HD (East, West), Cinemax HD (East, West), Showtime HD (East, West), Stars HD (East, West), Movie Channel HD, Encore HD.
All locals in HD, including FOX, which I could not get with Dish Network.
I am not even talking about Voom exclusives, which I watch very rare (mostly because of channels listed above).
So I read the news and think that it is OK. And it is definetly not a reason to leave. BTW, they already have that satellite in the sky.
So probably they will start to use it soon. And that is very good news for Voom customers. The only channell missing from the lineup is local Fox Sports. They already added this chanell for Florida. I hope that Milwaukee Fox Sports will be light up shortly.
Also, the PQ of Voom is perfect. I find HD PQ the same like Dish Network and SD channels are much better.
This week they activated on screen caller ID - the feature I missed from Dish receiver.
So I am very happy Voom customer and consider this as a very good news for myself and other happy Voomers!

Andrew

[jerbear]

Why are some people down on Voom when they have the most HD channels? I thought we all want more HD channels?
I have TWC and am having a lot of problems and thinking of changing to VOOM.
Jerbear

[StarvingForHDTV]

I don't think they are really down on VOOM, they are just waiting for the company to go bankrupt.  Or for Cablevision to pull the plug on VOOM and cut their losses.