Cablevision Launches HD Tier

[Gregg Lengling]

Multichannel News
1/20/2003 9:00:00 AM
   Cablevision Systems Corp. is launching a high-definition programming package next month, and it'll market the service by offering iO: Interactive Optimum subscribers the Super Bowl next Sunday in high-definition.

ABC is offering every U.S. cable operator free carriage of an HDTV feed of the Super Bowl. Cablevision, taking ABC up on the offer, is promising subscribers who request HD-capable boxes that they'll get one from Scientific-Atlanta Inc. in time for the game.

Cablevision will roll out an HD package that includes the company's Madison Square Garden Network and Fox Sports Net New York, in addition to Home Box Office and Showtime, but only if they subscribe to the standard-definition versions of the channels.

The MSO still hasn't cut deals to carry the digital signals of any New York-area broadcasters, including WCBS-TV's solid HD slate.

Cablevision isn't charging iO subscribers anything extra for the HD channels.