NEW YORK, NY – October 13, 2005 – Rainbow HD Holdings LLC and Tangerine Global, LLC have signed an agreement to deliver VOOM packages of HD and VOD programming from the VOOM HD Networks to the Mandarin Oriental luxury hotels located outside the United States. The agreement was announced today by Stuart Z. Levin, CEO and founder, Tangerine Global, and Glenn Oakley, Senior Vice President, New Business Development, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC ("Rainbow Media").
The first VOOM package of HD and VOD programming launched under the agreement will occur in December of this year at Mandarin Oriental's The Landmark Hotel in Hong Kong, and will be the first package of HD programming to be made available in Hong Kong. It also represents the first launch of a VOOM package of HD programming internationally and the first offering of VOOM HD programming on a VOD basis outside the United States. The VOOM package of HD and VOD programming launched in Hong Kong is the first outcome of Rainbow Media's recently announced international expansion initiative.
According to terms of the agreement, Hong Kong's The Landmark Hotel will offer a VOOM package that includes programming from four VOOM HD Networks: RUSH HD, the action adventure extreme sports network; ULTRA HD, a network for women that features style, fashion and entertainment programming; EQUATOR, an exploration of world's most intriguing people and places with intelligent travel, nature and cultural programs; and GALLERY, the first and only high definition visual arts network featuring the most interesting artists on the planet. Selected HD programming from the VOOM HD Networks will also be made available to hotel guests on a video-on-demand basis.
In addition to The Landmark Hotel, Mandarin Oriental also owns two other luxury hotels in Hong Kong – The Excelsior and Mandarin Oriental – as well as luxury hotel properties in Asia (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Manila, Singapore, Surabaya and Toyko), Europe (Geneva, London, Munich, Paris) and a property slated to open on the Mexican Riviera in 2006. The hotel chain plans to launch similar packages of VOOM HD and VOD programming in each of these locations as the properties are upgraded for HD technology in the coming months and years. Offering HD programming is a key component in Mandarin Oriental's strategy to attract executive business travelers to its premiere hotel and resort destinations.
Tangerine Global, founded by Stuart Z. Levin, the former chairman of TVN Entertainment, is a new provider of customized television entertainment for the hospitality industry. Establishing an agreement with the Mandarin Oriental hotel chain to roll out an innovative array of HDTV programming for its global luxury hotels, Tangerine turned to Rainbow HD Holdings to provide HD content.
"Tangerine is making a huge investment in advancing HD technology through its agreements to provide HD programming to major hotels around the world," said Levin, who serves as CEO of Tangerine Global. "We knew we could depend on Rainbow HD Holdings to be the supplier of high quality HD content, as both a structured package and on a VOD basis."
"This agreement is significant in that it represents our first official launch of a package of HD programming internationally from the VOOM HD Networks, and it is also our first hotel agreement for our HD programming," said Rainbow Media's Oakley. "The hospitality industry is an exciting and virtually untapped market filled with opportunities for reaching consumers and introducing them to the quality, entertainment programming that HD delivers."
The VOOM HD Networks is the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere, and is produced exclusively in high definition for distribution in the United States through satellite and cable operators. The VOOM HD Networks carry programming in categories as diverse as sports, movies, fashion, music and art. Today, the VOOM HD Networks are available nationally on Echostar's DISH Network. The VOOM HD Networks were developed by Rainbow Media to meet the growing demand for quality high definition programming, building on Rainbow Media's history of original programming innovation.
About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world's most prestigious hotels and resorts located in the finest business and leisure destinations with legendary service and exquisite facilities steeped in the values of the orient. Mandarin Oriental currently operates 21 luxury hotels with a further five under development in Hong Kong, Riviera Maya (Mexico), Tokyo, Prague, and Boston. In total, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group operates, or has under development, almost 8,000 rooms in 14 countries, with 12 hotels in Asia, 9 in The Americas, and 5 in Europe.
About Tangerine Global, LLC
Tangerine Global is transforming the luxury hotel entertainment market with innovative, premium quality HDTV content and delivery systems. Operating from its headquarters in Santa Monica, California, Tangerine Global is serving the hospitality entertainment market worldwide. Stuart Z. Levin, Founder and CEO, has more than 25 years in cable and satellite TV, and media distribution. He pioneered many innovations while heading TVN Entertainment (the leading provider of PPV/VOD services to cable operators), which are now the standards for managing and distributing digital and pay-per-view (PPV) and video on demand (VOD) programming. While Chairman of TVN, he was responsible for growing the company from startup to serving over 50 million TV households with studio and sports content via leading cable and satellite operators including Cablevision, Comcast, AOL Time Warner, Adelphia, Charter, Cox, DirecTV and Dish Network.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow Media 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 Media'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.