Rainbow Media Launches Global HD Channel, A High-Def “Best Of” 24/7 Linear and VOD Offering

NonStop Television Tapped As Exclusive Rep in Scandinavia and the Baltic States

Canal Digital First Distributor to Carry VOOM HD Channel for Scandinavia

Cannes, France – October 9, 2006 – Building on a year filled with success in the international marketplace, Rainbow HD Holdings LLC (“Rainbow”), a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, (“Rainbow Media”) is taking content sales to the next level with the announcement of a new global channel. VOOM HD will be available as a 24/7 HDTV channel on Canal Digital, beginning as early as November 1 in Sweden. VOOM HD offers internationally a lineup of brilliantly produced high-definition programs, from VOOM HD Networks’ 15 thematic HD channels in the U.S.

“As the worldwide demand for high-definition programming rapidly expands, we’re giving international cable, satellite and IPTV Telco operators an incredible opportunity to dive into HDTV with a turn-key channel that literally offers the best of the best,” said VOOM HD Networks General Manager Greg Moyer. “VOOM HD programming spans the most popular genres in television today, attracting a broad demographic with unique series and specials have already demonstrated audience appeal in the United States.”

Today’s groundbreaking announcement of the global launch of VOOM HD was coupled with news of a first distributor and a first carriage deal. Rainbow’s SVP of Business Development, Glenn Oakley, who handles international business development for Rainbow, has announced that NonStop Television has signed a long-term agreement to distribute Rainbow’s VOOM HD channel in Scandinavia and the Baltic states, becoming one of the first companies to market high-definition television in these regions.

“Rainbow becomes a strategically important content provider for NonStop Television through this deal, as NonStop is expanding with yet another TV channel,” says Ignas Scheynius, CEO of NonStop Television. “With VOOM HD in our offering, we are able to meet the viewer’s increasing interest and demand for high-definition television by offering a complete channel with diverse and high-class shows produced exclusively in HD.”

Taking advantage of this opportunity is the Nordic region’s leading platform Canal Digital, which will feature Rainbow’s VOOM HD channel as part of its HDTV package launching November 1. Canal Digital offers television signals on CATV, DTH, IPTV and DTT to three million households in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

“Canal Digital was the first television distributor to offer HD channels in the Nordic region in 2005. We are happy to soon offer our Nordic customers VOOM HD,” said Christian Albech, CEO of Canal Digital AS. “We are continuously following up on attractive TV channels broadcasting HD-quality to strengthen our HD packaging.”

VOOM HD content will include signature programming from Equator HD (extraordinary places and people), Gallery HD (captivating stories from the art world), Gameplay HD (video gaming in HD), Rave HD, (live music in 5.1 surround sound), Rush HD (adventure sports), Treasure HD (people with a passion for collecting), Ultra HD (fashion and luxury lifestyle) and Worldsport HD (live sports coverage from around the globe).

At present, VOOM HD is deployed in Canada on three branded channels, operated by High Fidelity TV: Treasure HD, Equator HD and Rush HD. Korea’s SkyHD recently deployed a daily primetime VOOM HD branded programming block this past September.

In addition, since launching its global expansion initiative at MIPCOM last year, Rainbow Media has sold over 1,000 hours of programming from its VOOM HD, WE tv, Mag Rack and sportskool brands to broadcasters around the world, including China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Australia, New Zealand and India.

About Canal Digital
Canal Digital, the market leader for DTH and CATV services in the Nordic residential market, serves some 2.9 million Nordic households. Fully owned by Telenor and a part of Telenor Broadcast, Canal Digital distributes TV and services via satellite, broadband, cable and DTT. For further information, visit www.canaldigital.com.

About NonStop Television
NonStop Television, a company within the Millennium Media Group (MMG), operates movie channel Showtime, entertainment channel Star! and, since May 2006, movie channel Silver. Star! reaches approximately 2.3 million and Showtime reaches approximately 1.1 million households across Scandinavia. As of February 2006, Star! Is available in the Benelux countries as well. The channels are distributed through the leading operators in the region such as Canal Digital, UPC, Com Hem, TeliaSonera, TDC and DTT Sweden by Boxer. NonStop also distributes classical music channel Mezzo in Scandinavia. MMG holds the subsidiaries: NonStop Entertainment AB, NonStop Sales AB and PrimeText International AB. Corporate website:

About VOOM HD Networks
VOOM HD Networks is the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere, produced exclusively in high definition for distribution in the U.S. 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 Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and two FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.

Press Contacts

  • Lisa Rogen, Rainbow Media
    (917) 542-6216
    l1rogen@rainbow-media.com

    Marylou Johnston, Priority Public Relations Europe
    +33 33-493-80-25-81
    marylou@prioritypr.net

    Kristien Brada-Thompson, Priority Public Relations USA
    +1 661 964 0333
    kristien@prioritypr.net