Distributed by NonStop Television, Channel to Launch Today as Part of Com Hem's New HD Package, Available to 1.75 Million Homes
New York, NY – December 12, 2006 – Building strength for the global launch of its VOOM HD channel, Rainbow HD Holdings LLC ("Rainbow"), a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, ("Rainbow Media") has announced a major new carriage agreement that greatly expands the channel's presence in Scandinavia. VOOM HD becomes available today as part of Com Hem's premiering high-definition (HD) package, a deal made possible by NonStop Television, which distributes the channel in Scandinavia, Iceland and the Baltics. Com Hem, available to 1.75 million homes, is Sweden's leading supplier of triple-play services: television, broadband and telephony.
Today's news comes on the heels of the VOOM HD channel's successful launches on Scandinavia's Canal Digital and Estonia's Elion. Available as a 24/7 feed, VOOM HD offers the international marketplace a lineup of brilliantly produced high-definition programs from VOOM HD Networks' 15 thematic HD channels in the U.S. With breathtaking views and spectacular cultural portraits, as well as film, music, fashion and extreme sports, VOOM HD transports its viewers from the deepest rainforest in the Amazons to the hottest fashion show in Manhattan with the superior audio and picture quality that only HD can deliver.
"We are delighted to offer our customers HD television," said Christofer Peilitz, Com Hem's Television Product Manager. "We have the market's broadest television range and now, with HD television, we can add the best TV experience. To be able to offer a quality channel like VOOM HD, with its stunning nature, lifestyle and sports programming, is extra exciting. VOOM HD gives viewers a complete HD television experience."
"When we announced the availability of our VOOM HD channel just under two months ago, we had recognized and were responding to the growing need for such an offering the world over," said Glenn Oakley, Rainbow's Senior Vice President, Business Development. "Com Hem's HD package launch is indicative of how digital cable carriers are also responding to the growth and demand for HD programming, and we look forward to being a part of their efforts."
"As distribution for the VOOM HD Channel continues to grow, we are delighted that it will be accessible to more Swedish viewers through Com Hem's HD package," said Ignas Scheynius, CEO of NonStop Television.
In addition to its carriage in Scandinavia and Estonia, 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 deployed a daily primetime VOOM HD branded programming block this past September.
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 Com Hem
Com Hem is Sweden's leading supplier of triple-play-services: television, broadband and telephone. A third of Sweden's households is connected to Com Hem and has access to the market's largest range of channels. Headquartered in Stockholm, Com Hem was founded in 1983 and has roughly 700 employees. The company is owned by The Carlyle Group and Providence Equity. Com Hem has distributed cable television to Swedish households since the beginning of the 1980s under the names Telia Infomedia Television, Svensk Kabel-TV and finally Com Hem since 1999. Com Hem started digital broadcasting in 1997 and has offered broadband since 1999.
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: www.nonstop.tv
About VOOM HD Networks
Rainbow's VOOM HD networks comprise the world's largest suite of high definition channels, produced exclusively in high definition for distribution 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 in the U.S. on Echostar's DISH Network, and the VOOM HD channel is available internationally on Canal Digital in Scandinavia, Elion in Estonia, and Com Hem in Sweden. The VOOM HD networks were developed to meet the growing worldwide demand for quality high definition programming, building on the history of original programming innovation of Rainbow's parent company.
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.