Rainbow Network Communications Signs Programming Origination Agreement With NBC Cable Networks for Bravo HD+ Channel

NEW YORK, NY, August 11, 2003 — Rainbow Network Communications (RNC) today announced a multi-year programming origination agreement with NBC Cable Networks for Bravo HD+, which launched July 31. RNC is providing network program origination and technical services for the new channel directly from its HD-ready technology operations center in Bethpage, NY.

The launch expands RNC's HD operations. The facility already provides the origination for the Fox Sports Net New York HD feed. RNC also currently provides origination and technical services for the east and west coast feeds of the NBC Cable Networks owned Bravo.

"The vast array of HD and SD technologies and services offered at RNC make it the ideal location for clients seeking a facility that can meet all of their programming and technology needs," said Steven Pontillo, senior vice president and general manager of Rainbow Network Communications. "We're very pleased that NBC Cable Networks has chosen our facility to manage the origination of its Bravo HD+ network."

"The tremendous technical and engineering resources of RNC, especially in the HD area, made it the natural choice for handling Bravo HD+," said David Zaslav, president of NBC Cable Networks.

About Rainbow Network Communications: A subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings Inc., Rainbow Network Communications (www.rncnetwork.com) is a state-of-the-art technology center located in Bethpage, NY that serves the cable and broadcast industry and is the command center for all of the networks operated by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. Rainbow Network Communications offers a full range of HD and SD services including network program origination, satellite transponder compression, uplinking and downlinking services, VOD encoding services, studio production, satellite encryption, digital linear and non-linear editing, fiber distribution, data delivery, affiliate engineering, and mobile Ku-truck operations.

About Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc.:
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE:CVC). Rainbow owns and manages national networks: AMC, Fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment, as well as Mag Rack, a collection of on-demand video magazines. Rainbow's other businesses include its regional programming services — MetroChannels, News 12 Networks and Rainbow Sports Networks – in addition to the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow is a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net.

About Bravo HD+
Bravo HD+, an NBC Cable Network, is the first network to offer classic and contemporary arts and popular entertainment programming in true HD. The network, which launched July 31, 2003, features symphonic concerts, ballet, theater and opera, the Olympics, as well and the off-net premiere of "The West Wing" in high-definition.

About NBC Cable Networks
NBC Cable Networks is responsible for the distribution as well as affiliate relations, marketing and local advertising sales services of nine properties: Bravo, CNBC, CNBC World, MSNBC, ShopNBC, Telemundo, mun2, the Olympics and Bravo HD+, NBC's first cable network dedicated to the delivery of HD content, that launched this July. NBC Cable Networks also maintains interests in A&E Network and The History Channel.

Press Contacts

  • Tom Cosentino
    O'Leary & Cosentino Communications
    732-970-0399
    hilltoptc@aol.com

  • NBC Cable
    Alyssa Donelan
    201-346-6765
    Alyssa.Donelan@nbc.com