Cablevision Replaces Voom Suite With Premium HD Services
Adding HD Multiplexes From HBO, Showtime and Other Premium Nets
Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 1/21/2009 12:26:08 PM
Cablevision Systems has started replacing its 15 Voom HD services, which it said it was pulling the plug on back in December, with premium HD services, officials said Wednesday.
During the next three days Cablevision is adding various HD multiplexes from HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Starz and Encore to the company's iO TV high-definition lineup, which now offers customers access to 70 channels of free HD.
With more than 1.3 million customers taking HD service, Cablevision's HD penetration has reached nearly 50% of all iO TV households.
In December Rainbow Media Holdings, the programming arm of Cablevision, announced that it was ceasing domestic operations for its suite of 15 Voom HD channels, which included Monsters HD.
Rainbow's partner in the Voom services, Dish Network, dropped them last May, and both parties are involved in ongoing litigation on the matter, with the programmer seeking $1 billion in damages. Cablevision was then left as the only U.S. distributor carrying the Voom suite, and it actually dropped the 15 networks earlier this week.
The new channels , which require an HD capable set-top box, are: Encore HD; Starz Kids & Family HD; Starz Edge HD; HBO Signature HD; HBO Family HD; HBO Comedy HD; HBO Zone HD; HBO2 HD; HBO Latino HD; Action Max HD; More Max HD; @Max HD; Outer Max HD; Showtime Too HD; and Showtime Showcase HD.
In order to receive the 15 new Voom replacement channels, however, Cablevision customers must subscribe to the premium services. That means that Cablevision HD customers who don't subscribe to premium services will now have 15 less HD channels.
"Cablevision is pleased to add 15 new channels to the iO TV high-definition lineup, and expand the range of entertainment options available to customers in the superior HD format," John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management, said in a prepared statement. "We continue to enhance the iO TV experience by delivering more value and customer choice without the extra equipment costs or programming package fees charged by our competitors."
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I'm miserable without my Voom channels. Cablevision and Dish made a huge mistake getting rid of them. It was nice to have beautiful, educational, interesting, and unique programming to watch in HD. Now all there is is sports and movies. I'm so disappointed. BRING BACK VOOM!!!!
Francesca - 2/18/2009 3:36:47 PM EST
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