Cablevision Ramps Up HD Lineup

Operator Will Push Roster To 60 By Adding 15 Channels By Aug. 1

By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 7/2/2008 2:07:00 PM

Cablevision Systems Corp. will add high-definition services from Nickelodeon, Discovery Channel and FX as part of an overall 15-network HD rollout Aug. 1 that will increase its free enhanced lineup to 60 channels.

The new additions will launch over a five-day period starting July 28 and will be available to Cablevision’s more than 1.1 million high definition-enabled subscribers by Aug. 1. 

While the network would not dislcose all 15 HD channel additions, the MSO said it will add HD offerings from Nickelodeon, WE tv, AMC, Animal Planet, The Weather Channel, Travel Channel, Fox News Channel, Discovery Channel, Hallmark Movie Channel and FX.

The 60-channel lineup still includes the Cablevision’s Rainbow Media-owned Voom HD suite of channels. Cablevision’s carriage deal with Voom was set to expire June 30, according to published reports.

Cablevision officials said it does not comment on contract negotiations with program providers.

“With our nation poised to celebrate the holiday that marks our freedom, we thought it was a perfect time to announce even more free HD for our iO TV digital cable customers,” said John Trierweiler, Cablevision senior vice president of product management, in a statement. “Free HD has become an important competitive differentiator of our digital-cable service, and with these additions iO TV customers will have access to 60 of the best HD channels at no additional cost, including all of the HD games of all nine New York-area professional sports teams.”