Rainbow DBS Targets HDTV Market

Rainbow DBS, the direct broadcast satellite (DBS) division of Cablevision Systems [NYSE: CVC], announced plans this week to become the first satellite TV service to offer a comprehensive array of high-definition television (HDTV) programming to customers across the continental United States.

The new satellite service is designed to meet the emerging demand for high-definition programming from a rapidly growing base of HDTV owners, by offering as many as 39 HDTV channels, including an exclusive VOOM package of 21 HDTV channels from Rainbow Media.

In contrast, rival U.S. satellite and cable services offer no more than seven syndicated HDTV channels, Rainbow DBS officials said. In addition, roughly 88 of today’s most popular cable channels will be provided by Rainbow DBS in standard-definition format, along with local digital over-the-air programming, they added. Rainbow DBS will unveil its HDTV programming and begin offering the service nationwide on Oct. 15. Satellite-broadcasting pioneer Mickey Alpert will lead Rainbow DBS as senior executive vice president and chief operating officer.

For more on this story, see the Oct. 6 issue of SATELLITE NEWS. For more info on subscribing to PBI Media’s satellite newsletters, check out our Web site at https://www.satellitetoday.com.