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Sesame Street TV-Based Interactive Games Announced

Cablevision Systems Corp. and Sesame Workshop announced the launch of SESAME STREET Games, a new subscription interactive games service featuring the Muppets from SESAME STREET available to iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable customers throughout the New York metropolitan area. The SESAME STREET Games package offers unlimited access to easy-to-play games designed to educate and entertain young children 2-5 with Elmo, Grover, Zoe and the rest of their favorite SESAME STREET characters by pressing a single button on the television remote control.

"This new games package, developed in cooperation with Sesame Workshop, is a perfect example of the power of digital cable to serve customers in new and exciting ways that add value to the television experience," said Patrick Donoghue, Cablevision's vp, digital television and broadband development. "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer our iO customers the industry's first educational and entertaining subscription games package dedicated to young children."

"Sesame Workshop is always seeking new ways to present learning opportunities to our audience and we are thrilled to be able to bring them the SESAME STREET Games package through Cablevision's iO digital cable service," said Gary E. Knell, president/ceo, Sesame Workshop. "SESAME STREET helped change the landscape of television by using it as an educational tool and we are continuing to innovate in this medium through the creation of this interactive channel that extends the SESAME STREET experience."

With SESAME STREET games, children extend their learning by interacting with their favorite characters as often as they like, any time of day. The package gives children a fun way to learn about letters, numbers, shapes, colors, science, problem solving, sharing, caring and more. The package will feature three new SESAME STREET themed games each month. Games currently available in the package include:

* LEAF COLLAGE Children learn colors and counting while helping Elmo make a leaf collage. * THANKS FOR THE LETTERS Encourages children to learn food names and the letters they begin with at the same time. Children choose a letter and then help Zoe make a meal using foods that start with that letter.* TICKLE ELMO This game is filled with laughter as children tickle Elmo as much as they like to make him giggle.

As with all of Sesame Workshop's content, an extensive research study was conducted to help identify game play patterns that would enable young children, ages two to four, to use a remote control to make choices on a television screen. The results of this research led directly to the design of the three game play modes that are used in the SESAME STREET Games package: toddler, preschool and kindergarten. The service also offers Demo and Help sections, which explains each game play mode, and guides parents to choose the mode that is most appropriate for their child. The prototype of the SESAME STREET Games package earned three Interactive Television Emmy nominations.

The SESAME STREET Games package is available to all iO digital cable customers for $4.95 per month. Using the iO auto-upgrade feature, customers can instantly purchase the SESAME STREET Games package directly through the television by using a remote control and following on-screen prompts. Before purchasing, iO customers may view a free animated information video about the SESAME STREET Games package. Customers in some areas may be required to exchange their digital cable box to receive iO Games. For more information about the package on iO, visit channel 610 or www.io.tv.

Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization that changed television forever with the legendary SESAME STREET. The Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Find more info online at www.sesameworkshop.org.

Cablevision Systems Corp. is one of the nation's leading entertainment and telecommunications companies. Its cable television operations serve three million households in the New York metropolitan area. The company's advanced telecommunications offerings include its iO: Interactive Optimum digital television, Optimum Online high-speed Internet, Optimum Voice digital voice-over-cable, and its Lightpath integrated business communications services. Cablevision's Rainbow Media Holdings Llc. operates several successful programming businesses, including AMC, IFC, WE and other national and regional networks. In addition to its telecommunications and programming businesses, Cablevision owns Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Liberty. The company also operates New York's famed Radio City Music Hall, and owns and operates Clearview Cinemas.

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