Cablevision System's new residential VoIP service, which is available in the New York metro area, is adding about 3,200 new customers per week. The cable company ended Q1 with 70,800 VoIP customers, up by 42,200 for the quarter.
Overall, Cablevision Systems' Q1 net revenues increased 19% to $1.2 billion compared to the prior year period based on continued strong growth at both the Telecommunications Services and Rainbow Media's Core Networks divisions. Consolidated operating loss totaled $9.6 million, compared to operating income of $31.6 million in the prior year period. Some additional highlights:
- 5,207,000 Revenue Generating Units, up 262,900 or 5% from December, and up 989,400 or 23% from the prior year period
- iO: Interactive Optimum digital video customers now exceed 1,000,000, up 150,200 for the quarter with a penetration rate of 35.9%
- Optimum Online HSD (cable modem) customers were up 71,900 to 1,129,000 for the quarter with a penetration rate of 25.6%
- Basic video subscribers decreased 820 for the quarter
- Total consumer revenue per basic video customer up 18% to $79.02, compared to $67.02 at March 31, 2003
- VOD/SVOD revenue of $6.13 per digital subscriber per month, up 46% from the prior year period's $4.21
- a 7% increase in advertising revenue from the prior year period
- In November 2003, Cablevision announced the availability of its digital voice-over-cable telephony across its footprint of nearly 4 million homes in the New York metropolitan area. Cablevision's Optimum Voice service was introduced on a trial basis earlier in 2003 and officially launched throughout Long Island in late September. The service provides unlimited local, regional and long-distance calling across the U.S. and Canada for a flat rate of $34.95 per month. It includes five custom calling features (Caller ID, Call waiting, Call return, three-way calling and Call forwarding) and provides fully functioning E-911 service.
