Cablevision Systems and Comcast Spotlight reached a new five-year agreement to continue their joint partnership for the New York Interconnect, which provides spot television advertising across 64 cable networks, covering more than 3.5 million households in the DMA.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The companies said the New York Interconnect will be able to "take advantage of new technological applications from both companies."
The New York Interconnect, established in 1993, operates as a limited liability company with affiliates of Cablevision and Comcast as its principal members. The venture's general manager and executive vice president is Ed Renicker, and it is managed by Cablevision's Rainbow Advertising Sales Corp. (RASCO).
"We are pleased to be continuing to work in concert with Comcast on the largest interconnect of its kind in the nation," RASCO president David Kline said in a statement. "Collectively we have provided the advertising community with the highest level of service as well as new and innovative advertising platforms that have offered marketers and their agencies unique consumer engagement opportunities."
Added David Kelly, Comcast Spotlight division senior vice president, "The New York Interconnect has raised the bar in the advertising sector year after year, and we look forward to continuing Comcast Spotlight's successful partnership with Cablevision. While creatively serving the needs of our existing clients, our goal is to also attract new ones based on the cutting edge products we have regularly introduced into the marketplace."
In addition to traditional 30-second TV ads, the New York Interconnect provides interactive banners on Cablevision's Optimum online and Comcast.net as well as sponsored video-on-demand content across Cablevision and Comcast's VOD advertising systems.
Independently, Cablevision last fall launched an interactive advertising service, Optimum Select. According to the MSO, initial advertisers have seen conversion rates -- the percentage of viewers who click on an ad, then click again to receive a product sample, coupon or information -- of between 40% and 70%.
