Cablevision Kicks Off Jewish Channel

New York-area MSO Cablevision said it would offer the Jewish Channel as a separate pay video-on-demand service.

The channel will be available for $4.95 a month via what's known as SVOD--subscription video on demand--to those with a digital set-top box. Subscribers can sign up for The Jewish Channel on Cablevision, its first distribution platform.

The channel bills itself as sort of a Jewish Showtime with film-festival-style films and documentaries, as well as other Jewish-themed content. It says it "speaks to Jews across the spectrum of Jewish life, and has no affiliation with any denominations or organizations."

Cablevision is the fifth-largest cable operator with 3.1 million subscribers, according to NCTA. About 2.5 million could subscribe to TJC.

The MSO has said it would look to some niche VOD channels--including a heavy dose of foreign-language offerings--to help drive revenues from digital cable going forward. Certain channels not currently carried by growing competitor Verizon Fios or satellite operators DirecTV or Dish Network could help either retain or bring in new subscribers.

John Trierweiler, Cablevision's senior vice president of product management, said the addition of TJC "further demonstrates" the focus on "the delivery of culturally rich programming to our diverse customer base."

The network has been running print ads on Long Island carrying the tagline "TJC is Judaism, On-Demand."

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