Interactive Games Come to Cable

There is a lot of talk in the entertainment industry about why video game revenues continue to climb while the music and movie industries have struggled. It's been my contention that the fundamental make-up of games has given them an advantage in a digital world.

Interactivity trumps static every time in the digital world.

On the same day that Television Week posted this story about cable start-ups struggling to get airtime because of the over-saturation of television content, Cablevision announced it would go after new customers with its interactive video game service.

New York City's Cablevision Systems now delivers video games to one million of its customers for $4.95 per month through its iO: Interactive Optimum service.

The digital cable system currently offers only seven games, but expects to roll out more over the next few months as part of its continuing mission to develop interactive services. In just two years, the company has seen interactive service enrollment jump from 6.5 percent to over 33 percent of its customer base.

"Subscription games join other pioneering elements of iO including DOCSIS modems in the set-top box -- the industry's first high-definition VOD service with more robust on demand offerings and more HD programming than any other cable or conventional satellite provider," said Patrick Donoghue, Cablevision's Vice President of Interactive Television.