ATLANTA -- Cox Communications, Inc., today announced that it will launch a family programming package in early 2006.

Cox's Family Package will consist of an average of 40 channels of programming, including local affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX, WB, UPN, and Univision, all of which deliver broad-based general entertainment, news, and sports programming, CSPAN, WGN, home shopping channels, TV Guide Channel, and local public, education, and government access channels. In addition, Disney Channel, Discovery Kids, Headline News, National Geographic Channel, Home & Garden TV, DIY (Do It Yourself) Network, Nickelodeon, Fit TV, Sprout, Discovery Science, Boomerang and GSN will be included in the package. Local systems will have the ability to tailor the package with The Weather Channel or Weatherscan Local, CSPAN 2 or 3, and additional religious and Spanish-language channels. There may be slight local variations on the package, depending on a cable system's local carriage agreements and existing channel lineups.

The package will include a set top box with electronic/interactive program guide capability and parental controls for additional supervision of specific channels and programs. The average cost of the Family Package will be approximately $32 per month.

"We are pleased to offer this package to our customers who are concerned about certain content entering their home," said Pat Esser, President of Cox Communications. "In addition to our new family package, I encourage parents to explore parental controls as well as Cox's Take Charge initiative at www.cox.com/takecharge.”

Cox will offer its Family Package to 1.2 million customers in San Diego, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Northern Virginia by the end of the first quarter 2006. Additional markets will launch the Family Package pending technical and market readiness, contractual obligations and assessment of the original launch sites.

Cox's selection criteria for its Family Package included channels outside of Limited Basic that are effectively rated “G” and are suitable for family viewing with minimal chance of objectionable content or disturbing images; contain minimal live programming; are a fair representation of programming groups, brands & network types; and consistent with significant network affiliation agreement constraints.

Acerca de Cox Communications

Cox Communications, a Fortune 500 company and wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc, is a multi-service broadband communications company with more than 6.6 million total customers, including more than 6.2 million basic cable subscribers (these numbers are an approximation as Cox continues to assess the effect of population loss in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina). The nation's third-largest cable television provider, Cox offers analog cable television under the Cox Cable brand as well as advanced digital video service under the Cox Digital Cable brand. Cox provides an array of other communications and entertainment services, including local and long distance telephone under the Cox Digital Telephone brand; high-speed Internet access under the Cox High Speed Internet brand; and commercial voice and data services via Cox Business Services. Local cable advertising, promotional opportunities and production services are sold under the Cox Media brand. Cox is an investor in programming networks including Discovery Channel. More information about Cox Communications can be accessed on the Internet at www.cox.com/espanol.

Contacts:

Cox Communications:
David Grabert
404-269-7054
678-592-2258 (cell)
David.Grabert@Cox.com

Stephanie Davis
404-843-7872
770-833-3627 (cell)
Stephanie.Davis2@Cox.com

* Note: A full list of Cox's Family Friendly Package is included.

 

Cox's Family Friendly Package

Local ABC affiliate
Local CBS affiliate
Local NBC affiliate
Local FOX affiliate
Local PBS affiliate
Local WB affiliate
Local UPN affiliate
WGN*
Univision
CSPAN*
Home shopping channel(s)*
TV Guide channel*
Local public, education, and government access channels*
Other local independent stations and channels

plus:
Disney Channel
Discovery Kids
Headline News
National Geographic Channel
Home & Garden TV
DIY (Do It Yourself) Network
Nickelodeon
Fit TV
Sprout
Weather Channel or Weatherscan Local*
Discovery Science
CSPAN*
Boomerang
GSN (formerly Game Show Net)
Religious network*
Spanish language network*

*Some channels will vary by local system; subject to existing local system channel lineups.