CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORP
S-4/A, 1996-01-25
CABLE & OTHER PAY TELEVISION SERVICES
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<PAGE>
 
    
 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 25, 1996     
                                                     
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 33-63691     
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
                                 
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1     
                                       
                                    TO     
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                               ----------------
        DELAWARE                     4841                    11-2776686
                               (PRIMARY STANDARD          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     (STATE OR OTHER              INDUSTRIAL           IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
     JURISDICTION OF          CLASSIFICATION CODE
    INCORPORATION OR                NUMBER)
      ORGANIZATION)
 
                               ----------------
                              ONE MEDIA CROSSWAYS
                            WOODBURY, NEW YORK 11797
                                 (516) 364-8450
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                               ----------------
                                ROBERT S. LEMLE
            EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                              ONE MEDIA CROSSWAYS
                            WOODBURY, NEW YORK 11797
                                 (516) 364-8450
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                                WITH COPIES TO:
                                  JOHN P. MEAD
                              SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
                                125 BROAD STREET
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
 
                               ----------------
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
  If the Securities registered on this Form are to be offered in connection
with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General
Instruction G, check the following box. [_]
 
                               ----------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                        PROPOSED
                                          PROPOSED      MAXIMUM
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF      AMOUNT       MAXIMUM      AGGREGATE    AMOUNT OF
    SECURITIES TO BE         TO BE     OFFERING PRICE   OFFERING   REGISTRATION
       REGISTERED          REGISTERED   PER UNIT(1)     PRICE(1)       FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
Series H Redeemable
 Exchangeable Preferred
 Stock.................   $257,751,000      100%      $257,751,000   $88,880(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 3/4% Senior
 Subordinated Debentures
 due 2007..............   $257,751,000        (3)           (3)          (3)
</TABLE>    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457.
   
(2) Of which amount, $86,207 was paid on October 26, 1995.     
   
(3) The Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock is exchangeable, in
    whole but not in part, at the option of the Company for the 11 3/4% Senior
    Subordinated Debentures due 2007. No additional registration fee is payable
    in respect thereof.     
 
                               ----------------
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET
 
                             LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
                           OF INFORMATION REQUIRED BY
 
                               PART I OF FORM S-4
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 ITEM NO.               CAPTION                      LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
 --------               -------                      ----------------------
 <C>      <S>                                  <C>
 Item  1  Forepart of the Registration
           Statement and Outside Front Cover                                    
           Page of Prospectus...............   Facing Page of Registration      
                                                Statement; Cross-Reference      
                                                Sheet; Outside Front and Inside 
                                                Front Cover Page of Prospectus  
 Item  2  Inside Front and Outside Back
           Cover Pages of Prospectus........   Inside Front Cover Pages of
                                                Prospectus
 Item  3  Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to
           Fixed Charges, and Other                                        
           Information......................   Summary; Risk Factors; The  
                                                Company                    
 Item  4  Terms of the Transaction..........   The Exchange Offer; Description
                                                of New Preferred Stock; Certain
                                                Federal Income Tax
                                                Considerations
 Item  5  Pro Forma Financial Information...   Not Applicable
 Item  6  Material Contracts With the
           Company Being Acquired...........   Not Applicable
 Item  7  Additional Information Required
           for Reoffering by Persons and                            
           Parties Deemed to be
           Underwriters.....................   Plan of Distribution 
 Item  8  Interests of Named Experts and                      
           Counsel..........................   Not Applicable 
 Item  9  Disclosure of Commission Position
           on Indemnification for Securities                  
           Act Liabilities..................   Not Applicable 
 Item 10  Information with Respect to S-3                                      
           Registrants......................   Incorporation of Certain        
                                                Documents by Reference; Recent 
                                                Developments                   
 Item 11  Incorporation of Certain                                        
           Information by Reference.........   Incorporation of Certain   
                                                Documents by Reference    
 Item 12  Information with Respect to S-2 or                  
           S-3 Registrants..................   Not Applicable 
 Item 13  Incorporation of Certain                            
           Information by Reference.........   Not Applicable 
 Item 14  Information with Respect to
           Registrants Other than S-3 or S-2                  
           Registrants......................   Not Applicable 
 Item 15  Information With Respect to S-3                     
           Companies........................   Not Applicable 
 Item 16  Information With Respect to S-2 or                  
           S-3 Companies....................   Not Applicable 
 Item 17  Information With Respect to                         
           Companies Other Than S-2 or S-3                    
           Companies........................   Not Applicable 
 Item 18  Information if Proxies, Consents                    
           or Authorizations Are to be                        
           Solicited........................   Not Applicable 
 Item 19  Information if Proxies, Consents
           or Authorizations are Not to be                                    
           Solicited, or in an Exchange                                       
           Offer............................   Summary; The Exchange Offer;   
                                                Description of New Preferred  
                                                Stock; Certain Federal Income
                                                Tax Considerations            
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE      +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE    +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF  +
+ANY SUCH STATE.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                  
               SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 25, 1996     
 
                               OFFER TO EXCHANGE
 
                                ALL OUTSTANDING
                          11 3/4% SERIES G REDEEMABLE
                          EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK
                 
              ($257,751,000 AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE)     
                                      FOR
                          11 3/4% SERIES H REDEEMABLE
                          EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
 
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
 
                                  -----------
     
                THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., 
        NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON FEBRUARY 29, 1996, UNLESS EXTENDED     
 
                                  -----------
   
  Cablevision Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal (the "Letter of
Transmittal," and together with this Prospectus, the "Exchange Offer"), to
exchange $100 aggregate liquidation preference of its 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "New Preferred Stock"), which have
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement (as defined herein) of which this
Prospectus constitutes a part, for each $100 aggregate liquidation preference
of the outstanding 11 3/4% Series G Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
(the "Old Preferred Stock") of the Company. The New Preferred Stock and the Old
Preferred Stock are collectively referred to herein as the "Preferred Stock".
       
  The Company will accept for exchange any and all shares of Old Preferred
Stock that are validly tendered on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the date the Exchange Offer expires, which will be February 29, 1996, unless
the Exchange Offer is extended (the "Expiration Date"). Tenders of Old
Preferred Stock may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the business day prior to the Expiration Date, unless previously
accepted for exchange. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum
principal amount of Old Preferred Stock being tendered for exchange. However,
the Exchange Offer is subject to certain conditions which may be waived by the
Company and to the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights (as defined
herein). See "The Exchange Offer." The Company has agreed to pay the expenses
of the Exchange Offer.     
   
  The form and terms of the New Preferred Stock are identical in all material
respects to the form and terms of the Old Preferred Stock except that the
shares of New Preferred Stock have been registered under the Securities Act and
will not contain terms restricting the transfer of such Stock. Following the
completion of the Exchange Offer, none of the Preferred Stock will be entitled
to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 26, 1995,
relating to contingent increases in the dividend rate provided for pursuant
thereto. See "The Exchange Offer".     
 
INVESTMENT IN  THE PREFERRED STOCK  INVOLVES SIGNIFICANT RISKS  DISCUSSED UNDER
 "RISK  FACTORS"  ON  PAGE  19  WHICH  SHOULD  BE  CONSIDERED  BY  PROSPECTIVE
 INVESTORS.
 
                                                        (Continued on next page)
 
                                  -----------
 
THESE SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE  SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO  THE
   CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                  -----------
                 
              The date of this Prospectus is January  , 1996.     
<PAGE>
 
(Continued from previous page)
   
  Dividends on the New Preferred Stock are cumulative out of legally available
funds and will accumulate from the most recent dividend payment date to which
dividends on the Old Preferred Stock were paid. Holders of Old Preferred Stock
whose shares of Old Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange will be deemed to
have waived the right to receive any payment in respect of dividends on the Old
Preferred Stock accumulated from such dividend payment date (the "Accrual
Date"), to the date of the issuance of the New Preferred Stock. The Company on
January 2, 1996 paid the initial dividend on the Old Preferred Stock in
additional shares of Old Preferred Stock (the "Dividend Shares"). Dividend
Shares may be tendered for shares of New Preferred Stock. Dividends on the New
Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1
and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 1996, accruing from the Accrual
Date at the annual rate of 11 3/4% per share of New Preferred Stock.     
 
  Before October 1, 2000, dividends may, at the option of the Company, be paid
in cash or by issuing fully paid and nonassessable shares of New Preferred
Stock with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the amount of such
dividends. On and after October 1, 2000, dividends must be paid in cash. The
New Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $100 per share, plus
accrued and unpaid dividends thereon.
   
  Based on no-action letters issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") to third parties, the Company believes the New
Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for
resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than a
"Restricted Holder," being (i) a broker-dealer who purchases such New Preferred
Stock directly from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act or (ii) a person that is an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act provided that such shares of New Preferred
Stock are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and such
holders have no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution
of such New Preferred Stock. Eligible holders wishing to accept the Exchange
Offer must represent to the Company that such conditions have been met. Each
broker-dealer that receives New Preferred Stock for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Preferred Stock. The Letter of
Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of New Preferred Stock received in exchange for Old Preferred
Stock where such Old Preferred Stock were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has
agreed that it will make this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to
this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any
such resale for a period of 90 days from the date of this Prospectus, or such
shorter period as will terminate when all Old Preferred Stock acquired by
broker-dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities have been exchanged for New Preferred Stock and
resold by such broker-dealers. See "Plan of Distribution."     
 
  The Company will not receive any proceeds from this offering, and no
underwriter is being utilized in connection with the Exchange Offer.
 
  THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO, NOR WILL THE COMPANY ACCEPT
SURRENDERS FOR EXCHANGE FROM, HOLDERS OF OLD PREFERRED STOCK IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
   
  The New Preferred Stock is a new security for which there currently is no
public market. If a market for the New Preferred Stock should develop, the
shares of New Preferred Stock could trade at a discount from their aggregate
liquidation preference. The Company does not intend to list the New Preferred
Stock on a national securities exchange or to apply for quotation of the New
Preferred Stock through the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System. There can be no assurance that an active public
market for the New Preferred Stock will develop.     
 
  The Company has been advised by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co.
and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated that they intend to make a market in the
New Preferred Stock; however, such entities are under no obligation to do so
and any market making activities with respect to the New Preferred Stock may be
discontinued at any time.
 
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024,
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the
following regional offices: Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New
York 10048; and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661; and copies of such material can be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information also may be inspected at the offices of the American Stock
Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006.
 
  This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement (the
"Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the
Securities Act. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission,
this Prospectus does not contain all of the information contained in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules
thereto for further information with respect to the Company and the securities
offered hereby. Statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any
documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed
with the Commission are not necessarily complete, and in each instance
reference is made to the copy of such document so filed. Each such statement is
qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The Company hereby incorporates by reference into this Prospectus the
following documents or information filed with the Commission:
 
    (a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
  December 31, 1994 (the "Form 10-K");
     
    (b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
  ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1995 (each, a "Form 10-Q" and,
  collectively, the "Form 10-Qs");     
     
    (c) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed September 1, 1995,
  September 7, 1995, October 17, 1995, November 1, 1995 and November 7, 1995
  (the "Form 8-Ks"); and     
 
    (d) all documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),
  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Prospectus and
  prior to the termination of the offering made hereby.
 
  The Company also incorporates by reference into this Prospectus the financial
statements of Cablevision of Boston Limited Partnership, Monmouth Cablevision
Associates, Riverview Cablevision Associates, L.P., Framingham Cablevision
Associates, Limited Partnership and American Movie Classics Company included in
the Company's Consent Solicitation Statement/Prospectus, included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-62717).
 
  Any statement contained herein or in any documents incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for the purpose of this Prospectus to the extent that a subsequent
statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is
or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
   
  As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Company"
refers to Cablevision Systems Corporation and its subsidiaries. The term
"Consolidated Financial Statements" refers to the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and the notes thereto incorporated by reference from the
Form 10-K and the term "Management's Discussion and Analysis" refers to the
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations incorporated by reference from the Form 10-K or the Form 10-Qs, as
applicable. The term "Condensed Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements"
refers to the Condensed Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements contained
in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 1, 1995 (the
"November 1 8-K").     
   
  THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON
WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST FROM ROBERT S. LEMLE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL
COUNSEL AND SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY AT THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
OFFICES LOCATED AT ONE MEDIA CROSSWAYS, WOODBURY, NEW YORK 11797, TELEPHONE
NUMBER (516) 364-8450. IN ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF SUCH DOCUMENTS,
ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE BY FEBRUARY 22, 1996.     
 
  NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE EXCHANGE AGENT. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS OR THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, OR BOTH TOGETHER, NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS NOR THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, OR BOTH
TOGETHER, CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY
OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Available Information......................................................   3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................   3
Summary....................................................................   5
Risk Factors...............................................................  19
The Company................................................................  23
Recent Developments........................................................  26
Use of Proceeds............................................................  28
The Exchange Offer.........................................................  29
Capitalization.............................................................  36
Description of Capital Stock...............................................  38
Description of New Preferred Stock and Exchange Debentures.................  46
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations..................................  62
Plan of Distribution.......................................................  63
Validity of the New Preferred Stock........................................  64
Experts....................................................................  64
</TABLE>    
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                    SUMMARY
   
  The following information is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information, financial statements and pro forma financial information appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus or incorporated by reference herein. Historical
financial and other data contained in this Prospectus, unless otherwise
expressly stated, does not give effect to the acquisition by the Company on
December 15, 1995 of the interests in Cablevision of Boston Limited Partnership
that it did not previously own. Investment in the securities offered hereby
involves significant risks. See "Risk Factors".     
                                   
                                THE COMPANY     
   
  The Company is one of the largest operators of cable television systems in
the United States, with approximately 2,687,000 subscribers in 19 states as of
September 30, 1995 based on the number of basic subscribers in systems which
the Company manages and which it owns or in which it has investments. The
Company also has ownership interests in companies that produce and distribute
national and regional programming services and provide advertising sales
services for the cable television industry. The Company was formed in 1985 to
effect a reorganization of its predecessors.     
   
CABLE TELEVISION     
   
  The cable television systems that are majority owned and managed by the
Company (the "Company's cable television systems") served approximately
1,887,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995 in New York, Ohio, Connecticut,
New Jersey, Michigan and Massachusetts. In addition, the Company has non-
majority investments in and manages cable television systems which served
approximately 800,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995 in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The Company's cable television systems have
generally been characterized by relatively high revenues per subscriber ($36.69
for September 1995) and ratios of premium service units to basic subscribers
(1.7:1 for September 1995). In calculating revenue per subscriber, the Company
includes only recurring service revenues and excludes installation charges and
certain other revenues such as advertising, pay-per-view and home shopping
revenues.     
   
PROGRAMMING SERVICES     
   
  The Company conducts its programming activities through Rainbow Programming
Holdings, Inc. ("Rainbow Programming"), its wholly-owned subsidiary, and
through subsidiaries of Rainbow Programming in partnership with certain
unaffiliated entities, including National Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("NBC")
and Liberty Media Corporation. Rainbow Programming's businesses include eight
regional SportsChannel services, four national entertainment services (American
Movie Classics Company, Bravo Network, MuchMusic and the Independent Film
Channel), Rainbow News 12 Company (a regional news service serving Long Island)
and the national backdrop sports services of Prime SportsChannel Networks.
Rainbow Programming also owns an interest in Madison Square Garden Corporation.
       
ADVERTISING SERVICES     
   
  Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation sells advertising time to national,
regional and local advertisers on behalf of the Company's cable television
systems and the SportsChannel and News 12 programming services, as well as on
behalf of unaffiliated cable television systems.     
       
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                   SUMMARY OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
   
  The Exchange Offer relates to the exchange of up to 2,577,510 shares with an
aggregate liquidation preference of $257,751,000 of Old Preferred Stock for up
to 2,577,510 shares with an aggregate liquidation preference of $257,751,000 of
New Preferred Stock. The form and terms of the New Preferred Stock are the same
as the form and terms of the Old Preferred Stock except that the New Preferred
Stock have been registered under the Securities Act and will not contain terms
restricting the transfer of such stock, and hence are not entitled to the
benefits of the Registration Rights relating to the contingent increases in the
dividend rate provided for pursuant thereto. The Old Preferred Stock and the
New Preferred Stock are herein collectively referred to as the "Preferred
Stock." See "Description of New Preferred Stock".     

   
  The Exchange Offer......    One share of New Preferred Stock with an          
                               aggregate liquidation preference of $100 will be
                               issued in exchange for each one share of Old    
                               Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation   
                               preference of $100. As of the date hereof,      
                               2,577,510 shares of Old Preferred Stock with an 
                               aggregate liquidation preference of $257,751,000
                               are issued and outstanding. The Company will    
                               issue the New Preferred Stock to tendering      
                               holders of Old Preferred Stock on or promptly   
                               after the Expiration Date.                      

    
  Resale..................    The Company believes that the New Preferred Stock
                               issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer generally
                               will be freely transferable by the holders
                               thereof without registration or any prospectus
                               delivery requirement under the Securities Act,
                               except that a "dealer" or any of its
                               "affiliates", as such terms are defined under
                               the Securities Act, that exchanges Old Preferred
                               Stock held for its own account (a "Restricted
                               Holder") may be required to deliver copies of
                               this Prospectus in connection with any resale of
                               the New Preferred Stock (the "Resale Preferred
                               Stock") issued in exchange for such Old
                               Preferred Stock (the "Prospectus Delivery
                               Requirement"). See "The Exchange Offer--General"
                               and "Plan of Distribution".     

    
  Expiration Date.........    5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 29,
                               1996, unless the Exchange Offer is extended, in
                               which case the term "Expiration Date" means the
                               latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer
                               is extended. The maximum period that the
                               Exchange Offer will remain in effect shall be
                               from the date of this Prospectus until the
                               Expiration Date. See "The Exchange Offer--
                               Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments".     
    
  Accrued Dividends on
   the New Preferred
   Stock and the Old
   Preferred Stock........    Dividends on the New Preferred Stock will
                               accumulate from the Accrual Date. Holders of Old
                               Preferred Stock whose shares of Old Preferred
                               Stock are accepted for exchange will be deemed
                               to have waived the right to receive any payment
                               in respect of dividends on such Old Preferred
                               Stock accrued from the Accrual Date to the date
                               of the issuance of the New Preferred Stock.
                               Consequently, assuming the Exchange Offer is
                               consummated     
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                  
                               prior to the record date in respect of the April
                               1, 1996 dividend payment for the Old Preferred
                               Stock, holders who exchange their Old Preferred
                               Stock for New Preferred Stock will receive the
                               same dividend payment on April 1, 1996 that they
                               would have received had they not accepted the
                               Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange Offer--
                               Dividends on the New Preferred Stock".     
 
  Termination on the
   Exchange Offer.........
                                 
                              The Company may terminate the Exchange Offer if
                               it determines that its ability to proceed with
                               the Exchange Offer could be materially impaired
                               due to any legal or governmental action, any new
                               law, statute, rule or regulation or any
                               interpretation of the staff of the Commission of
                               any existing law, statute, rule or regulation.
                               Holders of Old Preferred Stock will have certain
                               rights against the Company under the
                               Registration Rights should the Company fail to
                               consummate the Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange
                               Offer--Termination".     
 
                               No federal or state regulatory requirements must
                               be complied with or approvals obtained in
                               connection with the Exchange Offer, other than
                               applicable requirements under federal and state
                               securities laws.
 
  Procedures For
   Tendering Old
   Preferred Stock........       
                              Each holder of Old Preferred Stock wishing to
                               accept the Exchange Offer must complete, sign
                               and date the Letter of Transmittal, or a
                               facsimile thereof, in accordance with the
                               instructions contained herein and therein, and
                               mail or otherwise deliver such Letter of
                               Transmittal, or such facsimile, together with
                               the Old Preferred Stock to be exchanged and any
                               other required documentation to Mellon
                               Securities Trust Company, as Exchange Agent, at
                               the address set forth herein and therein or
                               effect a tender of Old Preferred Stock pursuant
                               to the procedures for book-entry transfer as
                               provided for herein. See "The Exchange Offer--
                               Procedures for Tendering".     
 
  Special Procedures for
   Beneficial Holders ....
                                 
                              Any beneficial holder whose shares of Old
                               Preferred Stock are registered in the name of
                               his broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
                               company or other nominee and who wishes to
                               tender in the Exchange Offer should contact such
                               registered holder promptly and instruct such
                               registered holder to tender on his behalf. If
                               such beneficial holder wishes to tender on his
                               own behalf, such beneficial holder must, prior
                               to completing and executing the Letter of
                               Transmittal and delivering his Old Preferred
                               Stock, either make appropriate arrangements to
                               register ownership of the Old Preferred Stock in
                               such holder's name or obtain a properly
                               completed stock power from the registered
                               holder. The transfer of record ownership may
                               take considerable time. See "The Exchange
                               Offer--Procedures for Tendering".     
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
 
  Guaranteed Delivery            
   Procedures.............    Holders of Old Preferred Stock who wish to tender
                               their Old Preferred Stock and whose Old
                               Preferred Stock are not immediately available or
                               who cannot deliver their Old Preferred Stock and
                               a properly completed Letter of Transmittal or
                               any other documents required by the Letter of
                               Transmittal to the Exchange Agent prior to the
                               Expiration Date may tender their Old Preferred
                               Stock according to the guaranteed delivery
                               procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--
                               Guaranteed Delivery Procedures".     
 
  Withdrawal Rights.......       
                              Tenders of Old Preferred Stock may be withdrawn
                               at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
                               time, on the business day prior to the
                               Expiration Date, unless previously accepted for
                               exchange. See "The Exchange Offer--Withdrawal of
                               Tenders".     
 
  Acceptance of Old
   Preferred Stock and
   Delivery of New
   Preferred Stock........
                                 
                              Subject to certain conditions (as summarized
                               above in "Termination of the Exchange Offer" and
                               described more fully in "The Exchange Offer--
                               Termination"), the Company will accept for
                               exchange any and all shares of Old Preferred
                               Stock which are properly tendered in the
                               Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City
                               time, on the Expiration Date. The New Preferred
                               Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
                               be delivered promptly following the Expiration
                               Date. See "The Exchange Offer--General".     
 
  Certain Tax                    
   Considerations.........    The exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
                               generally not be a taxable event for federal
                               income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income
                               Tax Considerations".     
 
  Exchange Agent..........       
                              Mellon Securities Trust Company is serving as
                               exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in
                               connection with the Exchange Offer.     
 
  Use of Proceeds.........    There will be no cash proceeds payable to the
                               Company from the issuance of the New Preferred
                               Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Of the net
                               proceeds received by the Company from the sale
                               of the Old Preferred Stock, approximately
                               $100,000,000 (plus accrued dividends thereon)
                               was applied to the redemption of the Company's
                               outstanding Series E Redeemable Exchangeable
                               Convertible Preferred Stock "Series E Preferred
                               Stock"), with the remainder applied to repay
                               borrowings under the Credit Agreement. The
                               Company expects to reborrow the amount repaid
                               under the Credit Agreement in the future for
                               general corporate purposes. The Company expects
                               to raise additional funds in the future. See
                               "Use of Proceeds" herein.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
    SUMMARY OF TERMS OF THE NEW PREFERRED STOCK AND THE EXCHANGE DEBENTURES
 
NEW PREFERRED STOCK
 
  Dividends...............       
                              Cumulative at 11 3/4% per annum out of legally
                               available funds. Dividends will accumulate from
                               the Accrual Date and are payable quarterly in
                               arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and
                               October 1 of each year, commencing April 1,
                               1996. The rights to dividends on the New
                               Preferred Stock will be cumulative (whether or
                               not earned or declared) on a daily basis. Before
                               October 1, 2000, dividends may, at the option of
                               the Company, be paid in cash or by issuing
                               additional fully paid and nonassessable shares
                               of New Preferred Stock with an aggregate
                               liquidation preference equal to the amount of
                               such dividends. On or after October 1, 2000,
                               dividends are payable only in cash. For federal
                               income tax purposes, distributions with respect
                               to the New Preferred Stock will not qualify as
                               dividends and will be treated as a return of
                               capital until the Company has earnings and
                               profits. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
                               Considerations--Distributions on Preferred
                               Stock".     
 
  Liquidation Preference..    $100 per share.
 
  Voting..................    Holders of the New Preferred Stock have no
                               general voting rights except as provided by law
                               and as provided in the Certificate of
                               Designations therefor. Upon the failure of the
                               Company to (i) pay dividends in cash or, to the
                               extent permitted by its terms, by the issuance
                               of additional shares of New Preferred Stock, for
                               more than six quarters or (ii) discharge any
                               redemption obligation with respect to the New
                               Preferred Stock, the size of the Company's Board
                               of Directors will be increased by one director,
                               and holders of a majority of the outstanding
                               shares of Preferred Stock, voting or consenting,
                               as the case may be, separately as a class, will
                               be entitled to elect a director to fill the
                               newly created vacancy. The Company may not issue
                               any new class of Senior Securities (as defined
                               herein) without the approval of the holders of
                               at least a majority of the shares of Preferred
                               Stock then outstanding, voting or consenting, as
                               the case may be, separately as a class.
 
  Mandatory Redemption....    The Company is required to redeem the New
                               Preferred Stock out of legally available funds
                               on October 1, 2007 at a redemption price equal
                               to the liquidation preference thereof plus
                               accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date
                               of redemption.
 
  Optional Redemption.....       
                              On and after October 1, 2002, the New Preferred
                               Stock is redeemable, at the option of the
                               Company, in whole or in part, at the redemption
                               prices set forth herein, plus accrued and unpaid
                               dividends thereon to the date of redemption. In
                               addition, shares of the New Preferred Stock
                               representing up to 33 1/3% of the aggregate
                               liquidation preference of the New Preferred
                               Stock may be redeemed before October 1, 1998 at
                               a     
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                  
                               redemption price per share equal to the
                               liquidation preference of $100 per share plus
                               accrued and unpaid dividends thereon plus a
                               premium of $10 per share of New Preferred Stock
                               out of the net proceeds of a sale of Junior
                               Stock (as defined herein) to a Strategic Equity
                               Investor (as defined herein) or a public
                               offering of Class A Common Stock, provided that
                               following such redemption at least 1,666,667
                               shares of New Preferred Stock (representing at
                               least 66 2/3% of the amount of New Preferred
                               Stock initially issued) remain outstanding.
                               Furthermore, the Company may, at its option,
                               prior to October 1, 2002, redeem the New
                               Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, at
                               any time within 180 days after a Change of
                               Control (as defined herein), at a redemption
                               price per share equal to the sum of (i) the
                               liquidation preference of $100 per share plus
                               (ii) accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of
                               redemption plus (iii) the Make-Whole Premium (as
                               defined herein), which is based on a discount
                               rate equal to the Treasury Rate (as defined
                               herein) plus 50 basis points.     
 
  Exchange Feature........       
                              The New Preferred Stock are exchangeable into the
                               Exchange Debentures at the option of the
                               Company, in whole but not in part.     
 
  Ranking.................       
                              The New Preferred Stock will rank, subject to
                               certain conditions, junior to (i) each class of
                               capital stock of the Company or series of
                               preferred stock issued by the Company
                               established after the initial issuance of the
                               Preferred Stock the terms of which specifically
                               provide that such class or series will rank
                               senior to the New Preferred Stock as to
                               dividends and distributions upon the
                               liquidation, winding-up or dissolution of the
                               Company and (ii) all liabilities and obligations
                               (whether or not for borrowed money) of the
                               Company. The New Preferred Stock will rank on a
                               parity with the Old Preferred Stock and the
                               Company's 8% Series C Cumulative Preferred Stock
                               ("Series C Preferred Stock"), Series D
                               Cumulative Preferred Stock (which may be issued
                               in exchange for shares of Series C Preferred
                               Stock) and 8 1/2% Series I Cumulative
                               Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock
                               ("Series I Preferred Stock").     
 
  Exchange Offer
   Registration Rights ...
                              The Company has entered into a registration
                               rights agreement with the Initial Purchasers of
                               the Old Preferred Stock (the "Registration
                               Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company
                               agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the
                               Old Preferred Stock, at the Company's cost (i)
                               within 30 days after the date of original issue
                               of the Old Preferred Stock, to file a
                               registration statement (the "Exchange Offer
                               Registration Statement") with the Commission
                               with respect to a registered offer to exchange
                               (the "Exchange Offer") the Old Preferred Stock
                               for the New Preferred Stock and (ii) use its
                               best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
                               Registration Statement to be declared
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                               effective under the Securities Act, within 120
                               days after the date of original issuance of the
                               Old Preferred Stock. Upon the Exchange Offer
                               Registration Statement being declared effective,
                               the Company agreed to offer the New Preferred
                               Stock in exchange for surrender of the Old
                               Preferred Stock. For each share of Old Preferred
                               Stock surrendered to the Company pursuant to the
                               Exchange Offer, the holder of such Old Preferred
                               Stock will receive a share of New Preferred
                               Stock. In the event that the Exchange Offer is
                               not consummated within 180 days of the date of
                               issuance of the Old Preferred Stock, the Company
                               will, at its cost, as promptly as practicable
                               file a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf
                               Registration Statement") covering resales of the
                               Old Preferred Stock and use its best efforts to
                               cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be
                               declared effective under the Securities Act.
 
                               In the event that the Exchange Offer is not
                               consummated or a Shelf Registration Statement is
                               not declared effective on or prior to the 180th
                               calendar day following the date of original
                               issue of the Old Preferred Stock, the dividend
                               rate borne by the Old Preferred Stock shall be
                               increased by one-quarter of one percent per
                               annum for the first 90 days following such 180-
                               day period. Such dividend rate will increase by
                               an additional one-quarter of one percent per
                               annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day
                               period, up to a maximum aggregate increase of
                               one percent per annum. Upon the consummation of
                               the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a
                               Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may
                               be, the dividend rate borne by the Old Preferred
                               Stock will be reduced to the original dividend
                               rate. Dividends on the New Preferred Stock will
                               accumulate at the original dividend rate
                               accruing on the Old Preferred Stock.
 
  Absence of Public           The New Preferred Stock is a new security for
   Market.................     which there currently is no market. Although
                               Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
                               Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley &
                               Co. Incorporated, the initial purchasers of the
                               Old Preferred Stock (collectively, the "Initial
                               Purchasers") have informed the Company that they
                               currently intend to make a market in the New
                               Preferred Stock and, if issued, the Exchange
                               Debentures, they are not obligated to do so and
                               any such market making may be discontinued at
                               any time without notice. Accordingly, there can
                               be no assurance as to the development or
                               liquidity of any market for the Preferred Stock
                               and, if issued, the Exchange Debentures. The
                               Company does not intend to apply for listing of
                               the New Preferred Stock or, if issued, the
                               Exchange Debentures on any securities exchange
                               or for quotation through the National
                               Association of Securities Dealers Automated
                               Quotation System.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
 
EXCHANGE DEBENTURES
 
  Maturity Date...........    October 1, 2007.
 
  Interest................    Interest will accrue at the dividend rate of the
                               New Preferred Stock and be payable in arrears on
                               January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing
                               with the first of such dates to occur after the
                               date upon which Exchange Debentures are issued
                               in exchange for the Preferred Stock ("Exchange
                               Date"). Before October 1, 2000, interest may, at
                               the option of the Company, be paid in cash or by
                               issuing additional Exchange Debentures with a
                               principal amount equal to such interest. On and
                               after October 1, 2000, interest on the Exchange
                               Debentures may be paid only in cash.
 
  Optional Redemption.....    On and after October 1, 2002, the Exchange
                               Debentures are redeemable, at the option of the
                               Company, in whole or in part, at the redemption
                               prices set forth herein plus accrued and unpaid
                               interest thereon to the redemption date. In
                               addition, up to 33 1/3% in aggregate principal
                               amount of the Exchange Debentures may be
                               redeemed before October 1, 1998 at a price of
                               110% of the principal amount thereof, plus
                               accrued and unpaid interest thereon, out of the
                               net proceeds of a sale of Junior Stock to a
                               Strategic Equity Investor or a public offering
                               of Class A Common Stock, provided that following
                               such redemption at least $166,666,667 principal
                               amount of Exchange Debentures remains
                               outstanding. See "Description of New Preferred
                               Stock and Exchange Debentures".
 
  Subordination...........       
                              Subordinated to all existing and future Senior
                               Indebtedness (as defined) of the Company. The
                               Exchange Debentures will rank pari passu with
                               the Company's $275,000,000 of 10 3/4% Senior
                               Subordinated Debentures due 2004, the Company's
                               $200,000,000 of 9 7/8% Senior Subordinated
                               Debentures due 2013, the Company's $150,000,000
                               of 9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due
                               2023 and the Company's $300,000,000 of 9 1/4%
                               Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005 ("2005
                               Notes") (collectively, the "Existing
                               Debentures"). The amount of Senior Indebtedness
                               outstanding at September 30, 1995, adjusted to
                               give pro forma effect to the transactions
                               described under "Capitalization" and the
                               application of the net proceeds to the Company
                               from the offering of the 2005 Notes and of the
                               Company's Series I Preferred Stock represented
                               by depositary shares, would have been
                               approximately $490.8 million. At September 30,
                               1995, the Company also had outstanding $956.4
                               million of senior subordinated indebtedness and
                               obligations (including $332.8 million of
                               indebtedness of subsidiaries guaranteed by the
                               Company, included in indebtedness of
                               consolidated subsidiaries set forth in the next
                               sentence) that would have ranked pari passu with
                               the Exchange     
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                  
                               Debentures. Also, at September 30, 1995,
                               consolidated subsidiaries of the Company had
                               outstanding, adjusted to give pro forma effect
                               to the transactions described under
                               "Capitalization", approximately $1,382.7 million
                               of indebtedness which, insofar as the assets of
                               those subsidiaries are concerned, would have
                               been effectively senior to the Exchange
                               Debentures.     
 
  Certain Restrictions....    The Indenture for the Exchange Debentures, among
                               other things, contains restrictions (with
                               certain exceptions) on the ability of the
                               Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as
                               defined) to incur additional indebtedness, make
                               certain dividend payments or payments to redeem
                               or retire capital stock, invest in Unrestricted
                               Subsidiaries (as defined) or affiliates, engage
                               in certain transactions with affiliates and
                               merge or consolidate with or transfer all or
                               substantially all of their assets to another
                               entity. The Indenture also prohibits the Company
                               from issuing any indebtedness that is senior in
                               right of payment to the Exchange Debentures and
                               expressly subordinate in right of payment to any
                               other indebtedness of the Company.
 
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                             
                          SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA     
   
  The historical consolidated statement of operations data (except for book
value per common share, deficiency of earnings available to cover fixed charges
and deficiency of earnings available to cover fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends) and balance sheet data for each year ended December 31 and as of
December 31 in each year in the five-year period ended December 31, 1994,
included in the following selected financial data have been derived from the
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, audited by KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP, independent public accountants. The historical consolidated statement of
operations data and balance sheet data for the periods ended and as of
September 30, 1995 and 1994 included in the following selected financial data
have been derived from financial statements of the Company that have not been
audited, but that, in the opinion of the management of the Company, reflect all
adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of such data for the interim
periods. The results of operations for the nine-month period ended September
30, 1995 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the
full year although the Company expects to incur a substantial loss for the year
ending December 31, 1995.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                              SEPTEMBER 30,                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                           -----------------------    --------------------------------------------------------------
                             1995          1994         1994          1993          1992          1991       1990
                           ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------  ---------
                                       (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                        <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>        <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF
 OPERATIONS
 DATA(1):
 Net revenues............  $ 787,293     $ 591,645    $ 837,169     $ 666,724     $ 572,487     $ 603,272  $ 562,989
 Operating expenses:
 Technical...............    302,385       215,202      302,885       241,877       204,449       213,059    202,850
 Selling, general and ad-
  ministrative...........    194,821       121,801      195,942       172,687       120,356       121,527    118,825
 Restructuring charge....        --          4,306(2)     4,306(2)        --            --            --         --
 Depreciation and amorti-
  zation.................    236,788       175,954      271,343       194,904       168,538       215,326    216,288
                           ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------  ---------
 Operating profit........     53,299        74,382       62,693        57,256        79,144        53,360     25,026
 Other income (expense):
 Interest expense, net...   (235,372)     (187,711)    (261,781)     (230,327)     (193,379)     (257,189)  (261,114)
 Provision for preferen-
  tial payment to
  related party..........     (4,200)       (4,200)      (5,600)       (5,600)       (2,662)          --         --
 Provision for loss on
  Olympics venture.......        --            --           --            --        (50,000)(3)       --         --
 Loss on sale of pre-
  ferred stock...........        --            --           --            --        (20,000)(4)       --         --
 Write-off of deferred
  financing costs........     (2,888)(5)       --        (9,884)(5)    (1,044)(5)   (12,284)(5)       --         --
 Loss on redemption of
  debentures.............        --            --        (7,088)(5)       --            --            --         --
 Share of affiliates' net
  loss...................    (73,090)      (54,662)     (82,864)      (61,017)      (47,278)      (23,780)   (39,980)
 Gain (loss) on sale of
  programming
  and other interests,
  net....................     36,198           --           --           (330)        7,053        15,505        --
 Minority interest.......     (6,229)       (1,656)      (3,429)        3,000           --            --         --
 Gain on sale of market-
  able securities, net...        --            --           --            --            733         5,806        --
 Settlement of litigation
  and related matters....        --            --           --            --         (5,655)       (9,677)       --
 Transaction fees........        --            --           --            --            --            --      14,759
 Miscellaneous, net......     (4,836)       (4,885)      (7,198)       (8,720)       (6,175)      (11,224)   (10,066)
                           ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------  ---------
 Net loss................   (237,118)     (178,732)    (315,151)     (246,782)     (250,503)     (227,199)  (271,375)
 Preferred dividend re-
  quirement..............     (7,272)       (4,098)      (6,385)         (885)         (885)       (4,464)    (4,065)
                           ---------     ---------    ---------     ---------     ---------     ---------  ---------
 Net loss applicable to
  common shareholders....  $(244,390)    $(182,830)   $(321,536)    $(247,667)    $(251,388)    $(231,663) $(275,440)
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
 Net loss per common
  share..................  $  (10.29)    $   (7.82)   $  (13.72)    $  (10.83)    $  (11.17)    $  (10.32) $  (12.36)
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
 Average number of common
  shares
  outstanding (in thou-
  sands).................     23,745        23,386       23,444        22,859        22,512        22,446     22,290
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
 Book value per common
  share..................  $  (86.51)    $  (67.04)   $  (76.93)    $  (64.61)    $  (55.28)    $  (41.49) $  (31.36)
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
 Deficiency of earnings
  available to cover
  fixed charges..........  $(237,062)    $(178,621)   $(315,003)    $(246,644)    $(250,429)    $(227,124) $(271,301)
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
 Deficiency of earnings
  available to cover
  fixed charges and pre-
  ferred stock
  dividends..............  $(244,334)    $(182,719)   $(321,388)    $(247,529)    $(251,314)    $(231,588) $(275,366)
                           =========     =========    =========     =========     =========     =========  =========
</TABLE>    
                                                 
                                              (footnotes on following page)     
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                             AS OF                       AS OF DECEMBER 31,
                         SEPTEMBER 30, ----------------------------------------------------------
                             1995         1994        1993        1992        1991        1990
                         ------------- ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SUBSCRIBER DATA)
<S>                      <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEET DATA(1):
 Total assets...........  $2,342,444   $2,176,413  $1,309,444  $1,251,157  $1,475,672  $1,641,612
 Total debt.............   3,224,228    3,169,236   2,235,499   2,004,452   2,211,056   2,170,275
 Cumulative redeemable
 preferred stock(4).....         --           --          --          --       32,094      28,515
 Series G Redeemable
  Exchangeable
  Preferred Stock(6)....     250,000          --          --          --          --          --
 Stockholders'
 deficiency.............  (2,068,606)  (1,818,535) (1,503,244) (1,250,248)   (932,428)   (702,448)
STATISTICAL DATA(1):
 Homes passed(7)........   3,028,000    2,899,000   2,240,000   2,019,000   2,005,000   1,976,000
 Basic service
 subscribers............   1,887,000    1,768,000   1,379,000   1,262,000   1,372,000   1,326,000
 Basic penetration(8)...        62.3%        61.0%       61.5%       62.5%       68.4%       67.1%
 Number of premium
 television units.......   3,237,000    3,208,000   3,003,000   2,802,000   2,326,000   2,401,000
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic
  subscriber............         1.7          1.8         2.2         2.2         1.7         1.8
 Average monthly revenue
  per basic
  subscriber(9).........  $    36.69   $    36.33  $    36.59  $    37.64  $    34.43  $    34.09
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
(1) The consolidated statement of operations, balance sheet and statistical
    data reflect (i) the deconsolidation of A-R Cable Services, Inc. ("A-R
    Cable"), effective as of January 1, 1992, as a result of the restructuring
    of A-R Cable, (ii) the acquisition of Cablevision of New York City
    ("Cablevision of NYC"), effective as of July 10, 1992, and (iii) various
    acquisitions of cable television systems and other businesses during the
    periods presented. (See "Business--Cable Television Operations" in the Form
    10-K and "Condensed Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information" herein.)
    Acquisitions made by the Company during the periods presented were
    accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the
    acquisition costs were allocated to the net assets acquired based on their
    fair value, except for the acquisition of partnership interests in
    Cablevision of NYC from Charles F. Dolan and entities affiliated with him,
    which were recorded at Mr. Dolan's and such entities' historical costs.
    Acquisitions are reflected in the consolidated statement of operations,
    balance sheet and statistical data from the time of acquisition. Certain
    reclassifications have been made to the 1991 and 1990 financial statement
    amounts to conform to the 1992 presentation.     
   
(2) The Company recorded a one-time charge in the first quarter of 1994 to
    provide for employee severance and related costs resulting from a
    restructuring of its operations.     
   
(3) In 1992, the Company recognized a $50.0 million loss in connection with
    Rainbow Programming's commitment in respect of its venture with NBC
    relating to the 1992 Summer Olympics, which the Company paid in January
    1993.     
   
(4) In connection with the 1992 V Cable Reorganization (as defined under "The
    Company--Cable Television"), the Company redeemed A-R Cable's redeemable
    preferred stock on May 11, 1992, incurring a loss of $20 million.     
   
(5) In connection with the 1992 V Cable Reorganization, the Company wrote off
    approximately $7.5 million of deferred financing costs related to the debt
    of V Cable, Inc. Also, a portion of the Company's deferred financing costs
    of approximately $4.8 million in 1992 and $1.0 million in 1993, related to
    the replacement of bank debt with subordinated debt, were written off. In
    October 1994, the Company entered into a new bank credit agreement and
    redeemed $200 million of its reset debentures. The related deferred
    financing costs and unamortized discount relating to each were written off
    and approximately $2.0 million in redemption fees was incurred in
    connection with the redemption of the reset debentures. In January 1995,
    Rainbow Programming amended its credit agreement to refinance its existing
    borrowings and to provide funds for the acquisition of SportsChannel (New
    York) Associates and Rainbow News 12 Company, resulting in an approximately
    $2.3 million write-off of deferred financing costs.     
   
(6) On September 26, 1995, the Company issued 2.5 million shares of the Old
    Preferred Stock.     
   
(7) Homes passed is based upon homes passed by cable actually marketed and does
    not include multiple dwelling units passed by the cable plant that are not
    connected to it.     
   
(8) Basic penetration represents basic service subscribers at the end of the
    period as a percentage of homes passed at the end of the period.     
   
(9) Based on recurring service revenues, excluding installation charges and
    certain other revenues such as advertising, pay-per-view and home shopping
    revenues, for the last month of the period, divided by average basic
    subscribers for that month.     
       
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
                    
                 SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA     
   
  The following tables set forth information concerning the Company's Core
Restricted Group, Cablevision of NYC, combined Restricted Group (which includes
Cablevision of NYC), V Cable and Monmouth Cable and Riverview Cable. In October
1994, Cablevision of NYC became a member of Cablevision's Restricted Group. The
data should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis".     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                              SEPTEMBER 30,                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          -------------------------     ----------------------------------
     FINANCIAL DATA          1995           1994           1994         1993       1992
     --------------       ----------     ----------     ----------    ---------  ---------
                                         (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>        <C>
CORE RESTRICTED GROUP:
 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
 Net revenues...........  $  348,773     $  322,640     $  435,171    $ 393,815  $ 378,171
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization(1)(2)....     166,682        162,602        212,388      196,760    192,553
 Depreciation and amor-
  tization..............      89,952         81,290        119,760       90,407     85,939
 Operating profit(2)....      76,730         81,312         92,628      106,353    106,614
 Total interest expense.     114,970        101,834        138,154      129,799    112,137
 BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Total assets...........  $1,057,031     $  905,156     $  929,376    $ 661,303  $ 547,373
 Senior debt............     814,363(3)     522,024        829,895(3)   359,022    585,381
 Subordinated debt......     623,590        822,892        623,534      822,781    474,247
 Total debt.............   1,437,953(3)   1,344,916      1,453,429(3) 1,181,803  1,059,628
 FINANCIAL RATIOS AND
  OTHER DATA:
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to net
  revenues..............        47.8%          50.4%          48.8%        50.0%      50.9%
 Total debt to operating
  profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization..........         6.5x(4)        6.2x(4)        6.8x         6.0x       5.5x
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to total
  interest expense......         1.4x           1.6x           1.5x         1.5x       1.7x
 Capital expenditures...  $   91,083     $  102,950     $  147,534    $ 106,379  $  65,331
CABLEVISION OF NYC:
 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
 Net revenues...........  $  151,112     $  106,270     $  149,396    $ 101,539  $  67,409
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization(1).......      42,611         26,222         36,928       18,803     11,731
 FINANCIAL RATIOS AND
  OTHER DATA:
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to net
  revenues..............        28.2%          24.7%          24.7%        18.5%      17.4%
 Capital expenditures...  $   65,392     $   74,421     $  103,544    $  86,669  $  55,652
RESTRICTED GROUP:
 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
 Net revenues...........  $  499,885     $  428,910     $  584,567    $ 495,354  $ 445,580
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization(1).......     209,293        188,824        249,316      215,563    204,284
 Depreciation and amor-
  tization..............     121,815        104,701        154,187      111,366    102,015
 Operating profit.......      87,478         84,123         95,129      104,197    102,269
 Total interest expense.     124,297        110,739        150,626      137,960    118,230
 BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Total assets...........  $1,232,640     $1,125,987     $1,119,882    $ 838,746  $ 660,002
 Senior debt............     932,963(3)     699,465        969,895(3)   488,128    664,081
 Subordinated debt......     623,590        822,892        623,534      822,781    474,247
 Obligation to related
  party.................     191,579         90,114        193,079       91,619     67,000
 Total debt.............   1,748,132(3)   1,612,471      1,786,508(3) 1,402,528  1,205,328
 FINANCIAL RATIOS AND
  OTHER DATA:
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to net
  revenues..............        41.9%          44.0%          42.6%        43.5%      45.8%
 Total debt to operating
  profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization..........         6.3x(4)        6.4x(4)        7.2x         6.5x       5.9x
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to total
  interest expense......         1.7x           1.7x           1.7x         1.6x       1.7x
 Capital expenditures...  $  156,475     $  177,371     $  251,078    $ 193,048  $ 120,983
</TABLE>    
                                                 
                                              (footnotes on following page)     
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
       
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                          NINE MONTHS ENDED
                            SEPTEMBER 30,            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          ---------------------     ----------------------------
     FINANCIAL DATA         1995         1994         1994      1993      1992
     --------------       --------     --------     --------  --------  --------
                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                       <C>          <C>          <C>       <C>       <C>
V CABLE:
 STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
  DATA:
 Net revenues...........  $110,612     $104,943     $140,691  $137,853  $129,409
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization(1).......    50,730       51,767       68,592    65,789    63,773
 Depreciation and
  amortization..........    47,208       60,097       83,671    80,287    69,148
 Operating profit
  (loss)................     3,522       (8,330)     (15,079)  (14,498)   (5,375)
 Total interest expense.    77,972       71,607       96,723    94,452    79,494
 BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Total assets...........  $403,201     $468,203     $447,381  $536,629  $558,988
 Total debt.............   888,596      853,262      862,440   832,964   799,098
 FINANCIAL RATIOS AND
  OTHER DATA:
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to net
  revenues..............      45.9%        49.3%        48.8%     47.7%     49.3%
 Total debt to operating
  profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization..........      13.1x(4)     12.4x(4)     12.6x     12.7x     12.5x
 Operating profit before
  depreciation and
  amortization to total
  interest expense......       0.7x         0.7x         0.7x      0.7x      0.8x
 Capital expenditures...  $ 18,694     $ 13,123     $ 19,981  $ 20,304  $ 17,608
MONMOUTH CABLE AND
RIVERVIEW CABLE:
 BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Total assets...........  $335,866     $391,049     $375,982       --        --
 Senior debt............   206,200      233,300      230,000       --        --
 Subordinated debt......   141,268      141,268      141,268       --        --
 Total debt.............   347,468      374,568      371,268       --        --
</TABLE>    
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                   AS OF DECEMBER 31,
                          AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, ---------------------------------
    STATISTICAL DATA             1995           1994         1993       1992
    ----------------      ------------------- ---------    ---------  ---------
<S>                       <C>                 <C>          <C>        <C>
CORE RESTRICTED GROUP:
 Homes passed(5)........       1,320,000      1,309,000    1,086,000  1,079,000
 Basic service
  subscribers at end of
  period................         957,000        928,000      815,000    790,000
 Basic penetration(6)...            72.5%          70.9%        75.0%      73.2%
 Number of premium
  television units......       1,488,000      1,572,000    1,504,000  1,586,000
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic subscriber......             1.6            1.7          1.8        2.0
 Average revenue per
  basic subscriber(7)...       $   37.66      $   37.10    $   38.01  $   38.85
CABLEVISION OF NYC:
 Homes passed(5)........         930,000        829,000      645,000    436,000
 Basic service
  subscribers at end of
  period................         382,000        315,000      214,000    134,000
 Basic penetration(6)...            41.0%          37.9%        33.1%      30.7%
 Number of premium
  television units......       1,267,000      1,127,000    1,053,000    730,000
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic subscriber......             3.3            3.6          4.9        5.4
 Average revenue per
  basic subscriber(7)...       $   40.55      $   41.84    $   41.12  $   46.62
RESTRICTED GROUP:
 Homes passed(5)........       2,250,000      2,138,000    1,731,000  1,515,000
 Basic service
  subscribers at end of
  period................       1,339,000      1,243,000    1,029,000    924,000
 Basic penetration(6)...            59.5%          58.1%        59.4%      61.0%
 Number of premium
  television units......       2,755,000      2,699,000    2,557,000  2,316,000
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic subscriber......             2.1            2.2          2.5        2.5
 Average revenue per
  basic subscriber(7)...       $   38.48      $   38.29    $   38.65  $   39.96
V CABLE:
 Homes passed(5)........         516,000        513,000      509,000    504,000
 Basic service
  subscribers at end of
  period................         374,000        364,000      350,000    338,000
 Basic penetration(6)...            72.5%          71.1%        68.7%      67.1%
 Number of premium
  television units......         367,000        375,000(8)   446,000    485,000
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic subscriber......             1.0            1.0          1.3        1.4
 Average revenue per
  basic subscriber(7)...       $   31.05      $   30.41    $   30.56  $   31.30
MONMOUTH CABLE AND
RIVERVIEW CABLE:
 Homes passed(5)........         262,000        248,000          --         --
 Basic service
  subscribers at end of
  period................         174,000        161,000          --         --
 Basic penetration(6)...            66.4%          65.1%         --         --
 Number of premium
  television units......         116,000        133,000          --         --
 Average number of
  premium units per
  basic subscriber......             0.7            0.8          --         --
 Average revenue per
  basic subscriber(7)...       $   35.05      $   34.67          --         --
</TABLE>    
                                                 
                                              (footnotes on following page)     
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
          
FOOTNOTES     
   
(1) Operating profit before depreciation and amortization is presented here to
    provide additional information about the Company's ability to meet future
    debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements.
    Operating profit before depreciation and amortization should be considered
    in addition to and not as a substitute for net income and cash flows as
    indicators of financial performance and liquidity as reported in accordance
    with generally accepted accounting principles.     
   
(2) Includes management fees from Cablevision of NYC of $5.3 million, $3.7
    million, $5.2 million, $3.5 million and $2.4 million, respectively.     
   
(3) Excludes Cablevision MFR, Inc. seller note in the amount of approximately
    $141.3 million that is guaranteed by the Core Restricted Group (as defined
    under "The Company--Cable Television").     
   
(4) Operating profit before depreciation and amortization is annualized for
    purposes of preparing interim financial ratios that include balance sheet
    items.     
   
(5) Homes passed is based upon homes passed by cable actually marketed and does
    not include multiple dwelling units passed by the cable plant that are not
    connected to it.     
   
(6) Basic penetration represents basic service subscribers at the end of the
    period as a percentage of homes passed at the end of the period.     
   
(7) Based on recurring service revenues, excluding installation charges and
    certain other revenues such as advertising, pay-per-view and home shopping
    revenues, for the last month in the period presented, divided by the
    average number of basic subscribers for that month.     
   
(8) Reflects the reclassification of units of Madison Square Garden Network
    subscribers to non-premium units in February 1994.     
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
  Purchase of the New Preferred Stock offered hereby (the "Offering") involves
various risks, including the following principal factors, which, together with
the other matters set forth herein or incorporated by reference herein, should
be carefully considered by prospective investors.
   
  Substantial Indebtedness and High Degree of Leverage. The Company has
incurred substantial indebtedness, primarily to finance acquisitions and
expansion of its operations and, to a lesser extent, for investments in and
advances to affiliates. The Company's consolidated debt (which includes the Old
Preferred Stock) and Series E Redeemable Convertible Exchangeable Preferred
Stock (the "Series E Preferred Stock") aggregated approximately $3.6 billion at
September 30, 1995 ($3.4 billion on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
the acquisition by the Company of Cablevision of Boston Limited Partnership
("Cablevision of Boston") and the proposed transactions involving V Cable, Inc.
(the "Proposed V Cable Transactions")) with varying maturities to 2023,
including an aggregate of approximately $911.9 million ($1,471.3 million on a
pro forma basis after giving effect to the acquisition by the Company of
Cablevision of Boston and the Proposed V Cable Transactions) maturing on or
prior to December 31, 1999. See Note 4 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.     
   
  Net Losses and Stockholders' Deficit. The Company reported net losses for the
nine months ended September 30, 1995 and 1994 of $237.1 million and $178.7
million, respectively, and for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1993 and 1992
of $315.2 million, $246.8 million and $250.5 million, respectively. At
September 30, 1995, the Company had a stockholders' deficit of $2.1 billion.
The losses primarily reflect high levels of interest expense and depreciation
and amortization charges relating to the depreciation of assets obtained
through, and debt incurred to finance, acquisitions. Interest expense and
depreciation and amortization charges remained at a high level throughout 1992,
1993 and 1994 and will continue at high levels in 1995 and future years as a
result of previously completed, pending and future acquisitions, expected
capital expenditures and additional investments in the Company's programming
operations, including the approximately $95.5 million payment made in
connection with the exercise of the NBC Option. The Company expects to continue
incurring substantial losses for at least the next several years. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity and Capital Resources".     
   
  Need for Additional Financing. The Company's business requires substantial
investment on a continuing basis to finance capital expenditures and related
expenses for, among other things, upgrade of the Company's cable plant
(including the need to make cable system upgrades mandated by franchise
authorities), the offering of new services and the servicing, repayment or
refinancing of its indebtedness. The Company will require significant
additional financing, through debt and/or equity issuances, to meet its capital
expenditure plans and to pay its debt and preferred stock obligations. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to issue additional debt or
obtain additional equity capital on satisfactory terms, or at all, to meet its
future financing needs. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity
and Capital Resources".     
 
  Future Capital Expenditures and Programming Commitments. The Company's cable
systems have commitments for capital expenditures, including major system
upgrades, which will involve substantial expenditures over the next several
years. In addition, the Company, through Rainbow Programming, has entered into
numerous contracts relating to cable television programming, including rights
agreements with professional and other sports teams. These contracts typically
require substantial payments over extended periods of time. See Note 8 of Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of commitments and
contingencies. The Company also has a commitment to fund annual payments to
Charles F. Dolan related to Cablevision of New York City ("Cablevision of
NYC"). See "Business--Consolidated Cable Affiliates--Cablevision of New York
City" and "Business--Programming Operations" in the Form 10-K and "Management's
Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity and Capital Resources".
   
  Intangible Assets. The Company had total assets at September 30, 1995 of
approximately $2.3 billion, of which approximately $0.9 billion were intangible
assets, principally subscriber lists, franchises, excess cost over fair value
of net assets acquired, deferred financing, acquisition and other costs and
deferred interest     
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
expense. It is possible that no cash would be recoverable from the voluntary or
involuntary sale of these intangible assets.
   
  Losses on Investments in and Advances to Certain Affiliates. The Company has
made investments in and advances to certain affiliates of which Charles F.
Dolan is the managing general partner or in which Mr. Dolan has substantial
ownership interests. At September 30, 1995, investments in and advances (less
applicable reserves) to such affiliates aggregated approximately $21.7 million
(consisting of $18.6 million for Cablevision of Boston and $3.1 million for
Atlantic Cable Television Publishing Corporation ("Atlantic Publishing")).
Because Mr. Dolan is the managing general partner or has a substantial interest
in such affiliates, an inherent conflict of interest exists with respect to
such investments and advances. There can be no assurances that such investments
and advances and any amounts accrued with respect thereto will be fully
recovered or that conflicts of interest will not arise with respect to the
recovery of such amounts.     
          
  On December 15, 1995, the Company consummated the acquisition of Cablevision
of Boston. In connection with the acquisition, all the subordinated advances
that the Company had made to Cablevision of Boston became intercompany
indebtedness. As part of the acquisition of Cablevision of Boston, the Company
entered into an agreement with Dolan with respect to Dolan's 0.5% general
partnership interest in Cablevision of Brookline Limited Partnership
("Cablevision of Brookline"), a partnership affiliated with Cablevision of
Boston. The Company acquired the remaining 99.5% of the partnership interests
in Cablevision of Brookline in the aquisition of Cablevision of Boston. Under
the agreement, the Company has a right of first refusal to acquire Dolan's 0.5%
general partnership interest and a right to acquire such interest on the
earlier to occur of Dolan's death or January 1, 2002 at the greater of $10,000
or the book value of such interest at such date. Dolan's estate has the right
to put the interest to the Company at the same price. Additionally, in the
event of a change of control of the Company or Cablevision of Brookline, Dolan
will have the right to put his 0.5% general partnership interest in Cablevision
of Brookline to the Company at the greater of (i) prices declining from $3.9
million for the year ended December 15, 1996 to $10,000 for the year ended
December 15, 2002 and (ii) the book value of such interest on the date of
transfer.     
          
  Atlantic Publishing holds a minority equity interest and a debt interest in a
company that publishes cable television guides which are offered to the
Company's subscribers and to other unaffiliated cable television operators. As
of September 30, 1995, the Company had advanced an aggregate of $17.3 million
to Atlantic Publishing, of which approximately $0.5 million was repaid during
1993, $0.6 million was repaid during 1994 and approximately $0.4 million was
repaid during the first nine months of 1995. The Company has written off all
advances to Atlantic Publishing other than approximately $3.1 million. Atlantic
Publishing is owned by a trust for certain Dolan family members; however, the
Company has the option to purchase Atlantic Publishing for an amount equal to
the owner's net investment therein plus interest. The current owner has only a
nominal investment in Atlantic Publishing. See "Business--Other Affiliates--
Atlantic Publishing" in the Form 10-K.     
 
  See "Business--Consolidated Cable Affiliates--Cablevision of New York City"
in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the Company's acquisition of substantially
all of Charles F. Dolan's interest in Cablevision of NYC, which was consummated
as described therein in July 1992.
   
  Voting Control by Majority Stockholders; Disparate Voting Rights. Charles F.
Dolan beneficially owned, as of September 30, 1995, 286,000 shares or 2.3% of
the Company's outstanding Class A Common Stock and 2,347,494 shares or 20.3% of
the Company's outstanding Class B common stock (the "Class B Common Stock" and,
collectively with the Class A Common Stock, the "Common Stock"). On a combined
basis, these shares represented 11.1% of the total number of shares of both
classes of Common Stock and 18.6% of the total voting power of the classes.
Trusts established by Mr. Dolan for the benefit of certain Dolan family
members, and as to which Mr. Dolan disclaims beneficial ownership, owned, as of
September 30, 1995, an additional 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock or
4.1% of the Class A Common Stock and 9,225,928 shares of the Class B Common
Stock, or 79.7% of the Class B Common Stock and 72.5% of the total voting power
of all classes of the Common Stock. As a result of this stock ownership, Dolan
family members have the power to elect all 12 directors subject to election by
holders of the Class B Common Stock, which directors     
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
constitute 75% of the entire 16-member Board of Directors of the Company.
Moreover, because holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per
share while holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share,
Dolan family members may control stockholder decisions on matters in which
holders of Class A and Class B Common Stock vote together as a class. These
matters include the amendment of certain provisions of the Company's
certificate of incorporation (the "Certificate of Incorporation") and the
approval of fundamental corporate transactions, including mergers. In addition,
because the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of
the outstanding shares of the Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a
class, is required to approve (i) the authorization or issuance of any
additional shares of Class B Common Stock and (ii) any amendment, alteration or
repeal of any of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company which adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Class
B Common Stock, Dolan family members also have the power to prevent such
issuance or amendment. The voting rights of the Class B Common Stock
beneficially owned by Mr. Dolan will not be modified as a result of any
transfer of legal or beneficial ownership thereof.
 
  Restrictive Covenants. The Company's principal bank credit agreement (the
"Credit Agreement") and certain of the Company's other debt instruments contain
various financial and operating covenants which, among other things, require
the maintenance of certain financial ratios and restrict the Company's ability
to borrow funds from other sources and to utilize funds for various purposes,
including investments in certain subsidiaries. Violation of the covenants in
the Credit Agreement could result in a default under the Credit Agreement which
would permit the bank lenders thereunder to restrict the Company's ability to
borrow undrawn funds under the Credit Agreement and to accelerate the maturity
of borrowings thereunder. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity
and Capital Resources".
 
  Conflicts of Interest. Charles F. Dolan and trusts for Dolan family interests
have varying economic interests in the Company's affiliates. Mr. Dolan and
other officers and directors of the Company are also officers and directors of
affiliated companies. Such officers and directors of the Company devote such
time to the business of the Company as is reasonably required; however, they
have other responsibilities which require various amounts of their time and
which could conflict with their duties to the Company.
       
  Risks Related to Regulation. The Company's cable television operations may be
adversely affected by government regulation, the impact of competitive forces
and technological changes. In 1992, Congress enacted the 1992 Cable Act, which
represented a significant change in the regulatory framework under which cable
television systems operate. In April 1993 and February 1994, the FCC ordered
reductions in cable television rates. In June 1995, a Federal appeals court
upheld the material aspects of the FCC's rate regulation scheme.
Telecommunications legislation pending in Congress would relax the cable rate
regulation required by the 1992 Cable Act and would also open the local
telephone business to competition from cable television companies and other
providers and preempt state and local barriers to entry into that market. While
both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have passed
telecommunications bills, the Company cannot predict whether the legislation
ultimately will be enacted into law or what form any final legislation will
take. See "Business--Cable Television Operations--Competition" and "Business--
Cable Television Operations--Regulation" in the Form 10-K and "Recent
Developments--Impact of Pending Telecommunications Legislation on FCC Cable
Rate Regulation".
 
  Risk of Competition. Cable operators compete with a variety of distribution
systems, including broadcast television stations, multichannel multipoint
distribution services ("MMDS"), satellite master antenna systems ("SMATV"),
direct broadcast satellite systems ("DBS"), and private home dish earth
stations. For example, CAI Wireless Systems, Inc., an MMDS operator, has
received investments from Bell Atlantic Corporation and NYNEX Corporation and
owns operating systems or spectrum rights in a significant portion of the
Company's systems. In addition, three DBS systems are now operational in the
United States. The 1992 Cable Act prohibits a cable programmer that is owned by
or affiliated with a cable operator (such as Rainbow Programming) from
unreasonably discriminating among or between cable operators and other
multichannel video distribution systems with respect to the price, terms and
conditions
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
of sale or distribution of the programmer's service and from unreasonably
refusing to sell service to any multichannel video programming distributor.
Cable systems also compete with the entities that make videotaped movies and
programs available for home rental. The 1992 Cable Act regulates the ownership
by cable operators of MMDS and SMATV. The telecommunications legislation
recently passed by the U.S. Senate would eliminate these statutory cross-
ownership limitations, while the bill passed by the House of Representatives
would retain them. In July 1992, the FCC voted to authorize additional
competition to cable television by video programmers using broadband common
carrier facilities constructed by telephone companies. The FCC allowed
telephone companies to take ownership interests of up to 5% in such
programmers. The FCC also reaffirmed an earlier holding, upheld on appeal by a
Federal appeals court, that programmers using such a telephone company-provided
"video dialtone" system would not need to obtain a state or municipal
franchise. Several telephone companies have sought approval from the FCC to
build such "video dialtone" systems. Such a system has been proposed in several
communities in which the Company currently holds a cable franchise and several
of such systems have been approved by the FCC. Additional competition to cable
systems is possible if the FCC authorizes the licensing of local multipoint
distribution services ("LMDS"). The FCC has proposed to license this type of
service to providers.
   
  Competition from Telephone Companies. The 1984 Cable Act bars co-ownership of
telephone companies and cable television systems operating in the same service
areas ("cable-telco cross-ownership prohibition"). Numerous Federal district
courts have held this prohibition to be unconstitutional. Several of these
decisions have been upheld on appeal and a number of other decisions are
pending on appeal in various Federal appellate courts. The United States
Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the prohibition
during the 1995-96 term. Neither the 1984 Cable Act nor the 1992 Cable Act bars
a telephone company from acquiring cable systems outside its telephone service
area, and several Regional Bell operating companies have purchased or made
investments in cable systems. Legislation to repeal the cable-telco cross-
ownership prohibition, subject to certain regulatory requirements, has passed
both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives; repeal has also been
endorsed by the Clinton Administration. These bills also would permit a
telephone company to acquire an in-region cable operator in certain small
markets under certain circumstances. The Company cannot predict whether the
legislation ultimately will be enacted into law or what form any final
legislation would take. See "Business--Cable Television Operations--Regulation"
in the Form 10-K.     
 
  Risk of Non-Exclusive Franchises and Franchise Renewals. The Company's cable
television systems are operated primarily under nonexclusive franchise
agreements with local government franchising authorities, in some cases with
the approval of state cable television authorities. The Company's business is
dependent on its ability to obtain and renew its franchises. Although the
Company has never lost a franchise as a result of a failure to obtain a
renewal, its franchises are subject to non-renewal or termination under certain
circumstances. In certain cases, franchises have not been renewed at expiration
and the Company operates under temporary licenses while negotiating renewal
terms with the franchising authorities. See "Business--Cable Television
Operations--Franchises" in the Form 10-K.
 
 Risks Related to the New Preferred Stock and the Exchange Debentures.
 
  Absence of Public Market. The New Preferred Stock is a new security for which
there currently is no market. Although Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, the
initial purchasers of the Old Preferred Stock (collectively, the "Initial
Purchasers"), have informed the Company that they currently intend to make a
market in the Old Preferred Stock, the New Preferred Stock and, if issued, the
Exchange Debentures, they are not obligated to do so and any such market making
may be discontinued at any time without notice. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the New
Preferred Stock and, if issued, the Exchange Debentures. The Company does not
intend to apply for listing of the New Preferred Stock or, if issued, the
Exchange Debentures on any securities exchange or for quotation through the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System.
 
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
   
  Restrictions on Company's Ability to Pay Dividends on the New Preferred
Stock. Certain of the Company's debt instruments contain covenants that
restrict the Company's ability to pay, or may prevent the payment of, dividends
on the New Preferred Stock. In addition, under Delaware law, dividends on
capital stock may only be paid from "surplus" or if there is no surplus from
the corporation's net profits for the then current or the preceding fiscal
year. The Company does not anticipate having net profits for the foreseeable
future and its ability to pay dividends on the New Preferred Stock will require
the availability of adequate "surplus", which is defined as the excess, if any,
of the Company's net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over its
capital (generally the par value of its issued capital stock). As of September
30, 1995, the Company's total liabilities exceeded its total assets by $1.4
billion. Accordingly, in connection with dividend payments on the New Preferred
Stock, the Company's Board of Directors will have to determine that the Company
has adequate surplus on the basis of valuations of the Company's assets at
higher amounts than are reflected in the Company's financial statements. There
can be no assurance that the Company's Board of Directors will be able to make
such determination and that adequate surplus will be available to pay dividends
on the New Preferred Stock.     
 
  Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences. The Company believes that it does
not presently have any current or accumulated earnings and profits as
determined under United States federal income tax principles and that it is
unlikely to have current or accumulated earnings and profits for the
foreseeable future. As a result, until such time as the Company does have
earnings and profits, distributions on the New Preferred Stock will be treated
as a nontaxable return of capital and will be applied against and reduce the
adjusted tax basis of the New Preferred Stock in the hands of each holder (but
not below zero), thus increasing the amount of any gain (or reducing the amount
of any loss) which would otherwise be realized by such holder upon the
disposition of such New Preferred Stock. Consequently, distributions with
respect to the New Preferred Stock will not qualify as dividends for federal
income tax purposes and, as a result, will not be eligible for the dividends-
received deduction.
                                   
                                THE COMPANY     
   
  The Company is one of the largest operators of cable television systems in
the United States, with approximately 2,687,000 subscribers in 19 states as of
September 30, 1995 based on the number of basic subscribers in systems which
the Company manages and which it owns or in which it has investments. The
Company also has ownership interests in companies that produce and distribute
national and regional programming services and provide advertising sales
services for the cable television industry.     
   
  For financing purposes, the Company is structured as a restricted group
(collectively, the "Restricted Group"), consisting of Cablevision Systems
Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries, including Cablevision of NYC, and,
as of December 15, 1995, Cablevision of Boston, and an unrestricted group of
subsidiaries, consisting primarily of V Cable, Inc. ("V Cable"), Cablevision
MFR, Inc. ("Cablevision MFR") and Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc., including
Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation ("Rainbow Advertising") (together,
"Rainbow Programming"). In addition, the Company has an unrestricted group of
investments, consisting of investments in A-R Cable Services, Inc. ("A-R
Cable"), U.S. Cable Television Group, L.P. ("U.S. Cable"), Cablevision of
Framingham Holding, Inc. ("CFHI"), A-R Cable Partners and Cablevision of
Newark. The Company's unrestricted subsidiaries and investments are
collectively referred to herein as the "Unrestricted Group". The Restricted
Group and each member of the Unrestricted Group that operates cable television
systems are individually and separately financed. The indebtedness of V Cable
and A-R Cable is non-recourse to the Company, other than with respect to the
capital stock of such entities owned by the Company. Rainbow Programming's cash
requirements have been financed to date by the Restricted Group, by sales of
equity interests in the programming businesses and, as set forth below under
"--Programming Services", through separate external debt financing. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a
discussion of the restrictions on investments by the Restricted Group and
certain other matters.     
 
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
   
STRATEGY     
   
  The Company's strategy has been to concentrate its cable television systems
in and around two major metropolitan areas, New York City and Cleveland, Ohio,
with a view to being the largest cable provider in each of these markets; to
maximize its revenue per subscriber through the use of "tiered" packaging
strategies for marketing premium services; to develop and promote niche
programming services; and to remain an industry leader in upgrading the
technological capabilities of its systems.     
          
  The Company believes that its cable television systems on Long Island, New
York comprise the largest contiguous group of cable television systems under
common ownership in the United States (measured by number of subscribers). By
developing systems in and around major metropolitan areas, including expansion
through acquisitions in areas in which the Company has existing systems, the
Company has been able to realize economies of scale in the operation and
management of its systems, and capitalize on opportunities to create and market
programming of regional interest.     
   
  Through the current and planned upgrade of its cable plant, including the
utilization of fiber optic cable and associated electronics, the Company is
seeking to significantly increase its analog channel capacity and add new
digital channel capacity that will facilitate the development of such adjunct
new businesses as video on demand, near video on demand, information services,
interactive services, including Internet access, residential telephony and
commercial telephony. To implement successfully and roll out these adjunct new
businesses beyond the initial development phases, the Company will require
additional capital from the sale of equity in the capital markets or to a
strategic investor.     
   
CABLE TELEVISION     
   
  The cable television systems that are majority owned and managed by the
Company (the "Company's cable televisions systems") served approximately
1,887,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995 in New York, Ohio, Connecticut,
New Jersey, Michigan and Massachusetts. In addition, the Company has non-
majority investments in and manages cable television systems which served
approximately 800,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995 in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The Company's cable television systems have
generally been characterized by relatively high revenues per subscriber ($36.69
for September 1995) and ratios of premium service units to basic subscribers
(1.7:1 for September 1995). In calculating revenue per subscriber, the Company
includes only recurring service revenues and excludes installation charges and
certain other revenues such as advertising, pay-per-view and home shopping
revenues.     
   
  The cable television operations in the Restricted Group (other than those of
Cablevision of NYC) (such operations, the "Core Restricted Group") served
approximately 957,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995, primarily on Long
Island, New York, in Connecticut (principally Fairfield County), in northern
New Jersey, in Westchester County, New York and in Cleveland, Ohio. The revenue
per subscriber and ratio of premium service units to basic subscribers for
cable television systems in the Core Restricted Group for September 1995 were
$37.66 and 1.6:1, respectively.     
   
  In July 1992, the Company acquired from Charles F. Dolan, the Company's
Chairman, substantially all of Cablevision of NYC (the "Cablevision of NYC
Acquisition"), a cable television system under development in The Bronx and in
parts of Brooklyn, New York. Prior to the acquisition, the Company had a 15%
interest in Cablevision of NYC. Mr. Dolan remains a partner in Cablevision of
NYC with a 1% interest and the right to certain preferential payments. See
"Business--Consolidated Cable Affiliates--Cablevision of New York City" in the
Form 10-K. As of September 30, 1995, Cablevision of NYC passed approximately
930,000 homes and served approximately 382,000 subscribers. Construction of the
systems in The Bronx and in Brooklyn has been substantially completed. The
Company expects that the remaining costs to complete the construction of the
Cablevision of NYC systems will be financed by cash flow generated from the
operations of Cablevision of NYC and the amounts available under the Company's
Credit Agreement. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity and
Capital Resources--Cablevision of NYC".     
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
 
          
  The cable television operations of the Unrestricted Group are conducted
through the Company's unrestricted subsidiaries, V Cable and Cablevision MFR,
through its unrestricted investments, consisting of A-R Cable, U.S. Cable,
CFHI, A-R Cable Partners and Cablevision of Newark.     
   
  In August 1994, Cablevision MFR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
acquired substantially all of the assets of Monmouth Cablevision Associates
("Monmouth Cable") and Riverview Cablevision Associates, L.P. ("Riverview
Cable"), consisting of cable television systems in New Jersey. Also in August
1994, CFHI, a corporation jointly owned by the Company and E.M. Warburg Pincus
Investors, L.P., acquired substantially all of the assets of Framingham
Cablevision Associates Limited Partnership ("Framingham Cable"), consisting of
a cable television system in Massachusetts. Additionally, in June 1994, a
partnership comprised of subsidiaries of the Company and E.M. Warburg, Pincus &
Co. Inc. completed the purchase of certain assets of Nashoba Communications, a
group of three limited partnerships that operate three cable television systems
in Massachusetts.     
   
  V Cable was formed by the Company in February 1989 and served approximately
374,000 subscribers as of September 30, 1995, principally in the suburbs of
Cleveland, Ohio and on Long Island. The revenue per subscriber and ratio of
premium service units to basic subscribers for V Cable's systems for September
1995 were $31.05 and 1.0:1, respectively. As described under "Business--
Consolidated Cable Affiliates--V Cable" in the Form 10-K, the Company
consummated a significant restructuring and reorganization involving V Cable
and U.S. Cable (the "1992 V Cable Reorganization") on December 31, 1992. See
also "Recent Developments--Proposed V Cable Transactions" for a description of
certain transactions involving V Cable.     
   
PROGRAMMING SERVICES     
   
  The Company conducts its programming activities through Rainbow Programming,
its wholly-owned subsidiary and member of the Unrestricted Group, and through
subsidiaries of Rainbow Programming in partnership with certain unaffiliated
entities, including NBC and Liberty Media Corporation ("Liberty"). Rainbow
Programming's businesses include eight regional SportsChannel services, four
national entertainment services (American Movie Classics Company ("AMCC"),
Bravo Network ("Bravo"), MuchMusic ("MM") and the Independent Film Channel
("IFC")), Rainbow News 12 Company (a regional news service serving Long Island)
and the national backdrop sports services of Prime SportsChannel Networks
("Prime SportsChannel"). Rainbow Programming also owns an interest in Madison
Square Garden Corporation ("MSG"). Rainbow Programming's SportsChannel services
provide regional sports programming to the New York, Philadelphia, New England,
Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, San Francisco and Florida areas. AMCC is a
national program service featuring classic, unedited and non-colorized films
from the 1930s through the 1970s. Bravo is a national program service offering
international films and performing arts programs, including jazz, dance,
classical music, opera and theatrical programs. See "Business--Programming
Operations--General" in the Form 10-K. MM is a Canadian music service featuring
music primarily from Canadian artists. IFC is a national program service that
airs independent films made outside the traditional Hollywood system. MSG owns
the Madison Square Garden Arena and the adjoining Paramount Theater, the New
York Rangers professional hockey team, the New York Knicks professional
basketball team and the Madison Square Garden Network, a sports programming
network with over five million subscribers.     
       
          
ADVERTISING SERVICES     
   
  Rainbow Advertising sells advertising time to national, regional and local
advertisers on behalf of the Company's cable television systems and the
SportsChannel and Rainbow News 12 Company programming services, as well as on
behalf of unaffiliated cable television systems.     
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
 
                               
                            RECENT DEVELOPMENTS     
   
PROPOSED V CABLE TRANSACTIONS     
   
  The Company, V Cable and VC Holding, Inc. ("VC Holding") are negotiating a
series of transactions with General Electric Capital Corporation ("GECC"). In
the contemplated transactions, the Company would issue to GECC preferred stock
having an initial aggregate liquidation preference of $500 million for an
aggregate purchase price of $500 million. Fifty percent of the preferred stock
would become convertible into the Company's Class A Common Stock four years
after the date of issuance and the remaining fifty percent would become
convertible into the Company's Class A Common Stock six years after the date of
issuance (unless conversion is accelerated upon the occurrence of certain
events), in each case, in whole or in part, and at a conversion rate based upon
the trading value of the Class A Common Stock at the time of conversion. The
terms of the preferred stock would give the Company the right to redeem the
preferred stock for cash at any time prior to conversion, although there can be
no assurance that the Company would be able to do so. It is also anticipated
that the Company would grant GECC registration rights with respect to the
preferred stock and to the Class A Common Stock issuable upon any conversion of
such preferred stock. The Company would make an equity capital contribution to
V Cable of the gross proceeds from such issuance and V Cable would apply such
amounts as set forth below. The New Preferred Stock offered hereby will rank on
a parity with the preferred stock proposed to be issued by the Company in the
Proposed V Cable Transactions (as defined below).     
   
  As part of these proposed transactions with respect to V Cable (together with
the issuance of the preferred stock to GECC, the "Proposed V Cable
Transactions"), the $500 million capital contribution received by V Cable would
be applied as follows: (i) approximately $28 million to repay V Cable's
outstanding indebtedness to GECC; (ii) approximately $100 million to repay to
GECC a portion of the debt of U.S. Cable payable by V Cable under certain
circumstances; (iii) approximately $305 million to repay to GECC a portion of
VC Holding's indebtedness; and (iv) approximately $67 million would be used by
VC Holding to make a preferred capital contribution to U.S. Cable as discussed
below.     
       
          
  The Proposed V Cable Transactions also contemplate that V Cable would enter
into one or more agreements pursuant to which, following the receipt of any
required franchise and regulatory approvals (i) the US Cable partnership would
redeem the 80% of US Cable's partnership interests not already owned by V Cable
for approximately $4 million and (ii) the US Cable partnership would refinance
$154 million of US Cable indebtedness payable to GECC. The funds to redeem the
partnership interest and to repay indebtedness owed to GECC would be provided
primarily by a $150 million drawdown under a credit facility to be arranged
with a new group of banks.     
   
  As part of the Proposed V Cable Transactions, GECC would also agree to
provide two new credit facilities, a $325 million three year revolving credit
facility for V Cable's Ohio subsidiary (approximately $200 million of which
would be drawn upon entering into such agreement) and a $260 million two year
revolving credit facility for V Cable's Long Island subsidiary (approximately
$207 million of which would be drawn upon entering into such agreement). The
initial amounts drawn under the respective revolving credit facilities,
together with funds to be contributed by the Company to V Cable described
below, would be used to repay all remaining VC Holding debt to GECC. Both the
Ohio and Long Island credit facilities would be entered into upon completion of
final documentation and the receipt of any required franchise or regulatory
approvals. Assuming a consummation of the Proposed V Cable Transactions on
March 31, 1996, the Company would make an additional capital contribution of
$85 million (funded by borrowing under its bank credit agreement) to V Cable
which V Cable would use to repay the remaining VC Holding debt to GECC, as
described above, and to reduce indebtedness of certain V Cable subsidiaries
incurred subsequent to September 30, 1995.     
   
  There can be no assurance that the Proposed V Cable Transactions will be
consummated or will be consummated in the form presently contemplated. If the
Proposed V Cable Transactions, or similar transactions with respect to V Cable,
fail to occur, then V Cable believes that it is likely that it will be unable
    
                                       26
<PAGE>
 
   
to meet certain of its financial covenants as of March 31, 1996. To remedy the
anticipated covenant defaults, V Cable may request waivers and/or amendments to
its credit agreement and/or seek equity contributions from the Restricted
Group. During 1995, the Restricted Group made equity contributions aggregating
$2.5 million to enable V Cable to meet certain of its financial covenants.
There can be no assurance as to V Cable's ability to accomplish either of these
alternatives in the future or the terms or timing of such alternatives.
Assuming any covenant defaults are waived or cured, V Cable anticipates that
its cash flow from operations and amounts available under the VC Holding
revolving credit line will be sufficient to service its debt, to fund its
capital expenditures and to meet its working capital requirements through 1996.
    
          
CABLEVISION OF BOSTON ACQUISITION     
   
  On December 15, 1995, the Company acquired the interests in Cablevision of
Boston that it did not previously own pursuant to the agreement entered into by
the Company and Cablevision of Boston in June 1994. In connection with the
acquisition, the unaffiliated limited partners of Cablevision of Boston
received approximately 680,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock.
Upon consummation of the acquisition of Cablevision of Boston, Cablevision of
Boston became a member of the Restricted Group and all outstanding subordinated
advances made by the Company to Cablevision of Boston became intercompany
indebtedness. See "Condensed Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information".
       
PENDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS LEGISLATION     
   
  Both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have passed legislation
that would, among other things, significantly relax cable rate regulation. The
differences between the House and Senate passed bills would need to be
reconciled before the legislation could become law. A House-Senate conference
committee has been meeting to attempt to resolve these differences. The Company
cannot at this point predict whether any legislation ultimately will be enacted
into law or the final form any such legislation would take.     
          
RECENT OFFERINGS     
   
  In November 1995, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the "Series I
Preferred Stock Underwriters") pursuant to which the Company sold to the Series
I Preferred Stock Underwriters 13,800,000 depositary shares (including
1,800,000 depositary shares issued pursuant to such Underwriters' over-
allotment option) representing 1,380,000 shares of the Company's 8 1/2% Series
I Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Series I Preferred
Stock") with an aggregate liquidation preference of $345 million. The
depositary shares are convertible into shares of the Company's Class A Common
Stock at an initial conversion price of $67.44 per share of Class A Common
Stock. The Company applied the net proceeds of the offering of the depositary
shares to repayment of bank indebtedness.     
   
  Also in November 1995, the Company entered into a purchase agreement with
Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Bear,
Stearns & Co. Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Toronto Dominion
Securities (USA) Inc. (the "Notes Underwriters") pursuant to which the Company
sold to the Notes Underwriters $300 million of the 2005 Notes. The Company
applied the net proceeds of the offering of the 2005 Notes to the repayment of
bank indebtedness.     
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New
Preferred Stock offered hereby. In consideration for issuing the New Preferred
Stock as contemplated in this Prospectus, the Company will receive in exchange
a like number of shares of Old Preferred Stock with a like aggregate
liquidation preference, the terms of which are identical in all material
respects to the New Preferred Stock. The Old Preferred Stock surrendered in
exchange for the New Preferred Stock will be retired and cancelled and cannot
be reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the New Preferred Stock will not result
in any change in capitalization of the Company.
   
  The net proceeds received by the Company from the offering of the Old
Preferred Stock were $239.3 million. The Company applied approximately $103.1
million of such net proceeds to the redemption of the Company's outstanding
Series E Preferred Stock and the remainder to the repayment of borrowings under
the Company's Credit Agreement. All of the borrowings repaid may be reborrowed
under the Credit Agreement and the Company expects to reborrow such amount in
the future for general corporate purposes. The Company expects to raise
additional funds in the future. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis--
Liquidity and Capital Resources" for information concerning the Company's
significant expected expenditures.     
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
GENERAL
 
  In connection with the sale of the Old Preferred Stock, the purchasers
thereof became entitled to the benefits of certain registration rights (the
"Registration Rights"). Pursuant to the agreement governing the Registration
Rights (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), the Company agreed (x) within 30
days after September 26, 1995 to file a registration statement (the "Exchange
Offer Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") with respect to a registered offer to exchange the Old Preferred
Stock for the New Preferred Stock, which will have terms identical in all
material respects to the Old Preferred Stock (except that the New Preferred
Stock will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions) and (y) to
use its best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to
become effective within 120 days after September 26, 1995. Upon the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement being declared effective, the Company will offer
the New Preferred Stock in exchange for surrender of the Old Preferred Stock.
The Company will keep the Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or
longer if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange
Offer is mailed to the holders of the Old Preferred Stock. For each share of
Old Preferred Stock surrendered to the Company pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
the holder of such Old Preferred Stock will receive a share of New Preferred
Stock having a liquidation preference equal to that of the surrendered Old
Preferred Stock.
 
  Under existing interpretations of the staff of the Commission, the New
Preferred Stock would in general be freely transferable after the Exchange
Offer without further registration under the Securities Act by holders thereof
(other than a "Restricted Holder," being (i) a broker-dealer who purchases such
New Preferred Stock directly from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A
or any other available exemption under the Securities Act or (ii) a person that
is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that such New Preferred
Stock are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and such
holders have no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution
of such New Preferred Stock. Eligible holders wishing to accept the Exchange
Offer must represent to the Company that such conditions have been met. Each
broker-dealer that receives New Preferred Stock for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such new Preferred Stock.
 
  In the event that applicable interpretations of the staff of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") would not permit the Company to
effect the Exchange Offer or, if for any other reason the Exchange Offer was
not consummated within 180 days of the issuance of the Old Preferred Stock, the
Company agreed to use its best efforts to cause to become effective a shelf
registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement") with respect to the
resale of the Old Preferred Stock and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement
effective until three years after the date of issuance of the Old Preferred
Stock or such shorter period to terminate once all the Old Preferred Stock
covered by the Shelf Registration Settlement have been sold pursuant to such
Shelf Registration Statement.
 
  Each holder of Old Preferred Stock who wishes to exchange Old Preferred Stock
for New Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain
representations, including that (i) it is neither an affiliate of the Company
nor a broker-dealer tendering Old Preferred Stock acquired directly from the
Company for its own account, (ii) any shares of New Preferred Stock to be
received by it were acquired in the ordinary course of its business and (iii)
at the time of commencement of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with
any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) of the New Preferred Stock. In addition, in connection with any
resales of New Preferred Stock, any broker-dealer (a "Participating Broker-
Dealer") who acquired Old Preferred Stock for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities must deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. The Commission has taken the
position that Participating Broker-Dealers may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to the New Preferred Stock (other than a
resale of an unsold
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
 
   
allotment from the original sale of Old Preferred Stock) with the prospectus
contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Under the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Company is required to allow Participating Broker-Dealers
and other persons, if any, subject to similar prospectus delivery requirements
to use the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in
connection with the resale of such New Preferred Stock. The Company also agreed
that in the event that either (i) the Exchange Offer Registration Statement was
not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 30th calendar day following
the date of original issue of the Old Preferred Stock, or (ii) the Exchange
Offer was not consummated or a Shelf Registration Statement was not declared
effective on or prior to the 180th calendar day following the date of original
issue of the Old Preferred Stock, the dividend rate borne by the Old Preferred
Stock would be increased by one-quarter of one percent per annum for the first
30 days following such 30-day period in the case of (i) above or the first 90
days following such 180-day period in the case of (ii) above. Such dividend
rate would increase by an additional one-quarter of one percent per annum at
the beginning of each subsequent 30-day period in the case (i) above, or 90-day
period in the case of (ii) above, up to a maximum aggregate increase of one
percent per annum. The Company agreed that upon (x) the filing of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or (y) the consummation of the Exchange Offer or
the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, the
dividend rate borne by the Old Preferred Stock would be reduced to the original
dividend rate. The Exchange Offer Registration Statement was filed within 30
days of the date of original issue of the Old Preferred Stock, and thus no
increase in the interest rate borne by the Old Preferred Stock has been made
under (i) above.     
   
  In the event an exchange offer is consummated, the Company will not be
required to file a Shelf Registration Statement to register any outstanding Old
Preferred Stock other than those held by affiliates of the Company, and the
dividend rate on such Old Preferred Stock will remain at its initial level of
11 3/4%. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed to have been consummated upon the
earlier to occur of (i) the Company having exchanged New Preferred Stock for
all outstanding Old Preferred Stock (other than Old Preferred Stock held by a
Restricted Holder) pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (ii) the Company having
exchanged, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, New Preferred Stock for all Old
Preferred Stock that has been tendered and not withdrawn on the date that is 30
days following the commencement of such Exchange Offer. In such event, holders
of Old Preferred Stock seeking liquidity in their investment would have to rely
on exemptions to registration requirements under the securities laws, including
the Securities Act. See "Description of New Preferred Stock--Registration
Rights Agreement" and "Risk Factors".     
   
  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and
in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, the Company will accept all Old
Preferred Stock properly tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the Expiration Date. The Company will issue one share of New Preferred Stock
with a liquidation preference of $100 in exchange for each one share of issued
and outstanding Old Preferred Stock with a liquidation preference of $100
accepted in the Exchange Offer.     
   
  Based on no-action letters issued by the staff of the Commission to third
parties, the Company believes that the New Preferred Stock issued pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Preferred Stock may be offered for
resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any
such holder that is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act provided that such New
Preferred Stock are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business
and such holders have no arrangement with any person to participate in the
distribution of such New Preferred Stock. Any holder of Old Preferred Stock who
tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of participating in a
distribution of the New Preferred Stock could not rely on such interpretation
by the staff of the Commission and must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale transaction. Each broker-dealer that receives New Preferred Stock for
its own account in exchange for Old Preferred Stock, where such Old Preferred
Stock were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Preferred Stock. See "Plan
of Distribution".     
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
 
   
  As of the date of this Prospectus, 2,577,510 shares of Old Preferred Stock
with an aggregate liquidation preference of $257,751,000 is issued and
outstanding. In connection with the issuance of the Old Preferred Stock, the
Company arranged for the Old Preferred Stock to be eligible for trading in the
Private Offering, Resale and Trading through Automated Linkages (PORTAL)
Market, the National Association of Securities Dealers' screen based, automated
market trading of securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A.     
   
  This Prospectus, together with the accompanying letter of transmittal (the
"Letter of Transmittal"), is being sent to all registered holders as of January
25, 1996 (the "Record Date").     
   
  The Company shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Preferred
Stock when, as and if the Company has given oral or written notice thereof to
Mellon Securities Trust Company (the "Exchange Agent"). See "Exchange Agent."
The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of Old Preferred
Stock for the purpose of receiving New Preferred Stock from the Company and
delivering New Preferred Stock to such holders.     
 
  If any tendered Old Preferred Stock are not accepted for exchange because of
an invalid tender or the occurrence of certain other events set forth herein,
certificates for any such unaccepted Old Preferred Stock will be returned,
without expense, to the tendering holder thereof as promptly as practicable
after the Expiration Date.
   
  Holders of Old Preferred Stock who tender in the Exchange Offer will not be
required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions
in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of
Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Company will pay all
charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes, in connection with
the Exchange Offer. See "Fees and Expenses".     
 
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS
   
  The term "Expiration Date" shall mean February 29, 1996 unless the Company,
in its sole discretion, extends the Exchange Offer, in which case the term
"Expiration Date" shall mean the latest date to which the Exchange Offer is
extended. The maximum period that the Exchange Offer will remain in effect
shall be from the date of this Prospectus until the Expiration Date.     
 
  In order to extend the Expiration Date, the Company will notify the Exchange
Agent of any extension by oral or written notice and will mail to the record
holders of Old Preferred Stock an announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00
a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled Expiration Date. Such announcement may state that the Company is
extending the Exchange Offer for a specified period of time.
 
  The Company reserves the right (i) to delay acceptance of any Old Preferred
Stock, to extend the Exchange Offer or to terminate the Exchange Offer and to
refuse to accept Old Preferred Stock not previously accepted, if any of the
conditions set forth herein under "Termination" shall have occurred and shall
not have been waived by the Company (if permitted to be waived by the Company),
by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the
Exchange Agent, and (ii) to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner
deemed by it to be advantageous to the holders of the Old Preferred Stock. Any
such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed
as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice thereof. If the Exchange
Offer is amended in a manner determined by the Company to constitute a material
change, the Company will promptly disclose such amendment in a manner
reasonably calculated to inform the holders of the Old Preferred Stock of such
amendment.
 
  Without limiting the manner in which the Company may choose to make public
announcements of any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment
of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall have no obligation to publish,
advertise, or otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by
making a timely release to the Dow Jones News Service.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
 
DIVIDENDS ON THE NEW PREFERRED STOCK
   
  Dividends on the New Preferred Stock will accumulate from the Accrual Date,
payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, of
each year commencing on April 1, 1996, at the rate of 11 3/4% per annum out of
legally available funds. Holders of Old Preferred Stock whose Old Preferred
Stock are accepted for exchange will be deemed to have waived the right to
receive any payment in respect of interest on the Old Preferred Stock
accumulated from the Accrual Date until the date of the issuance of the New
Preferred Stock.     
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
 
  To tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder must complete, sign and date the
Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof, have the signatures thereon
guaranteed if required by the Letter of Transmittal, and mail or otherwise
deliver such Letter of Transmittal or such facsimile, together with the Old
Preferred Stock and any other required documents, to the Exchange Agent prior
to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
 
  The tender by a holder of Old Preferred Stock will constitute an agreement
between such holder and the Company in accordance with the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter of Transmittal.
 
  Delivery of all documents must be made to the Exchange Agent at its address
set forth herein. Holders may also request that their respective brokers,
dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or nominees effect such tender for
such holders.
 
  The method of delivery of Old Preferred Stock and the Letter of Transmittal
and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the election and
risk of the holders. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that
holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient
time should be allowed to assure timely delivery. No Letter of Transmittal or
Old Preferred Stock should be sent to the Company.
 
  Only a holder of Old Preferred Stock may tender such Old Preferred Stock in
the Exchange Offer. The term "holder" with respect to the Exchange Offer means
any person in whose name Old Preferred Stock are registered on the books of the
Company or any other person who has obtained a properly completed stock power
from the registered holder.
   
  Holders of Old Preferred Stock who wish to tender additional shares of Old
Preferred Stock received on January 2, 1996 as a dividend payment with respect
to the Old Preferred Stock may do so.     
 
  Any beneficial holder whose Old Preferred Stock are registered in the name of
his broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who
wishes to tender should contact such registered holder promptly and instruct
such registered holder to tender on his behalf. If such beneficial holder
wishes to tender on his own behalf, such beneficial holder must, prior to
completing and executing the Letter of Transmittal and delivering his Old
Preferred Stock, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of
the Old Preferred Stock in such holder's name or obtain a properly completed
bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of record ownership may
take considerable time.
 
  Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities
exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the
United States or an "eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule
17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act (an "Eligible Institution") unless the Old
Preferred Stock tendered pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered
holder who has not completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions"
or "Special Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the
account of an Eligible Institution.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
 
  If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered
holder of any Old Preferred Stock listed therein, such Old Preferred Stock must
be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers which authorize such
person to tender the Old Preferred Stock on behalf of the registered holder, in
either case signed as the name of the registered holder or holders appears on
the Old Preferred Stock.
 
  If the Letter of Transmittal or any Old Preferred Stock or stock powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by
the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act
must be submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.
 
  All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of the tendered Old Preferred Stock will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and
all Old Preferred Stock not properly tendered or any Old Preferred Stock the
Company's acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company,
be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right to waive any
irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular Old Preferred Stock.
The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
(including the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal) will be final and
binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in
connection with tenders of Old Preferred Stock must be cured within such time
as the Company shall determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any
other person shall be under any duty to give notification of defects or
irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Preferred Stock nor shall any of
them incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old
Preferred Stock will not be deemed to have been made until such irregularities
have been cured or waived. Any Old Preferred Stock received by the Exchange
Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or
irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned without cost by
the Exchange Agent to the tendering holder of such Old Preferred Stock unless
otherwise provided in the Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable
following the Expiration Date.
 
  In addition, the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to (a)
purchase or make offers for any Old Preferred Stock that remain outstanding
subsequent to the Expiration Date, or, as set forth under "Termination," to
terminate the Exchange Offer and (b) to the extent permitted by applicable law,
purchase Old Preferred Stock in the open market, in privately negotiated
transactions or otherwise. The terms of any such purchases or offers may differ
from the terms of the Exchange Offer.
 
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
   
  Holders who wish to tender their Old Preferred Stock and (i) whose Old
Preferred Stock are not immediately available, or (ii) who cannot deliver their
Old Preferred Stock, the Letter of Transmittal or any other required documents
to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date, or (iii) who cannot
complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may effect a
tender if:     
 
    (a) The tender is made through an Eligible Institution;
     
    (b) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent receives from such
  Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of
  Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery)
  setting forth the name and address of the holder of the Old Preferred
  Stock, the certificate number or numbers of such Old Preferred Stock and
  the number of shares of Old Preferred Stock tendered, stating that the
  tender is being made thereby, and guaranteeing that, within five business
  days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
  thereof), together with the certificate(s) representing the Old Preferred
  Stock to be tendered in proper form for transfer and any other documents
  required by the Letter of Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible
  Institution with the Exchange Agent; and     
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
 
    (c) Such properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or
  facsimile thereof), together with the certificate(s) representing all
  tendered Old Preferred Stock in proper form for transfer and all other
  documents required by the Letter of Transmittal are received by the
  Exchange Agent within five business days after the Expiration Date.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS
 
  Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Old Preferred Stock may be
withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business
day prior to the Expiration Date, unless previously accepted for exchange.
 
  To withdraw a tender of Old Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer, a written
or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange
Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the business day prior to the Expiration Date and prior to acceptance for
exchange thereof by the Company. Any such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify
the name of the person having deposited the Old Preferred Stock to be withdrawn
(the "Depositor"), (ii) identify the Old Preferred Stock to be withdrawn
(including the certificate number or numbers and number of shares of such Old
Preferred Stock), (iii) be signed by the Depositor in the same manner as the
original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such Old Preferred
Stock were tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be
accompanied by documents of transfer sufficient to permit the Trustee with
respect to the Old Preferred Stock to register the transfer of such Old
Preferred Stock into the name of the Depositor withdrawing the tender and (iv)
specify the name in which any such Old Preferred Stock are to be registered, if
different from that of the Depositor. All questions as to the validity, form
and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be
determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding on
all parties. Any Old Preferred Stock so withdrawn will be deemed not to have
been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer and no New Preferred
Stock will be issued with respect thereto unless the Old Preferred Stock so
withdrawn are validly retendered. Any Old Preferred Stock which have been
tendered but which are not accepted for exchange will be returned to the holder
thereof without cost to such holder as soon as practicable after withdrawal,
rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn
Old Preferred Stock may be retendered by following one of the procedures
described above under "Procedures for Tendering" at any time prior to the
Expiration Date.
 
TERMINATION
   
  Notwithstanding any other term of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be
required to accept for exchange, or exchange New Preferred Stock for, any Old
Preferred Stock not theretofore accepted for exchange, and may terminate or
amend the Exchange Offer as provided herein before the acceptance of such Old
Preferred Stock if: (i) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened in
any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange
Offer, which, in the Company's judgment, might materially impair the Company's
ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer or (ii) any law, statute, rule or
regulation is proposed, adopted or enacted, or any existing law, statute, rule
or regulation is interpreted by the staff of the Commission in a manner, which,
in the Company's judgment, might materially impair the Company's ability to
proceed with the Exchange Offer.     
 
  If the Company determines that it may terminate the Exchange Offer, as set
forth above, the Company may (i) refuse to accept any Old Preferred Stock and
return any Old Preferred Stock that have been tendered to the holders thereof,
(ii) extend the Exchange Offer and retain all Old Preferred Stock tendered
prior to the Expiration of the Exchange Offer, subject to the rights of such
holders of tendered Old Preferred Stock to withdraw their tendered Old
Preferred Stock, (iii) waive such termination event with respect to the
Exchange Offer and accept all properly tendered Old Preferred Stock that have
not been withdrawn. If such waiver constitutes a material change in the
Exchange Offer, the Company will disclose such change by means of a supplement
to this Prospectus that will be distributed to each registered holder of Old
Preferred Stock, and the Company will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of
five to ten business days, depending upon the significance of the waiver and
the manner of disclosure to the registered holders if the Old Preferred Stock,
if
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
 
   
the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during such period. See "Description
of New Preferred Stock--Registration Rights Agreement".     
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
   
  Mellon Securities Trust Company has been appointed as Exchange Agent for the
Exchange Offer.     
       
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
  The expenses of soliciting tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be
borne by the Company. The principal solicitation for tenders pursuant to the
Exchange Offer is being made by mail. Additional solicitations may be made by
officers and regular employees of the Company and its affiliates in person, by
telegraph or telephone.
 
  The Company will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or other persons
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay
the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will
reimburse the Exchange Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in
connection therewith. The Company may also pay brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in forwarding copies of this Prospectus, Letters of
Transmittal and related documents to the beneficial owners of the Old Preferred
Stock and in handling or forwarding tenders for exchange.
 
  The expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer, including
fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and Trustee and accounting and legal
fees, will be paid by the Company.
 
  The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however,
certificates representing New Preferred Stock or Old Preferred Stock not
tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be
registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Old Preferred Stock tendered, or if tendered Old Preferred Stock
are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the
Letter of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other
than the exchange of Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then
the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder
or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory
evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with
the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed
directly to such tendering holder.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
  No gain or loss for accounting purposes will be recognized by the Company
upon the consummation of the Exchange Offer. The expenses of the Exchange Offer
will be amortized by the Company over the term of the New Preferred Stock under
generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
 
                                 
                              CAPITALIZATION     
   
  The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries at September 30, 1995 and as adjusted to
reflect the pro forma consolidated capitalization of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries at September 30, 1995, adjusted to give effect to (i)
the acquisition of Cablevision of Boston, (ii) the Proposed V Cable
Transactions (iii) the redemption of the Company's Series E Preferred Stock on
November 2, 1995, and (iv) the issuance in November 1995 of $300 million
principal amount of the Company's 2005 Notes and of the Company's Series I
Preferred Stock, and the application of the estimated net proceeds to the
Company from such offerings to repay bank indebtedness. See "Recent
Developments", "Use of Proceeds" and "Condensed Pro Forma Consolidated
Financial Statements".     
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                     AS OF SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                            1995
                                                    ----------------------
                                                    HISTORICAL   PRO FORMA
                                                    ----------  ----------
                                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         
LONG-TERM DEBT:
  Restricted Group:
    Bank indebtedness(1)(2)........................ $  925,366  $  481,283
    10 3/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due
     2004..........................................    275,000     275,000
    9 1/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005......        --      300,000
    9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2013.    198,914     198,914
    9 7/8% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2023.    149,676     149,676
    Capitalized lease obligations..................      7,597       9,481
                                                    ----------  ----------
      Total........................................  1,556,553   1,414,354
                                                    ----------  ----------
  V Cable:
    Senior debt....................................    888,596     438,596
                                                    ----------  ----------
  MFR:
    Senior bank debt...............................    206,200     206,200
    Subordinated notes.............................    141,268     141,268
                                                    ----------  ----------
      Total........................................    347,468     347,468
                                                    ----------  ----------
  Other Unrestricted Subsidiaries:
    Other indebtedness.............................    240,032     405,032
    Obligation to related party(3).................    191,579     191,579
                                                    ----------  ----------
      Total........................................    431,611     596,611
                                                    ----------  ----------
        Total long-term debt.......................  3,224,228   2,797,029
                                                    ----------  ----------
Series G Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock:
  Authorized--4,500,000 shares
  Issued--2,500,000 shares.........................    250,000     250,000
                                                    ----------  ----------
STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIENCY:
  Series C/D Cumulative Preferred Stock:
    Authorized--225,000 shares
    Issued--110,622 shares.........................          1           1
  Series E Redeemable Exchangeable Convertible
   Preferred Stock:
    Authorized--100,000 shares
    Issued--100,000 shares.........................          1         --
  Series I Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable
  Preferred Stock..................................        --           14
  Series J Redeemable Convertible Preferred
  Stock(4).........................................        --            5
  Class A Common Stock:
    Authorized--50,000,000 shares
    Issued--12,338,111 shares......................        123         129
  Class B Common Stock:
    Authorized--20,000,000 shares
    Issued--11,573,909 shares......................        116         116
  Capital contributed in excess of (less than) par
   value...........................................    (79,478)    688,208
  Accumulated deficit.............................. (1,986,132) (2,016,475)
                                                    ----------  ----------
                                                    (2,065,369) (1,328,002)
  Treasury stock...................................     (3,237)     (3,237)
                                                    ----------  ----------
      Total stockholders' deficiency............... (2,068,606) (1,331,239)
                                                    ----------  ----------
        Total capitalization....................... $1,405,622  $1,715,790
                                                    ==========  ==========
</TABLE>    
                                                 
                                              (footnotes on following page)     
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
 
   
FOOTNOTES:     
   
(1) See "Management's Discussion and Analysis--Liquidity and Capital Resources"
    and the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the bank
    indebtedness. This indebtedness consists of the Company's indebtedness
    under its principal bank credit agreement, the New Jersey subsidiary credit
    agreement and the Cablevision of NYC credit agreement. These amounts do not
    include approximately $20.4 million reserved under the Company's bank
    credit agreements for certain letters of credit issued on behalf of the
    Company. The Company and its New Jersey subsidiary are jointly and
    severally liable under the New Jersey subsidiary credit agreement. Assuming
    a consummation of the Proposed V Cable Transactions on March 31, 1996, the
    amount of bank indebtedness will be increased by $85 million in order to
    fund a capital contribution by the Company to V Cable which will be used to
    reduce indebtedness of certain V Cable subsidiaries incurred subsequent to
    September 30, 1995.     
          
(2) On October 26, 1995, the Company borrowed $103.1 million of bank debt in
    order to redeem the Company's outstanding Series E Preferred Stock. This
    amount is reflected in the pro forma amounts.     
   
(3) Obligation of NYC LP Corp., a wholly-owned Unrestricted Group subsidiary,
    relating to the acquisition of Cablevision of NYC, which obligation has
    been guaranteed by the Company. NYC LP Corp.'s obligation under such
    guarantee may be paid in cash or, at the Company's option, shares of the
    Company's Common Stock. Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is
    currently prohibited from paying all but $40.0 million of this obligation
    in cash and, accordingly, without the consent of the Company's bank
    lenders, would be required to pay it in shares of the Company's Common
    Stock.     
   
(4) Issuable in connection with the Proposed V Cable Transactions. See "Recent
    Developments--Proposed V Cable Transactions" for a discussion of such
    transactions.     
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
  The Company is authorized to issue 80,000,000 shares of capital stock, of
which 50,000,000 shares are Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
20,000,000 shares are Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and
10,000,000 shares are preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of which the
Preferred Stock offered hereby will be a series.
 
CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK
 
  Voting. Holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share.
Holders of Class B Common Stock are entitled to ten votes per share. All
actions submitted to a vote of stockholders are voted on by holders of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a single class, except
for the election of directors and as otherwise set forth below. With respect to
the election of directors, holders of Class A Common Stock vote as a separate
class and are entitled to elect 25% of the total number of directors
constituting the whole Board of Directors (the "Class A Directors") and, if
such 25% is not a whole number, then the holders of Class A Common Stock are
entitled to elect the nearest higher whole number of directors that is at least
25% of the total number of directors. Holders of Class B Common Stock, voting
as a separate class, are entitled to elect the remaining directors. If,
however, on the record date for any stockholder meeting at which directors are
to be elected, the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is less
than 10% of the total number of outstanding shares of both classes of Common
Stock, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will vote
together as a single class with respect to the election of directors and the
holders of Class A Common Stock will not have the right to elect 25% of the
total number of directors but will have one vote per share for all directors
and holders of Class B Common Stock will have ten votes per share for all
directors. If, on the record date for any stockholder meeting at which
directors are to be elected, the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common
Stock is less than 12 1/2% of the total number of outstanding shares of both
classes of Common Stock, then the holders of Class A Common Stock, voting as a
separate class, would continue to elect a number of Class A Directors equal to
25% of the total number of directors constituting the whole Board of Directors
and, in addition, would vote together with the holders of Class B Common Stock
to elect the remaining directors to be elected at such meeting, with the
holders of class A Common Stock entitled to one vote per share and the holders
of Class B Common Stock entitled to ten votes per share.
 
  In addition, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least 66
2/3% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, voting separately as a
class, is required for the authorization or issuance of any additional shares
of Class B Common Stock and for any amendment, alteration or repeal of any
provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation which would affect
adversely the powers, preferences or rights of the Class B Common Stock. The
Company's Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
 
  Conversion. The Class A Common Stock has no conversion rights. The Class B
Common Stock is convertible into Class A Common Stock in whole or in part at
any time and from time to time on the basis of one share of Class A Common
Stock for each share of Class B Common Stock.
 
  Dividends. Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are
entitled to receive dividends equally on a per share basis if and when such
dividends are declared by the Board of Directors from funds legally available
therefor. No dividend may be declared or paid in cash or property on shares of
either Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock unless the same dividend is
paid simultaneously on each share of the other class of common stock. In the
case of any stock dividend, holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to
receive the same percentage dividend (payable in shares of Class A Common
Stock) as holders of Class B Common Stock receive (payable in shares of Class B
Common Stock). The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the
distribution of shares of capital stock of any subsidiary to common
stockholders may differ to the extent that the common stock differs as to
voting rights and rights in connection with certain dividends.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
 
  Liquidation. Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock share
with each other on a ratable basis as a single class in the net assets
available for distribution in respect of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock in the event of liquidation.
 
  Other Terms. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B Common Stock
may be subdivided, consolidated, reclassified or otherwise changed unless
contemporaneously therewith the other class of shares is subdivided,
consolidated, reclassified or otherwise changed in the same proportion and in
the same manner. In any merger, consolidation or business combination the
consideration to be received per share by holders of either Class A Common
Stock or Class B Common Stock must be identical to that received by holders of
the other class of Common Stock, except that in any such transaction in which
shares of capital stock are distributed, such shares may differ as to voting
rights only to the extent that voting rights now differ between Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock.
 
  Restrictions on Ownership. Transfer of shares of Class A Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock which could result in a change of control of the Company
may require the approval of state agencies or local franchising authorities in
certain states in which the Company operates.
 
  Transfer Agent. The Company's transfer agent and registrar for the Class A
Common Stock is Mellon Securities Trust Company.
 
  No Preemptive Rights. The shares of common stock have no preemptive or other
rights to subscribe for or purchase any proportionate part of any new or
additional issues of stock of any class or of securities convertible into stock
of any class.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The following description of the terms of the Company's preferred stock sets
forth certain general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. The
description set forth below is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series
of preferred stock.
 
  General. Under the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of
the Company is authorized, without further stockholder action, to provide for
the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more
series. Subject to limitations imposed by law or the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation, the Board of Directors is empowered to determine (a) the maximum
number of shares to constitute the series and the distinctive designation
thereof; (b) whether the shares of such series shall have voting rights, in
addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such
voting rights; (c) the dividend rate, if any, on the shares of such series, the
conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the preference
or relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any
other class or classes or on any other series of capital stock, and whether
such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative; (d) whether the shares of
such series shall be subject to redemption by the Company, and, if made subject
to redemption, the times, prices and other terms and conditions of such
redemption; (e) the rights of the holders of shares of such series upon the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; (f) whether or not the
shares of such series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or
sinking fund, and, if so, the extent to and manner in which any such retirement
or sinking fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of
such series for retirement or to other corporate purposes and the terms and
provisions relative to the operation thereof; (g) whether or not the shares of
such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of stock of
any other class or classes, or of any other series of the same class, and if so
convertible or exchangeable, the price or prices or the rate or rates of
conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same; (h) the
limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any shares of such
series are outstanding upon the payment of dividends or making of other
distributions on, and upon the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by the
Company of, the Class A Common Stock, the Class B Common Stock or any other
class or classes of stock of the Company ranking junior to the shares of such
series either as to dividends or upon liquidation; (i) the conditions or
restrictions,
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
 
if any, upon the creation or indebtedness of the Company or upon the issue or
any additional stock (including additional shares of such series or of any
other series or of any other class) ranking on a parity with or prior to the
shares of such series as to dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation,
dissolution or winding up; (j) whether fractional interests in shares of the
series will be offered in the form of Depositary Shares; and (k) any other
preference and relative, participating, optional or other special rights or
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
   
  Designated Preferred Stock. The authorized preferred stock of the Company
consists of (i) 200,000 shares of Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock, $.01 par
value and $100 liquidation value per share (the "Series B Preferred Stock"),
none of which are outstanding, (ii) 112,500 shares of Series C Cumulative
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value and $100 liquidation value per share (the
"Series C Preferred Stock"), of which 110,622 shares were outstanding at June
30, 1995, (iii) 112,500 shares of Series D Cumulative Preferred Stock, $.01 par
value and $100 liquidation value per share, none of which are outstanding (the
"Series D Preferred Stock"), (iv) 100,000 shares of Series E Redeemable
Exchangeable Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value and $1,000 liquidation
preference per share (the "Series E Preferred Stock"), none of which are
outstanding, (v) 100,000 shares of Series F Redeemable Preferred Stock, $.01
par value and $1,000 liquidation preference per share, none of which are
outstanding (the "Series F Preferred Stock"), (vi) 4,500,000 shares of Old
Preferred Stock, 2,500,000 shares of which were issued on September 26, 1995
and are outstanding, and (viii) 1,380,000 shares of Series I Preferred Stock,
1,200,000 shares of which were issued on November 7, 1995 and are outstanding
and represented by 12,000,000 depositary shares and 180,000 shares of which
were issued on November 29, 1995 and are outstanding and represented by
1,800,000 depositary shares (the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred
Stock, Series D Preferred Stock, Series E Preferred Stock, Series F Preferred
Stock, Series G Preferred Stock and Series I Preferred Stock are hereinafter
sometimes collectively referred to as the "Authorized Preferred Stock"). The
Series A Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, was cancelled by the Board of
Directors on February 2, 1988. The Company does not expect to issue any Series
B Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock would have been issuable upon
conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock. The Company redeemed the Series E
Preferred Stock on November 2, 1995. The Series F Preferred Stock would have
been issuable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock. The Company
anticipates that it will, prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, file
a certificate of cancellation with respect to all of the authorized shares of
Series E Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock with the Delaware
Secretary of State. In connection with the consummation of the Exchange Offer,
a certificate of cancellation with respect to the Company's Old Preferred Stock
tendered in the Exchange Offer will be filed with the Delaware Secretary of
State and a certificate of designation will be filed with respect to 4,500,000
shares of New Preferred Stock.     
 
  The holders of such Series B Preferred Stock are entitled, when declared by
the Board of Directors, to dividends at the time legally available at the
annual rate of $12.00 per share prior and in preference to any declaration of
payment of any dividend on the common stock of the Company. The holders of
Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock are entitled, when
declared by the Board of Directors, to dividends out of legally available funds
at the annual rate of $8.00 per share prior and in preference to any
declaration of payment of any dividend on the common stock of the Company. The
right to dividends on shares of the Authorized Preferred Stock are cumulative.
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the
holders of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock are entitled
to receive a preferential amount equal to $100 for each share of Series C
Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock held plus all dividends (whether
or not earned or declared) accrued and unpaid on such shares of Authorized
Preferred Stock to the date of final distribution in preference to any such
distribution to the holders of the common stock of the Company.
       
       
  At any time and from time to time commencing on December 31, 1997, the
holders of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock may require
the Company to redeem, upon 30 days' notice to the Company, any or all of the
shares of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock then
outstanding at a price equal to the lesser of (i) $100 per share or (ii) the
present value of $100, discounted from
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
 
   
December 31, 2007 to the date of such redemption, plus, in each case, all
dividends (whether or not earned or declared) accrued and unpaid on the shares
of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock to the date fixed for
redemption (the "Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock
Redemption Price"). The Company may, at its option, upon notice to the holders
requesting redemption within 20 days of such holders' notice to the Company,
convert all or part of such shares of Series C Preferred Stock into Class B
Common Stock and all or part of such shares of Series D Preferred Stock into
Class A Common Stock. The Company at its option may, but shall not be required
to, redeem, at any time and from time to time after December 31, 1997 on not
less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' prior notice, any or all of the
shares of Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock then
outstanding at the Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock
Redemption Price.     
       
  If the Company elects to convert any shares of Series C Preferred Stock or
Series D Preferred Stock after a demand for redemption by such holders, the
number of shares to be issued by the Company shall be calculated by dividing
the applicable Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock Redemption
Price by the average of the market price of a share of Class A Common Stock for
the 30 trading days preceding the date on which a holder gives notice of its
election to convert such shares. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock and Series
D Preferred Stock have no voting rights except as to which they may be entitled
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
   
  The Old Preferred Stock, with respect to dividends and distributions upon the
liquidation, winding up and dissolution of the Company, ranks (i) senior to all
classes of Common Stock and each other class of capital stock or series of
preferred stock established by the Board of Directors (except as set forth
below) which does not expressly provide that it ranks senior to the Old
Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions upon the liquidation,
winding-up and dissolution of the Company (collectively referred to as "Series
G Junior Stock"); (ii) on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C
Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock, New Preferred Stock, Series I
Preferred Stock and any other class of capital stock or series of preferred
stock issued by the Company established after the initial issuance of the Old
Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide
that such class or series will rank on a parity with the Old Preferred Stock as
to dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, winding up and dissolution
of the Company (collectively referred to as "Series G Parity Securities"); and
(iii) junior to each class of capital stock or series of preferred stock issued
by the Company established after the initial issuance of the Old Preferred
Stock by the Board of Directors, the terms of which specifically provide that
such class or series will rank senior to the Old Preferred Stock as to
dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, winding up and dissolution of
the Company (collectively referred to as "Series G Senior Securities").     
          
  No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment
of dividends on any Series G Parity Securities for any period unless full
cumulative dividends shall have been paid or set apart for such payment on the
Old Preferred Stock. If full dividends are not so paid, the Old Preferred Stock
shall share dividends pro rata with the Series G Parity Securities. Subject to
certain exceptions set forth in the certificate of designations for the Old
Preferred Stock, no dividends may be paid or set apart for such payment on
Series G Junior Stock (except dividends on Series G Junior Stock in additional
shares of Series G Junior Stock), and no Series G Junior Stock may be
repurchased, redeemed or otherwise retired nor may funds be set apart for
payment with respect thereto, if full dividends have not been paid on the Old
Preferred Stock.     
   
  The Company may redeem the Old Preferred Stock at any time after October 1,
2002, in whole or in part, at certain redemption prices. In addition, the
Company may redeem shares of Old Preferred Stock at any time before October 1,
1998 at a redemption price per share equal to the liquidation preference of
$100, plus accrued and unpaid dividends plus a premium of $10 per share, out of
the net proceeds of the sale of Series G Junior Stock to a strategic equity
investor or a public offering of Class A Common Stock. Furthermore, the Company
may, at its option, prior to October 1, 2002, redeem the Old Preferred Stock at
any time within 180 days, at certain redemption prices, after a Change in
Control (as defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Old Preferred
Stock). On October 1, 2007, the Company will be required to redeem all
outstanding shares of Old Preferred Stock.     
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
 
   
  The Company may, at its option, on any scheduled dividend payment date,
exchange the Old Preferred Stock for the Company's 11 3/4% Senior Subordinated
Debentures due 2007.     
   
  In the event of any liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Company,
holders of Old Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a preferential
amount equal to $100 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company
(including an amount equal to a prorated dividend from the last dividend
payment date to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding up),
before any distribution is made on the Series G Junior Stock. If upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
the amounts payable with respect to the Old Preferred Stock and all other
Series G Parity Securities are not paid in full, the holders of the Old
Preferred Stock and the Series G Parity Securities will share equally and
ratably in any distribution of assets of the Company in proportion to the full
liquidation preference to which each is entitled. After payment of the full
amount of the liquidation preferences to which they are entitled, the holders
of shares of Old Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any further
participation in any distribution of assets of the Company.     
   
  Holders of the Old Preferred Stock will have no voting rights with respect to
general corporate matters except as provided by law or as set forth in the
Certificate of Designations therefor. The Certificate of Designations for the
Old Preferred Stock provides that (a) dividends on the Old Preferred Stock are
in arrears and unpaid (and if after October 1, 2000, such dividends are not
paid in cash) for six quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), or (b)
the Company fails to discharge its redemption obligation to redeem the Old
Preferred Stock on October 1, 2007, the number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors will be adjusted to permit the holders of the majority of
the then outstanding Old Preferred Stock, voting as a class, to elect a
director. Such voting rights will continue until such time as all dividends in
arrears on the Old Preferred Stock are paid in full (and in the case of
dividends payable after October 1, 2000, paid in cash) and any failure, breach
or default referred to in clause (b) is remedied, at which time the term of the
directors elected pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall terminate.
Each such event described in clauses (a) and (b) above is referred to herein as
a "Series G Voting Rights Triggering Event".     
   
  The Certificate of Designations for the Old Preferred Stock also provides
that the Company will not authorize any class of Series G Senior Securities
without the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a majority of
the shares of Old Preferred Stock then outstanding, voting or consenting, as
the case may be, separately as one class. The Company may not amend the
Certificate of Designations for the Old Preferred Stock so as to affect
adversely the specified rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of
holders of shares of the Old Preferred Stock, or authorize the issuance of any
additional shares of Old Preferred Stock, without the affirmative vote or
consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Old
Preferred Stock, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class.     
   
  Without the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of Old Preferred Stock, the Company may not consolidate or
merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any person unless: (a)
the entity formed by such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company)
or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made shall be a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia; (b) the Old Preferred Stock shall be converted into or exchanged for
and shall become shares of such successor, transferee or resulting corporation,
having in respect of such successor, transferee or resulting corporation the
same powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or special
rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the
Old Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transactions; and (c)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Series G Voting Rights
Triggering Event shall have occurred and be continuing. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company may consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign,
transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets to, any person if the Company makes adequate provision (i) prior to
October 1, 2002, to redeem the Old Preferred Stock after a Change in Control
(as defined in the Certificate of Designations for the Old Preferred     
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
 
   
Stock) or (ii) on or after October 1, 2002, to redeem the Old Preferred Stock
at the applicable redemption price set forth in the certificate of designations
therefor.     
   
  The New Preferred Stock will have terms identical in all material respects to
the Old Preferred Stock, except that the New Preferred Stock will not contain
terms restricting the transfer thereof.     
   
  The Series I Preferred Stock, with respect to dividends and distributions
upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company, ranks (i)
senior to all classes of Common Stock and each other class of capital stock or
series of preferred stock established by the Board of Directors after the
issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock which does not expressly provide that
it ranks senior to or on a parity with the Series I Preferred Stock as to
dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of
the Company (collectively referred to as "Series I Junior Stock"); (ii) on a
parity with the Company's Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock,
Series D Preferred Stock (which may be issued in exchange for shares of the
Series C Preferred Stock), Old Preferred Stock, New Preferred Stock and any
other class of capital stock or series of preferred stock established by the
Board of Directors after the initial issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock,
the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series will rank on a
parity with the Series I Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions upon
the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company (collectively
referred to as "Series I Parity Stock"); and (iii) junior to each class of
capital stock or series of preferred stock established by the Board of
Directors after the initial issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock, the terms
of which specifically provide that such class or series will rank senior to the
Series I Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions upon the
liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company (collectively referred
to as "Series I Senior Stock"). The Series I Preferred Stock will rank on a
parity with the preferred stock proposed to be issued by the Company in the
Proposed V Cable Transactions, discussed under "Recent Developments--Proposed V
Cable Transactions".     
          
  Holders of the Series I Preferred Stock are entitled, when declared by the
Board of Directors, out of funds legally available therefor, to receive
cumulative cash dividends on each outstanding share of the Series I Preferred
Stock, at the annual rate of 8 1/2% or $21.25 per share of Series I Preferred
Stock (equivalent to $2.125 per annum per depositary share). Dividends on the
Series I Preferred Stock are payable quarterly in arrears on January 1, April
1, July 1 and October 1 of each year. Dividends will be payable to the holder
of record on the respective record date as may be fixed by the Board of
Directors in advance of each dividend. The right to dividends on the Series I
Preferred Stock will be cumulative (whether or not earned or declared) from the
date of issuance of the Series I Preferred Stock. If any dividend (or portion
thereof) payable on any dividend payment date is not paid in full on the
dividend payment date therefor, the amount of such dividend that is payable and
that is not paid on such date will increase at the rate of 8 1/2% per annum per
share of Series I Preferred Stock from such dividend payment date until paid in
full.     
   
  No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment
of dividends on any Series I Parity Stock for any period unless full cumulative
dividends shall have been paid or set apart for such payment on the Series I
Preferred Stock. If the funds available for the payment of dividends are
insufficient to pay in full the dividends payable on all outstanding shares of
Series I Preferred Stock and any series of Series I Parity Stock, the total
available funds to be paid in partial dividends shall be divided among the
Series I Preferred Stock and such other series pro rata in proportion to the
aggregate amount of dividends accrued and unpaid with respect to such Series I
Preferred Stock and such other series. Subject to various exceptions set forth
in the certificate of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock, no
dividends may be paid or set apart for such payment on Series I Junior Stock
(except dividends on Series I Junior Stock in additional shares of Series I
Junior Stock), and no Series I Junior Stock, or any warrants, rights, calls or
options exercisable for or convertible into any Series I Junior Stock, may be
repurchased, redeemed or otherwise retired nor may funds be set apart for
payment with respect thereto, if full dividends have not been paid on the
Series I Preferred Stock. After dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock for
all past and current quarterly dividend periods have been paid in full, the
Series I Preferred Stock will not be entitled to participate in any further
distributions by the Company.     
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
 
          
  On or after January 1, 1998, the Company may, at its option, on any scheduled
dividend payment date, exchange the Series I Preferred Stock, in whole but not
in part, for the Company's 8 1/2% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2007
(the "Series I Exchange Debentures").     
   
  The Company at its option may redeem the Series I Preferred Stock (subject to
contractual and other restrictions with respect thereto and to the legal
availability of funds therefor) at any time after November 1, 1999, in whole or
in part, at certain redemption prices.     
          
  Each share of Series I Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of Class A
Common Stock at the option of the holder at a conversion rate equal to $250.00
(the original liquidation preference of the shares of Series I Preferred
Stock), divided by the conversion price, except that, if shares of Series I
Preferred Stock are called for redemption or the Company elects to issue Series
I Exchange Debentures in exchange for the Series I Preferred Stock, the
conversion right will terminate at the close of business five business days
prior to the date fixed for redemption or exchange. The initial conversion
price is $67.44 per share. The conversion price is subject to adjustment (under
formulas set forth in the certificate of designations for the Series I
Preferred Stock) in certain events, including (a) the issuance of Class A
Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on any class of the capital stock of
the Company; (b) subdivisions, reclassifications and combinations of the Class
A Common Stock; (c) the issuance to all holders of Class A Common Stock of
certain rights or warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Class A
Common Stock at less than the current market price (as defined in the
certificate of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock); and (d) certain
distributions to all holders of Class A Common Stock of capital stock or
evidences of indebtedness of the Company or cash or other assets of the
Company.     
          
  In case of (i) any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the
Company into, any other entity, (ii) any merger of another entity into the
Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification,
conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock of the Company), or (iii) any sale or transfer of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, subject to certain exceptions set forth in
the certificate of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock, each holder
of a share of Series I Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have the right
thereafter to convert their shares of Series I Preferred Stock only into the
kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such
consolidation, merger, sale or transfer by a holder of the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock of the Company into which such share of Series I Preferred
Stock might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation,
merger, sale or transfer.     
          
  The Series I Preferred Stock has a special conversion right that becomes
effective upon the occurrence of certain types of significant transactions
affecting ownership or control of the Company or the market for the Class A
Common Stock. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
Company, after payment or processing for payment of the debts and other
liabilities of the Company and of liquidation preferences in respect of any
Series I Senior Stock, holders of Series I Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive out of the remaining net assets of the Company, if any, a preferential
amount equal to $250.00 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per depositary share),
plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company (including an amount
equal to a prorated dividend from the last dividend payment date to the date
fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up), before any distribution is
made on any Series I Junior Stock, including, without limitation, on any Common
Stock. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Company, the amounts payable with respect to the Series I
Preferred Stock and all other Series I Parity Stock are not paid in full, the
holders of the Series I Preferred Stock and the Series I Parity Stock will
share equally and ratably in any distribution of assets of the Company in
proportion to the full liquidation preference to which each is entitled. After
payment of the full amount of the liquidation preferences to which they are
entitled, the holders of shares of Series I Preferred Stock will not be
entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets of the
Company. Neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares
of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the
property or assets of the Company nor the     
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
 
   
consolidation or merger of the Company with one or more corporations shall be
deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company.     
   
  Holders of the Series I Preferred Stock will have no voting rights with
respect to general corporate matters except as provided by law or as set forth
in the certificate of designations. The certificate of designations provides
that if dividends on the Series I Preferred Stock are in arrears and unpaid for
six quarterly periods (whether or not consecutive), then the number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors will be adjusted to permit the
holders of the majority of the then outstanding Series I Preferred Stock,
voting as a class, to elect one director and a second director if the right to
elect a second director is required by the American Stock Exchange or any other
national securities exchange on which the Company elects to list the Class A
Common Stock or by the requirements of the Nasdaq National Market System if the
Company elects to have the Class A Common Stock traded thereon. Such voting
rights will continue until such time as all dividends in arrears on the Series
I Preferred Stock are paid in full, at which time the term of the directors
elected pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall terminate. Such
event described above is referred to herein as a "Series I Voting Rights
Triggering Event".     
   
  Any vacancy occurring in the office of the director elected by holders of the
Series I Preferred Stock may be filled by the remaining director, if any, or
otherwise by the departing director unless and until such vacancy shall be
filled by such holders.     
   
  The certificate of designations also provides that the Company will not
authorize any class of Series I Senior Stock without the affirmative vote or
consent of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Series I Preferred
Stock then outstanding, voting or consenting, as the case may be, separately as
one class. The certificate of designations also provides that the Company may
not amend the certificate of designations so as to affect adversely the
specified rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares
of the Series I Preferred Stock, or authorize the issuance of any additional
shares of Series I Preferred Stock, without the affirmative vote or consent of
the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series I Preferred
Stock, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class. The holders of
at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock, voting
or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, may also waive compliance with
any provision of the certificate of designations. The certificate of
designations also provides that (a) the creation, authorization, existence or
issuance of any shares of Series I Parity Stock or Series I Junior Stock or (b)
the increase or decrease in the amount of authorized capital stock of any
class, including any preferred stock, shall not require the consent of the
holders of Series I Preferred Stock and shall not be deemed to affect adversely
the rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of
Series I Preferred Stock.     
   
  Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the
issued and outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock, the Company may not
consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any person
unless: (a) the entity formed by such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made (the "resulting entity") shall be a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States or any
State thereof or the District of Columbia; (b) the Series I Preferred Stock
shall remain unchanged or be converted into or exchanged for and shall become
shares of such resulting entity, having in respect of such resulting entity the
same (or more favorable) powers, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights, and the same (or more favorable)
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, that the Series I
Preferred Stock had immediately prior to such transaction (provided that (i)
if, in accordance with the certificate of designations for the Series I
Preferred Stock, the Series I Preferred Stock shall become convertible into a
different amount or type of securities, cash or other property, such change
shall not be deemed to be a change in the powers, preferences and relative
participating, optional or other special rights of the Series I Preferred Stock
and (ii) the fact that the resulting entity has authorized or outstanding any
securities other than Series I Senior Stock, shall not be deemed to be a change
in the powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other
special rights of the Series I Preferred Stock); and (c) immediately after
giving effect to such transaction, no     
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
 
   
Series I Voting Rights Triggering Event shall have occurred or be continuing;
provided, however, that the foregoing shall not be applicable to a transaction
or event that constitutes a "Change of Control", as defined in the certificate
of designations for the Series I Preferred Stock.     
 
           DESCRIPTION OF NEW PREFERRED STOCK AND EXCHANGE DEBENTURES
 
NEW PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The New Preferred Stock will be issued pursuant to a certificate of
designations (the "Certificate of Designations"). The summary contained herein
of certain provisions of the New Preferred Stock does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the
Certificate of Designations. The definitions of certain terms used in the
Certificate of Designations and in the following summary are set forth below
under "--Certain Definitions."
 
GENERAL
   
  The Company will (assuming the exchange of all outstanding shares of Old
Preferred Stock for New Preferred Stock) authorize the issuance of up to
4,500,000 shares of New Preferred Stock, which consist of 2,577,510 shares of
New Preferred Stock issuable in exchange for Old Preferred Stock plus 1,922,490
additional shares of New Preferred Stock which may be used to pay dividends on
the New Preferred Stock if the Company elects to pay dividends in additional
shares of New Preferred Stock, and will file a Certificate of Designations with
respect thereto with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as
required by Delaware law. The Old Preferred Stock surrendered in exchange for
the New Preferred Stock will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued.
Accordingly, issuance of the New Preferred Stock will not result in any change
in capitalization of the Company. The New Preferred Stock when issued in
accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer (as defined herein), will be
fully paid and non-assessable, and the holders thereof will have no
subscription or preemptive rights related thereto.     
 
RANKING
   
  The New Preferred Stock, with respect to dividends and distributions upon the
liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company, will rank (i) senior to
all classes of Common Stock and each other class of capital stock or series of
preferred stock established by the Board of Directors which does not expressly
provide that it ranks senior to or on a parity with the New Preferred Stock as
to dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution
of the Company (collectively referred to as "Junior Stock"); (ii) on a parity
with the Old Preferred Stock and the Company's Series B Preferred Stock, Series
C Preferred Stock, Series D Preferred Stock (which may be issued in exchange
for shares of the Series C Preferred Stock), Series I Preferred Stock and any
other class of capital stock or series of preferred stock issued by the Company
established after the initial issuance of the New Preferred Stock by the Board
of Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that such class or series
will rank on a parity with the New Preferred Stock as to dividends and
distributions upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company
(collectively referred to as "Parity Securities"); and (iii) junior to each
class of capital stock or series of preferred stock issued by the Company
established after the initial issuance of the New Preferred Stock by the Board
of Directors, the terms of which specifically provide that such class or series
will rank senior to the New Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions
upon the liquidation, winding-up and dissolution of the Company (collectively
referred to as "Senior Securities").     
   
  The Company may not issue any new class of Senior Securities without the
approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of New Preferred
Stock then outstanding, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class.
    
                                       46
<PAGE>
 
DIVIDENDS
   
  Holders of New Preferred Stock are entitled, when declared by the Board of
Directors, out of funds legally available therefor, to receive dividends on
each outstanding share of the New Preferred Stock, at the annual rate of 11
3/4% per share of New Preferred Stock. Dividends on the New Preferred Stock
will accumulate from the Accrual Date and are payable quarterly in arrears on
January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each year. Holders of Old Preferred
Stock whose Old Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange will be deemed to
have waived the right to receive any payment in respect of interest on the Old
Preferred Stock accrued from the Accrual Date until the date of the issuance of
the New Preferred Stock. Consequently, assuming the Exchange Offer is
consummated prior to the record date in respect of the April 1, 1996 dividend
payment date for the Old Preferred Stock, holders who exchanged their Old
Preferred Stock for New Preferred Stock will receive the same dividend payment
on April 1, 1996 that they would have received had they not accepted the
Exchange Offer. Before October 1, 2000, dividends may, at the option of the
Company, be paid either in cash or fully paid and non-assessable shares of New
Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation preference equal to the amount of
such dividend. On and after October 1, 2000, dividends may only be paid in
cash. If any dividend (or portion thereof) payable on any dividend payment date
on or after October 1, 2000 is not paid in full in cash on the dividend payment
date therefor, the amount of such dividend that is payable and that is not paid
in cash on such date will increase at the rate of 11 3/4% per annum from such
dividend payment date until paid in full.     
 
  No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment
of dividends on any Parity Securities for any period unless full cumulative
dividends shall have been paid or set apart for such payment on the New
Preferred Stock. If full dividends are not so paid, the New Preferred Stock
shall share dividends pro rata with the Parity Securities. No dividends may be
paid or set apart for such payment on Junior Stock (except dividends on Junior
Stock in additional shares of Junior Stock), and no Junior Stock may be
repurchased, redeemed or otherwise retired nor may funds be set apart for
payment with respect thereto, if full dividends have not been paid on the New
Preferred Stock, except for (i) any conversion of Class B Common Stock of the
Company into Class A Common Stock of the Company, (ii) prior to October 1,
2000, the occurrence of the Rainbow Spin-Off, (iii) repurchases of Common Stock
issued under the Company's stock incentive programs from employees of the
Company, and (iv) dividends or distributions payable-in-kind in additional
shares of, or warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for or convertible
into additional shares of Junior Stock. See "Risk Factors--Risks Related to the
New Preferred Stock and the Exchange Debentures--Restrictions on Company's
Ability to Pay Dividends on the New Preferred Stock".
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
 
  The Company at its option may, but shall not be required to, redeem the New
Preferred Stock (subject to contractual and other restrictions with respect
thereto and to the legal availability of funds therefor) at any time after
October 1, 2002, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices (expressed in
percentage of liquidation preference) set forth below together with all accrued
and unpaid dividends from the last payment date to the redemption date, if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning October 1 of the years indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      YEAR                                                            PERCENTAGE
      ----                                                            ----------
      <S>                                                             <C>
      2002...........................................................  105.875%
      2003...........................................................  103.917
      2004...........................................................  101.958
      2005 and thereafter............................................  100.000
</TABLE>
   
  In addition, the Company may redeem shares of New Preferred Stock having an
aggregate liquidation preference of up to 33 1/3% of the aggregate liquidation
preference of all shares of New Preferred Stock then outstanding at any time
before October 1, 1998 at a redemption price per share equal to the liquidation
preference of $100, plus accrued and unpaid dividends plus a premium of $10 per
share, out of the net     
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
 
   
proceeds of the sale of Junior Stock to a Strategic Equity Investor or a public
offering of Class A Common Stock; provided that following such redemption, at
least 1,666,667 shares of New Preferred Stock (representing at least 66 2/3% of
the amount of the New Preferred Stock initially issued) shall remain
outstanding.     
 
  Furthermore, the Company may, at its option, prior to October 1, 2002, redeem
the New Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, at any time within 180 days
after a Change of Control (as defined herein), at a redemption price per share
equal to the sum of (i) the liquidation preference of $100 per share plus (ii)
accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of redemption plus (iii) the Make-
Whole Premium (as defined herein), which is based on a discount rate equal to
the Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 50 basis points.
 
  In the event of partial redemptions of New Preferred Stock, the shares to be
redeemed will be determined pro rata or by lot, as determined by the Company,
except that the Company may redeem such shares held by any holders of fewer
than 100 shares (or shares held by holders who would hold less than 100 shares
as a result of such redemption), as may be determined by the Company.
 
MANDATORY REDEMPTION
 
  On October 1, 2007 (the "Mandatory Redemption Date"), the Company will be
required to redeem (subject to contractual and other restrictions with respect
thereto and to the legal availability of funds therefor) all outstanding shares
of New Preferred Stock at a price equal to the liquidation preference thereof
plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends from the last payment date to the
date of redemption. Future agreements of the Company may restrict or prohibit
the Company from redeeming the New Preferred Stock.
 
PROCEDURE FOR REDEMPTION
 
  On and after a redemption date, unless the Company defaults in the payment of
the applicable redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of
New Preferred Stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of such
shares will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price,
without interest. The Company will send a written notice of redemption by first
class mail to each holder of record of shares of New Preferred Stock, not fewer
than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such redemption.
Shares of New Preferred Stock issued and reacquired will, upon compliance with
the applicable requirements of Delaware law, have the status of authorized but
unissued shares of preferred stock of the Company undesignated as to series and
may with any and all other authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock of
the Company be designated or redesignated and issued or reissued, as the case
may be, as part of any series of preferred stock of the Company, except that
any issuance or reissuance of shares of New Preferred Stock must be in
compliance with the Certificate of Designations.
 
EXCHANGE
   
  The Company may, at its option, on any scheduled dividend payment date,
exchange the New Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, for the Exchange
Debentures. See "--The Exchange Debentures" below for the terms of the Exchange
Debentures. Holders of New Preferred Stock so exchanged will be entitled to
receive a principal amount of Exchange Debentures equal to $100 for each $100
of liquidation preference of New Preferred Stock held by such holders at the
time of exchange plus an amount per share in cash (or prior to October 1, 2000,
in principal amount of Exchange Debentures) equal to all accrued but unpaid
dividends thereon from the last dividend payment date to the exchange date. The
Exchange Debentures will be issuable only in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof. An amount in cash will be paid to holders for any
principal amount otherwise issuable which is less than $1,000. Following such
exchange, all dividends on the New Preferred Stock will cease to accrue, the
rights of the holders of New Preferred Stock as stockholders of the Company
shall cease and the person or persons entitled to receive the Exchange
Debentures issuable upon exchange shall be treated as the registered holder or
holders of such Exchange Debentures. Notice of exchange will be mailed at least
30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the date of exchange to each holder
of New Preferred Stock. See "--The Exchange Debentures" below.     
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
 
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
 
  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company,
holders of New Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive a preferential
amount equal to $100 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
(including an amount equal to a prorated dividend from the last dividend
payment date to the date fixed for liquidation, dissolution or winding-up),
before any distribution is made on any Junior Stock, including, without
limitation, on any Common Stock. If upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, the amounts payable with
respect to the New Preferred Stock and all other Parity Securities are not paid
in full, the holders of the New Preferred Stock and the Parity Securities will
share equally and ratably in any distribution of assets of the Company in
proportion to the full liquidation preference to which each is entitled. After
payment of the full amount of the liquidation preferences to which they are
entitled, the holders of shares of New Preferred Stock will not be entitled to
any further participation in any distribution of assets of the Company.
However, neither the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares
of stock, securities or other consideration) of all or substantially all of the
property or assets of the Company nor the consolidation or merger of the
Company with one or more corporations shall be deemed to be a liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Company.
 
  The Certificate of Designations for the New Preferred Stock does not contain
any provision requiring funds to be set aside to protect the liquidation
preference of the New Preferred Stock, although such liquidation preference
will be substantially in excess of the par value of such shares of New
Preferred Stock. In addition, the Company is not aware of any provision of
Delaware law or any controlling decision of the courts of the State of Delaware
(the state of incorporation of the Company) that requires a restriction upon
the surplus of the Company solely because the liquidation preference of the New
Preferred Stock will exceed its par value. Consequently, there will be no
restriction upon any surplus of the Company solely because the liquidation
preference of the New Preferred Stock will exceed the par value and there will
be no remedies available to holders of the New Preferred Stock before or after
the payment of any dividend, other than in connection with the liquidation of
the Company, solely by reason of the fact that such dividend would reduce the
surplus of the Company to an amount less than the difference between the
liquidation preference of the New Preferred Stock and its par value.
 
 VOTING RIGHTS.
   
  Holders of the New Preferred Stock will have no voting rights with respect to
general corporate matters except as provided by law or as set forth in the
Certificate of Designations. The Certificate of Designations provides that if
(a) dividends on the New Preferred Stock are in arrears and unpaid (and if
after October 1, 2000, such dividends are not paid in cash) for six quarterly
periods (whether or not consecutive), or (b) the Company fails to discharge its
redemption obligation to redeem the New Preferred Stock on the Mandatory
Redemption Date, then the number of directors constituting the Board of
Directors will be adjusted to permit the holders of the majority of the then
outstanding New Preferred Stock, voting as a class, to elect a director. Such
voting rights will continue until such time as all dividends in arrears on the
New Preferred Stock are paid in full (and in the case of dividends payable
after October 1, 2000, paid in cash) and any failure, breach or default
referred to in clause (b) is remedied, at which time the term of the directors
elected pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph shall terminate. Each such
event described in clauses (a) and (b) above is referred to herein as a "Voting
Rights Triggering Event".     
   
  Any vacancy occurring in the office of the director elected by holders of the
New Preferred Stock may be filled by the departing director unless and until
such vacancy shall be filled by such holders.     
   
  The Certificate of Designations also provides that, except as stated above
under "--Ranking", the Company will not authorize any class of Senior
Securities without the affirmative vote or consent of holders of at least a
majority of the shares of New Preferred Stock then outstanding, voting or
consenting, as the case may be, separately as one class. The Certificate of
Designations also provides that the Company may not     
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
 
   
amend the Certificate of Designations so as to affect adversely the specified
rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of the
New Preferred Stock, or authorize the issuance of any additional shares of New
Preferred Stock, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock, voting or
consenting, as the case may be, as one class. The holders of at least a
majority of the outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock, voting or
consenting, as the case may be, as one class, may also waive compliance with
any provision of the Certificate of Designations. The Certificate of
Designations also provides that, except as set forth above, (a) the creation,
authorization or issuance of any shares of Parity Securities or Junior Stock or
(b) the increase or decrease in the amount of authorized capital stock of any
class, including any preferred stock, shall not require the consent of the
holders of New Preferred Stock and shall not be deemed to affect adversely the
rights, preferences, privileges or voting rights of holders of shares of New
Preferred Stock.     
 
  Under Delaware law, holders of preferred stock will be entitled to vote as a
class upon a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation, whether or
not entitled to vote thereon by the certificate of incorporation, if the
amendment would increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class,
or alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of
such class so as to affect them adversely.
 
 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION AND SALE OF ASSETS.
   
  Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the
issued and outstanding shares of New Preferred Stock, the Company may not
consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person
unless: (a) the entity formed by such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made shall be a corporation organized or
existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the
District of Columbia; (b) the New Preferred Stock shall be converted into or
exchanged for and shall become shares of such successor, transferee or
resulting corporation, having in respect of such successor, transferee or
resulting corporation the same powers, preferences and relative participating,
optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions thereon, that the New Preferred Stock had immediately prior to
such transaction; and (c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction,
no Voting Rights Triggering Event shall have occurred or be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may consolidate or merge with or
into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets to, any Person if the Company makes adequate
provision (i) prior to October 1, 2002, to redeem the New Preferred Stock after
a Change of Control or (ii) on or after October 1, 2002, to redeem the New
Preferred Stock at the applicable redemption price set forth herein.     
 
COVENANT TO REPORT
 
  Notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company will file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and provide the Transfer
Agent and the holders of the Preferred Stock with all information, documents
and reports specified in Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
   
  Mellon Securities Trust Company is the transfer agent and registrar for the
New Preferred Stock.     
 
THE EXCHANGE DEBENTURES
 
  The Exchange Debentures will be issued under an Indenture to be dated as of
September 26, 1995 (the "Exchange Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The Exchange Indenture is subject to
and is governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
 
following summaries of certain provisions of the Exchange Indenture do not
purport to be complete, and where reference is made to particular provisions of
the Exchange Indenture, such provisions, including the definitions of certain
terms, are incorporated by reference as a part of such summaries or terms,
which are qualified in their entirety by such reference. The definitions of
certain capitalized terms used in the Exchange Indenture and in the following
summary are set forth below under "Certain Definitions".
   
  The Exchange Debentures will be unsecured obligations of the Company and will
be limited in aggregate principal amount to the aggregate liquidation
preference of the New Preferred Stock, plus accrued and unpaid dividends on the
date of exchange of the New Preferred Stock into Exchange Debentures (plus any
additional Exchange Debentures issued in lieu of cash interest as described
herein). The Exchange Debentures will be issued only in fully registered form
without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof
(other than with respect to additional Exchange Debentures issued in lieu of
cash interest as described herein). The Exchange Debentures will be
subordinated to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
       
  The Exchange Debentures will mature on October 1, 2007. Each Exchange
Debenture will accrue interest at the dividend rate of the New Preferred Stock
from the Exchange Debenture Issue Date or from the most recent interest payment
date to which interest has been paid or provided for.     
 
  Interest will be payable semi-annually in cash (or, on or prior to October 1,
2000, in additional Exchange Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
cash interest otherwise payable, or in a combination of cash and Exchange
Debentures, at the option of the Company) in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of
each year, commencing with the first such date after the Exchange Debenture
Issue Date. Interest on the Exchange Debentures will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of days
elapsed.
 
  Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Exchange Debentures
will be payable, and the Exchange Debentures will be exchangeable and
transferable, at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York
(which initially will be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee); provided,
however, that payment of interest, to the extent paid in cash, may be made at
the option of the Company by check mailed to the person entitled thereto as
shown on the Register of the Exchange Debentures. No service charge will be
made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Exchange Debentures,
except for any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection therewith.
 
  The Exchange Indenture will not contain any provisions that limit the ability
of the Company to incur indebtedness or that afford Holders of the Exchange
Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction
involving the Company, other than as described under "--Certain Covenants of
the Company--Limitation on Indebtedness".
 
SINKING FUND
 
  The Exchange Debentures will not be entitled to the benefits of a sinking
fund.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  The indebtedness represented by the Exchange Debentures will be subordinated
in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
(Section 1201) Upon the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness, by lapse of time,
acceleration or otherwise, or upon any payment default (with or without the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, in accordance with the terms of the
instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness, and without any waiver or
forgiveness) with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, all obligations with
respect to such Senior Indebtedness must first be paid in full, or such payment
duly provided for, before any payment is made with respect to the Exchange
Debentures or before any acquisition of Exchange Debentures by the Company.
(Section 1202)
 
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
 
  Upon (i) a default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness (other than under
circumstances when the terms of the previous paragraph are applicable), as such
default is defined therein or in the instrument under which it is outstanding,
permitting the holders of Senior Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity
thereof, and (ii) written notice thereof ("Default Notice") given to the
Company and the Trustee by the agent or agents under the Credit Agreement,
then, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived by the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or
indirect payment may be made by the Company with respect to the principal of or
interest on the Exchange Debentures (other than payments made in Junior
Securities) or to acquire any of the Exchange Debentures or on account of the
redemption provisions of the Exchange Debentures; provided, however, that such
provision shall not prevent the making of any payment (which is not otherwise
prohibited by the previous paragraph) for more than 120 days after the Default
Notice shall have been given unless the Senior Indebtedness in respect of which
such event of default exists has been declared due and payable in its entirety,
in which case no such payment may be made until such acceleration has been
rescinded or annulled or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not more than one Default Notice may be given
with respect to Senior Indebtedness within a period of 240 consecutive days.
 
  The Exchange Indenture will provide that, upon any payment by or distribution
of the assets of the Company to creditors upon any dissolution, winding up,
liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or any insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to
the Company, all Senior Indebtedness must be paid in full, or such payment duly
provided for, before any payment or distribution (other than in Junior
Securities) is made on account of the principal of or interest on the Exchange
Debentures. (Section 1203)
   
  By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency,
creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior Indebtedness may recover
more, ratably, than other creditors of the Company and creditors of the Company
who are not holders of Senior Indebtedness or of the Exchange Debentures (or
the Company's 10 3/4% Debentures due 2004, the 2005 Notes, the 9 7/8%
Debentures due 2013 and the 9 7/8% Debentures due 2023 (collectively, the
"Debentures")) may recover more, ratably, than the Holders of the Exchange
Debentures.     
 
  A Holder of Exchange Debentures by such holder's acceptance of the Exchange
Debentures agrees to be bound by such provisions and authorizes and expressly
directs the Trustee, on his behalf, to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided for in the Exchange
Indenture and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for such purpose.
(Section 1209)
   
  The amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at September 30, 1995, adjusted
to give pro forma effect to the transactions described under "Capitalization",
would have been approximately $490.8 million.     
 
 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.
 
  The Exchange Debentures will be subject to redemption at any time on or after
October 1, 2002, at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice at the following redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount), if redeemed during the
12-month period beginning October 1 of the years indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      REDEMPTION
      YEAR                                                              PRICE
      ----                                                            ----------
      <S>                                                             <C>
      2002...........................................................  105.875%
      2003...........................................................  103.917
      2004...........................................................  101.958
      2005 and thereafter............................................  100.000
</TABLE>
 
in each case together with accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to
the right of Holders of record on relevant record dates to receive interest due
on an interest payment date). If less than all of the Exchange
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
 
Debentures are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Exchange Debentures
or portions thereof to be redeemed either pro rata or by lot.
 
  In addition, up to 33 1/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange
Debentures may be redeemed before October 1, 1998 at a price of 110% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, out of the
net proceeds of a sale of Junior Stock to a Strategic Equity Investor or a
public offering of Class A Common Stock, provided that following such
redemption at least $166,666,667 principal amount of Exchange Debentures
remains outstanding.
 
  The Credit Agreement currently prohibits the Company from making optional
redemptions of the Exchange Debentures other than through the issuance of
subordinated indebtedness, preferred stock or common stock.
 
 CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
 
  Upon issuance of the Exchange Debentures, the following covenants shall be
applicable:
 
  Limitation on Indebtedness. The Exchange Indenture provides that the Company
shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable
for, contingently or otherwise, or become responsible for the payment of,
contingently or otherwise, any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness between or
among any of the Company and Restricted Subsidiaries) unless, after giving
effect thereto, the Cash Flow Ratio shall be less than or equal to 9 to 1.
(Section 1007)
   
  At September 30, 1995, such Cash Flow Ratio was approximately 5.86 to 1.     
 
  Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness. The Exchange Indenture
provides that the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become liable for, contingently or otherwise, or become
responsible for the payment of, contingently or otherwise, any Indebtedness
which is both (i) senior in right of payment to the Exchange Debentures and
(ii) expressly subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the
Company. For purposes of this covenant, Indebtedness is deemed to be senior in
right of payment to the Exchange Debentures if it is not subordinate in right
of payment to Senior Indebtedness at least to the same extent as the Exchange
Debentures are subordinate to Senior Indebtedness. (Section 1008)
 
  Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Exchange Indenture provides that, so
long as any of the Exchange Debentures remains outstanding, the Company will
not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, make any Restricted
Payment if (a) at the time of such proposed Restricted Payment, a Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a
consequence of such Restricted Payment or (b) immediately after giving effect
to such Restricted Payment, the aggregate of all Restricted Payments that shall
have been made on or after July 1, 1988 would exceed the sum of:
 
    (i) $25,000,000, plus
 
    (ii) an amount equal to the difference between (A) the Cumulative Cash
  Flow Credit and (B) 1.2 multiplied by Cumulative Interest Expense.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company may make any Permitted
Restricted Payment; provided, however, that such Permitted Restricted Payment
shall thereafter be counted as a Restricted Payment solely for purposes of
calculating whether any future Restricted Payments are permitted under clause
(b) of the preceding sentence.
 
  For purposes of the "Limitation on Restricted Payments" covenant, the amount
of any Restricted Payment or Permitted Restricted Payment, if other than cash,
shall be based upon fair market value as
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
 
determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, whose good faith
determination shall be conclusive. (Section 1009)
 
  The foregoing provisions do not prevent: (i) the payment of any dividend
within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at such date of
declaration such payment complied with the above provisions; (ii) the
retirement or redemption of any shares of the Company's capital stock or
warrants, rights or options to acquire capital stock of the Company, in
exchange for, or out of the proceeds of a substantially concurrent sale of,
other shares of the Company's capital stock or warrants, rights or options to
acquire capital stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); and (iii)
the redemption of or payments of cash dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock
outstanding on January 1, 1995, which redemptions or dividends are provided for
by the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock in effect on such date (or the
redemption of or payment of cash dividends on any security of the Company
issued in exchange for or upon the conversion of such Series C Preferred Stock;
provided that the aggregate amount payable pursuant to the terms of such
security is no greater than the aggregate amount payable pursuant to the terms
of the Series C Preferred Stock). For purposes of determining the aggregate
permissible amount of Restricted Payments in accordance with clause (b) of the
first paragraph of this covenant, all amounts expended pursuant to clauses (i)
and (iii) of this paragraph shall be included and all amounts expended or
received pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph shall be excluded; provided,
however, that amounts paid pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall be
included only to the extent that such amounts were not previously included in
calculating Restricted Payments. (Section 1009)
 
  For the purposes of the foregoing provisions, the net proceeds from the
issuance of shares of capital stock of the Company upon conversion of
Indebtedness shall be deemed to be an amount equal to (i) the accreted value of
such Indebtedness so converted on the date of such conversion and (ii) the
additional consideration, if any, received by the Company upon such conversion
thereof, less any cash payment on account of fractional shares (such
consideration, if in property other than cash, to be determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose good faith determination shall be conclusive).
If the Company makes a Restricted Payment which, at the time of the making of
such Restricted Payment, would in the good faith determination of the Company
be permitted under the requirements of this covenant, such Restricted Payment
shall be deemed to have been made in compliance with this covenant
notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments made in good faith to the Company's
financial statements affecting Cumulative Cash Flow Credit or Cumulative
Interest Expense for any period. (Section 1009)
   
  As of September 30, 1995, the Company would have been able to make Restricted
Payments of $356.2 million.     
 
  Limitation on Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Affiliates. The
Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly (i) make any Investment or (ii) allow any Restricted Subsidiary to
become an Unrestricted Subsidiary (a "redesignation of a Restricted
Subsidiary"), in each case unless (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or shall occur as a consequence of such Investment
or such redesignation of a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) after giving effect
thereto, the Cash Flow Ratio shall be less than or equal to 9 to 1.
 
  The foregoing provisions of this covenant shall not prohibit (i) any renewal
or reclassification of any Investment existing on the date hereof or (ii) trade
credit extended on usual and customary terms in the ordinary course of
business. (Section 1010)
 
  Transactions with Affiliates. The Exchange Indenture provides that the
Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, sell,
lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to or
purchase any property or assets from, or enter into any contract, agreement,
understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, an
Affiliate of the Company that is not a subsidiary of the Company, having a
value, or for consideration having a value, in excess of $10,000,000
individually or in the aggregate unless the Board of Directors of the Company
shall make a good faith determination that the terms
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
 
of such transaction are, taken as a whole, no less favorable to the Company or
such subsidiary, as the case may be, than those which might be available in a
comparable transaction with an unrelated Person. For purposes of clarification,
this provision shall not apply to Restricted Payments or Permitted Restricted
Payments permitted under "Limitation on Restricted Payments". (Section 1011)
 
 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS.
 
  The Company may not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign,
transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
assets to, any Person, unless: (i) the entity formed by such consolidation or
merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or disposition shall have been made shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, and shall assume by a supplemental indenture all
the obligations of the Company under the Exchange Debentures and the Exchange
Indenture; (ii) immediately before and immediately after such transaction, and
after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing; and (iii) immediately after such transaction, and after
giving effect thereto, the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation
or merger, or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance or
disposition shall have been made, shall have a Cash Flow Ratio not in excess of
9 to 1. (Section 801)
 
 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
 
  The following are Events of Default under the Exchange Indenture: (1) default
for 30 days in payment of interest on the Exchange Debentures; (2) default in
payment of principal or premium, if any, on the Exchange Debentures at
Maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise; (3) failure to comply
with any other covenant or agreement of the Company, continued for 60 days (or,
with respect to certain covenants or agreements, 30 days) after written notice
as provided in the Exchange Indenture; (4) a default or defaults under any
mortgage, indenture or instrument which secures or evidences any Indebtedness
for money borrowed or guaranteed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in
an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more (but excluding any Indebtedness for
the deferred purchase price of property or services owed to the Person
providing such property or services as to which the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary is contesting its obligation to pay the same in good faith and by
proper proceedings and for which the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has
established appropriate reserves) which result from the failure to pay such
Indebtedness at final maturity or which have resulted in the acceleration of
such Indebtedness; (5) the entry of a final judgment or final judgments for the
payment of money by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate amount exceeding
$10,000,000 which remain undischarged and unbonded for a period (during which
execution shall not be effectively stayed) of 60 days or as to which an
enforcement proceeding has been commenced by any creditor, and (6) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. (Section 501)
 
  If an Event of Default (other than as specified in clause (6) above) shall
occur and be continuing under the Exchange Indenture, either the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Exchange Debentures, by written notice to the Company and the agents, if any,
under the Credit Agreement (and to the Trustee if such notice is given by the
Holders), may declare all the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Exchange Debentures to be due and payable as provided in the
Exchange Indenture. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal,
premium, if any, and accrued interest shall be due and payable upon the first
to occur of an acceleration under the Credit Agreement or ten days after
receipt by the Company and the agents, if any, under the Credit Agreement of
such written notice. No action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the
Exchange Debentures is required for such acceleration if an Event of Default
specified in clause (6) above shall occur and be continuing. The Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Exchange Debentures then
outstanding may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all
existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of principal of, premium,
if any, or interest on the Exchange Debentures which have become due solely
because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived and (ii) the rescission
would not conflict with any judgment or decree
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
 
of a court of competent jurisdiction. A declaration of acceleration because of
an Event of Default specified in clause (4) of the preceding paragraph would be
automatically annulled if the Indebtedness referred to therein were discharged,
or the Holders thereof rescinded their declaration of acceleration referred to
therein, within 30 days after the acceleration of the Exchange Debentures and
no other Event of Default had occurred and not been cured or waived during such
period. (Section 502) The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Exchange Debentures outstanding also have the right to waive certain past
defaults under the Exchange Indenture. (Section 513)
 
  No Holder of any Exchange Debentures issued under the Exchange Indenture has
any right to institute any proceeding with respect to such Exchange Indenture
or for any remedy thereunder, unless (i) such Holder has previously given to
the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default under the Exchange
Indenture, (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Exchange Debentures issued under the Exchange Indenture have made
written request and offered reasonable indemnity to the Trustee to institute
such proceeding as Trustee under the Exchange Indenture, and (iii) the Trustee
has not received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Exchange Debentures a direction inconsistent with such request and
the Trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after
receipt of such notice. (Section 507) Such limitations do not apply, however,
to a suit instituted by a Holder of an Exchange Debenture for the enforcement
of payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Exchange
Debenture on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Exchange
Debenture. (Section 508)
 
  During the existence of an Event of Default, the Trustee is required to
exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the Exchange Indenture and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof as a prudent
person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's
own affairs. Subject to the provisions of the Exchange Indenture relating to
the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, the Trustee is not under any obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Exchange Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity. (Section 602) Subject to such provisions for
the indemnification of the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in principal
amount of the outstanding Exchange Debentures have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee under
the Exchange Indenture. (Section 512)
 
  The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee an annual statement as to
the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Exchange Indenture
and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1013)
 
 DEFEASANCE.
 
  The Company may at any time terminate all of its obligations with respect to
the Exchange Debentures ("defeasance"), except for certain obligations,
including those regarding the Defeasance Trust (as defined below) and
obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Exchange Debentures, to
replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Exchange Debentures and to
maintain agencies in respect of the Exchange Debentures. The Company may also
at any time terminate its obligations under the covenants set forth in the
Exchange Indenture, which are described under "--Certain Covenants of the
Company" above, and any omission to comply with such obligations shall not
constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Exchange
Debentures ("covenant defeasance"). (Sections 1402, 1403 and 1404)
 
  In order to exercise either defeasance or covenant defeasance, (i) the
Company must irrevocably deposit in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, with
the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in
such amounts as will be sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest on the Exchange Debentures to redemption or maturity (the
"Defeasance Trust"), (ii) the Company must deliver opinions of counsel to the
effect that such Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
 
federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant
defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred (in the case of defeasance,
such opinion must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue
Service or a change in applicable federal income tax laws), (iii) no event or
condition shall exist that, pursuant to certain provisions described under
"Subordination" above, would prevent the Company from making payments of
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Exchange Debentures at
the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at any time during the
period ending on the 91st day after such deposit date and (iv) the Company must
comply with certain other conditions. (Section 1404)
 
 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF THE EXCHANGE INDENTURE AND THE EXCHANGE
DEBENTURES.
 
  The Exchange Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to
surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Exchange
Debentures, as expressly provided for in the Exchange Indenture) when either
(i) all such Exchange Debentures theretofore authenticated and delivered
(except lost, stolen or destroyed Exchange Debentures which have been replaced
or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and the Company
has paid all sums payable by it under the Exchange Indenture or (ii) all such
Exchange Debentures not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(a) have become due and payable, or (b) will become due and payable within one
year, or (c) are to be called for redemption within one year, and the Company
has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in
an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on such Exchange Debentures
not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and
premium, if any) and interest to the date of deposit (if such Exchange
Debentures are then due and payable) or to the applicable maturity or
redemption date (as the case may be), and the Company has paid all sums payable
by it under the Exchange Indenture. (Section 401)
 
 MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
 
  Modifications and amendments of the Exchange Indenture or the Exchange
Debentures may be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Exchange Debentures; provided, however, that no such modification
or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding
Exchange Debenture, (i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or the
premium, if any, or any installment of interest on, the Exchange Debentures,
(ii) reduce the principal amount of, or the premium, if any, or interest on,
the Exchange Debentures, (iii) change the Currency in which any Exchange
Debenture or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, (iv) impair the
right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect
to the Exchange Debentures, (v) reduce the percentage in principal amount of
outstanding Exchange Debentures necessary to waive compliance with certain
provisions of the Exchange Indenture or to waive certain defaults, (vi) modify
any of the provisions relating to supplemental indentures requiring the consent
of Holders or relating to the waiver of past defaults, except to increase the
percentage of outstanding Exchange Debentures required for such actions or to
provide that certain other provisions of the Exchange Indenture cannot be
modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Exchange Debenture
affected thereby, or (vii) modify any of the provisions of the Exchange
Indenture relating to the subordination of the Exchange Debentures in a manner
adverse to the Holders thereof. (Sections 901 and 902)
 
  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Exchange
Debentures then outstanding may waive compliance with certain restrictive
covenants and provisions of the Exchange Indenture. (Section 1014)
 
 REGARDING THE TRUSTEE.
   
  The Bank of New York ("BONY") is the Trustee under the Exchange Indenture and
the indentures relating to the Company's 10 3/4% Debentures due 2004, the 9
7/8% Debentures due 2013, the 9 7/8% Debentures due 2023 and the 2005 Notes.
BONY is a party to certain credit agreements with the Company     
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
 
and its subsidiaries, including the Credit Agreement, borrowings under which
constitute Senior Indebtedness under the Exchange Indenture. BONY may also
maintain other banking arrangements with the Company in the ordinary course of
business.
 
 DEFINITIONS
 
  Set forth below is a summary of certain defined terms used in the Certificate
of Designations and in the Exchange Indenture. Reference is made to the
Certificate of Designations and the Exchange Indenture for the full definition
of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which
no definition is provided.
 
  "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
control when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
 
  "Annualized Operating Cash Flow" means, for any period of three complete
consecutive calendar months, an amount equal to Operating Cash Flow for such
period multiplied by four.
 
  "Banks" means the lenders from time to time under the Credit Agreement.
 
  "Capitalized Lease Obligation" means any obligation of a person to pay rent
or other amounts under a lease with respect to any property (whether real,
personal or mixed) acquired or leased by such Person and used in its business
that is required to be accounted for as a liability on the balance sheet of
such Person in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
the amount of such Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be the amount so required
to be accounted for as a liability.
 
  "Cash Flow Ratio" means, as at any date, the ratio of (i) the sum of the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and
the Restricted Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis but excluding
all Interest Swap Obligations entered into by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary and one of the Banks outstanding on such date plus (but without
duplication of Indebtedness supported by Letters of Credit) the aggregate
undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding on such date to(ii)
Annualized Operating Cash Flow determined as at the last day of the most recent
month for which financial information is available.
 
  "Change of Control" means any transaction or series of transactions
(including, without limitation, a tender offer, merger or consolidation) the
result of which is that Dolan ceases (i) to elect a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company or (ii) to be the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act) of at least 50% of the aggregate voting
power of the voting stock of the Company.
 
  "Cumulative Cash Flow Credit" means the sum of:
 
    (a) cumulative Operating Cash Flow during the period commencing on July
  1, 1988 and ending on the last day of the most recent month preceding the
  date of the proposed Restricted Payment for which financial information is
  available or, if cumulative Operating Cash Flow for such period is
  negative, minus the amount by which cumulative Operating Cash Flow is less
  than zero, plus
 
    (b) the aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the issue or
  sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of its capital stock (other
  than Disqualified Stock) on or after January 1, 1992, plus
 
    (c) the aggregate net proceeds received by the Company from the issuance
  or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of its capital stock (other
  than Disqualified Stock) on or after January 1, 1992,
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
 
  upon the conversion of, or exchange for, Indebtedness of the Company or any
  Restricted Subsidiary or from the exercise of any options, warrants or
  other rights to acquire capital stock of the Company.
 
  For purposes of this definition, the net proceeds in property other than cash
received by the Company as contemplated by clauses (b) and (c) above shall be
valued at the fair market value of such property (as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company, whose good faith determination shall be conclusive)
at the date of receipt by the Company.
 
  "Cumulative Interest Expense" means, for the period commencing on July 1,
1988 and ending on the last day of the most recent month preceding the proposed
Restricted Payment for which financial information is available, the aggregate
of the interest expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such
period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, including interest expense attributable to
Capitalized Lease Obligations.
 
  "Debt" with respect to any Person means, without duplication, any liability,
whether or not contingent, (i) in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereto), but excluding reimbursement
obligations under any surety bond, (ii) representing the balance deferred and
unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including pursuant to Capitalized
Lease Obligations), except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable,
(iii) under Interest Swap Agreements (as defined in the Credit Agreement)
entered into pursuant to the Credit Agreement, (iv) under any other agreement
related to the fixing of interest rates on any Indebtedness, such as an
interest swap, cap or collar agreement (if and to the extent any of the
foregoing would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person
prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles), or (v) guarantees of items of other Persons which would
be included within this definition for such other Persons (whether or not the
guarantee would appear on such balance sheet).
 
  "Disqualified Stock" means any capital stock of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it
is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any
event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof,
in whole or in part, on or prior to the maturity date of the Exchange
Debentures.
 
  "Dolan" shall mean Mr. Charles Dolan, his spouse, his descendants or any
spouse of any such descendants and trusts for the benefit of, inter alia, him,
his spouse, his descendants or any spouse of any such descendants, and any
estate, testamentary trust, or executor, administrator, conservator or legal or
personal representative of any of the foregoing.
 
  "Exchange Debenture Issue Date" means the date on which the Exchange
Debentures are originally issued under the Exchange Indenture.
 
  "Indebtedness" with respect to any Person, means the Debt of such Person;
provided, however, that, with respect to the Company, the Minimum Payment or
the Preferred Payment (each a "Cablevision of NYC Payment") payable by a
subsidiary of the Company and guaranteed by the Company as a result of the
Cablevision of NYC Acquisition shall not be deemed to be "Indebtedness" so long
as the Company and such subsidiary are permitted to make such Cablevision of
NYC Payment in one or more classes of the Company's capital stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) pursuant to the terms of the Cablevision of NYC Acquisition
agreement and the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are prohibited from
making such Cablevision of NYC Payment in cash, debt securities, Disqualified
Stock or any combination thereof, pursuant to the terms of any mortgage,
indenture, credit agreement or other instrument that secures or evidences
Indebtedness for money borrowed or guaranteed by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or more; provided that, for
purposes of the definition of "Indebtedness" (including the term "Debt" to the
extent incorporated in such definition) and for purposes of the definition of
"Event of Default",
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
 
the term "guarantee" shall not be interpreted to extend to a guarantee under
which recourse is limited to the capital stock of an entity that is not a
Restricted Subsidiary.
 
  "Interest Swap Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the
obligations of such Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person
whereby, directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time
to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed
rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments
made by such Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of
interest on the same notional amount.
 
  "Investment" means any advance, loan, account receivable (other than an
account receivable arising in the ordinary course of business), or other
extension of credit (excluding, however, accrued and unpaid interest in respect
of any advance, loan or other extension of credit) or any capital contribution
to (by means of transfers of property to others, payments for property or
services for the account or use of others, or otherwise), any purchase or
ownership of any stocks, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities
(including, without limitation, any interests in any partnership, joint venture
or joint adventure) of, or any bank accounts with or guarantee of any
Indebtedness or other obligations of, any Unrestricted Subsidiary or Affiliate
that is not a subsidiary of the Company, provided that (i) the term
"Investment" shall not include any transaction that would otherwise constitute
an Investment of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to the extent that
the consideration provided by the Company or such subsidiary in connection
therewith shall consist of capital stock of the Company (other than
Disqualified Stock) and (ii) the term "guarantee" shall not be interpreted to
extend to a guarantee under which recourse is limited to the capital stock of
an entity that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.
 
  "Junior Securities" means securities of the Company as reorganized or
readjusted or securities of the Company or any other company, trust or
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, junior or
the payment of which is otherwise subordinate, at least to the extent provided
in the Exchange Indenture, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness at the
time outstanding, and to the payment of all securities issued in exchange
therefor, to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding.
 
  "Make-Whole Premium" means, with respect to a share of Preferred Stock, the
present value of (i) all accrued and unpaid dividends (assuming payment thereof
in cash on the date of calculation), (ii) all dividends accruing until October
1, 2002 (assuming payment thereof in cash on the applicable dividend payment
date), and (iii) the liquidation preference and any applicable optional
redemption premium therefor payable on such date for such share (in each case
assuming payment thereof on October 1, 2002), computed using a discount rate
equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points.
 
  "Operating Cash Flow" means, for any period, the sum of the following for the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
(except for the amortization of deferred installation income which shall
be excluded from the calculation of Operating Cash Flow for all purposes of the
Exchange Indenture): (i) aggregate operating revenues minus (ii) aggregate
operating expenses (including technical, programming, sales, selling, general
and administrative expenses and salaries and other compensation, net of amounts
allocated to Affiliates, paid to any general partner, director, officer or
employee of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, but excluding interest,
depreciation and amortization and the amount of non-cash compensation in
respect of the Company's employee incentive stock programs for such period (not
to exceed in the aggregate for any calendar year 7% of Operating Cash Flow for
the previous calendar year) and, to the extent otherwise included in operating
expenses, any losses resulting from a writeoff or writedown of Investments by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in Affiliates). For purposes of
determining Operating Cash Flow, there shall be excluded all management fees
until actually paid to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash.
 
  "Permitted Restricted Payment" means the payment or declaration of any
dividend by the Company or the making by the Company of any other distribution
or the consummation of an exchange offer, or any
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
 
combination of the foregoing, which results in all or a portion of the Capital
Stock of Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. or of another entity holding only
assets that were held by Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. immediately prior
to the acquisition thereof by such entity (in either case, "RPH") being held by
all or any portion of the shareholders of the Company (an "RPH Transaction"),
it being understood that (i) if the Company and its Subsidiaries, after the
date of the Exchange Indenture and prior to the date of an RPH Transaction,
make Investments in RPH (in cash or assets) aggregating not more than
$15,000,000, then such RPH Transaction shall continue to constitute a
"Permitted Restricted Payment" and (ii) if the Company or any Subsidiary makes
any Investment in RPH, after the date of the Exchange Indenture and prior to
the date of such RPH Transaction, that is not permitted by the foregoing clause
(i), then such RPH Transaction shall not constitute a "Permitted Restricted
Payment". For purposes of the foregoing, the value of any assets invested in
RPH shall be based upon the fair market value thereof as determined by the
Board of Directors of the Company, whose good faith determination shall be
conclusive.
 
  "Principals" means Charles F. Dolan and trusts established for the benefit of
family members of Charles F. Dolan.
 
  "Rainbow Spin-Off" means the payment of any dividend by the Company or the
making by the Company of any other distribution or the consummation of an
exchange offer, or any combination of the foregoing, which results in all or a
portion of the capital stock of Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. or any
successor to the assets or equity interests thereof, or of another entity,
holding only assets that were held by Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc.
immediately prior to the acquisition thereof by such entity, being held by all
or any portion of the shareholders of the Company.
 
  "Restricted Payment" means,
 
  (a) any Stock Payment by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; or
 
  (b) any direct or indirect payment to redeem, repurchase, defease or
otherwise acquire or retire for value, or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to
redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to
any scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment,
any Indebtedness of the Company that is subordinate in right of payment to the
Exchange Debentures.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Restricted Payments shall not include (x)
payments by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or any other Restricted
Subsidiary or (y) any Investment or designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as
an Unrestricted Subsidiary permitted under the "Limitation on Investments in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Affiliates" covenant.
 
  "Restricted Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company, whether existing
on the date of the Exchange Indenture or created subsequent thereto, designated
from time to time by the Company as a "Restricted Subsidiary"; provided,
however, that no subsidiary can be or remain so designated unless (i) at least
67% of each of the total equity interest and the voting control of such
subsidiary is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or another
Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) such subsidiary is not restricted, pursuant to
the terms of any loan agreement, note, indenture or other evidence of
indebtedness, from (a) paying dividends or making any distribution on such
subsidiary's capital stock or other equity securities or paying any
Indebtedness owed to the Company or to any Restricted Subsidiary, (b) making
any loans or advances to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (c)
transferring any of its properties or assets to the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary (it being understood that a financial covenant any of the components
of which are directly impacted by the taking of the action (e.g., the payment
of a dividend) itself (such as a minimum net worth test) would be deemed to be
a restriction on the foregoing actions, while a financial covenant none of the
components of which is directly impacted by the taking of the action (e.g., the
payment of a dividend) itself (such as a debt to cash flow test) would not be
deemed to be a restriction on the foregoing actions); and provided further,
that the Company may, from time to time, redesignate any
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
 
Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the
provisions of the "Limitation on Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries and
Affiliates" covenant.
   
  "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal, premium, if any, interest
(including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law,
whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the debtor
in a proceeding under such Bankruptcy Law), penalties, fees and other
liabilities payable with respect to (i) all Debt of the Company, other than the
Exchange Debentures and the Company's 10 3/4% Debentures due 2004, the 9 7/8%
Debentures due 2013, the 9 7/8% Debentures due 2023 and the 2005 Notes due
(with which the Exchange Debentures are intended to rank on a parity), whether
outstanding on the date of the Exchange Indenture or thereafter created,
incurred or assumed, which is (x) for money borrowed, (y) evidenced by a note
or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any
businesses, properties or assets of any kind or (z) in respect of any
Capitalized Lease Obligations and (ii) all renewals, extensions, refundings,
increases or refinancings thereof, unless, in the case of (i) or (ii) above,
the instrument under which the Debt is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed
expressly provides that such Debt is not senior in right of payment to the
Exchange Debentures. For purposes of clarification, Senior Indebtedness
includes any liability under Interest Swap Agreements entered into pursuant to
the Credit Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
Exchange Indenture, Senior Indebtedness shall mean and include all amounts of
Senior Indebtedness that is such by virtue of clause (i) or (ii) of the
foregoing definition that are repaid by the Company and subsequently recovered
from the holder of such Senior Indebtedness under any applicable Bankruptcy
Laws or otherwise (other than by reason of some wrongful conduct on the part of
the holders of such Debt).     
 
  "Stock Payment" means, with respect to any Person, the payment or declaration
of any dividend, either in cash or in property (except dividends payable in
common stock or common shares of capital stock of such Person), or the making
by such Person of any other distribution, on account of any shares of any class
of its capital stock, now or hereafter outstanding, or the redemption,
purchase, retirement or other acquisition for value by such Person, directly or
indirectly, of any shares of any class of its capital stock, now or hereafter
outstanding.
 
  "Strategic Equity Investor" means a corporation or entity with an equity
market capitalization, a net asset value or annual revenues of at least $1.0
billion that owns and operates businesses in the telecommunications,
information systems, entertainment, cable or similar or related industries.
 
  "Treasury Rate" means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of
United States Treasury securities (as compiled and published in the most recent
Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly
available at least two business days prior to the date fixed for redemption of
the Preferred Stock or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any
publicly available source of similar market data with a constant maturity most
nearly equal to the then remaining period to the date scheduled for the
mandatory redemption of the Preferred Stock; provided, however, that if such
period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury
security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be
obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a
year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for
which such yields are given.
 
  "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Company which is not a
Restricted Subsidiary.
 
                   CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
   
  The following is a summary of the material anticipated federal income tax
consequences of an exchange of the Old Preferred Stock for New Preferred Stock.
This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), the final, temporary and proposed regulations
promulgated thereunder, and administrative rulings and judicial decisions now
in effect, all of which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive
effect) or different interpretations. This summary does not purport     
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
 
to deal with all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to an
investor's decision to hold the New Preferred Stock and it is not intended to
be applicable to all categories of investors, some of which, such as dealers in
securities, banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, foreign
persons, persons that hold New Preferred Stock or Exchange Debentures as part
of a straddle or conversion transaction or holders subject to the alternative
minimum tax, may be subject to special rules. In addition, the summary is
limited to persons that will hold the New Preferred Stock and any Exchange
Debentures received in exchange therefor as "capital assets" (generally,
property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.
Holders should note that Counsel's opinion is not binding on the Service and
there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the "Service")
will take a similar view with respect to the tax consequences described below.
No ruling has been or will be requested by the Company from the Service on any
tax matters relating to the New Preferred Stock or Exchange Debentures. ALL
PROSPECTIVE HOLDERS OF SHARES OF NEW PREFERRED STOCK ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT
THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF NEW PREFERRED STOCK OR
EXCHANGE DEBENTURES.
 
 TAXATION OF HOLDERS ON EXCHANGE
 
  No gain or loss will be recognized by a holder that exchanges Old Preferred
Stock for New Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The basis of New
Preferred Stock received by such holder in the exchange will be the same as the
Old Preferred Stock exchanged therefor. The holder's holding period for such
New Preferred Stock will include the holder's holding period for the Old
Preferred Stock so exchanged, provided that the Old Preferred Stock was held as
a capital asset.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  Each broker-dealer that receives New Preferred Stock for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Preferred Stock. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Preferred Stock received
in exchange for Old Preferred Stock where such Old Preferred Stock were
acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
The Company has agreed that it will make this Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any
such resale for a period of 90 days from the date of this Prospectus, or such
shorter period as will terminate when all Old Preferred Stock acquired by
broker-dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities have been exchanged for New Preferred Stock and
resold by such broker-dealers.
 
  The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Preferred
Stock by broker-dealers. New Preferred Stock received by broker-dealers for
their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time
in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions, through the writing of options on the New Preferred Stock or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through
brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or
concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New
Preferred Stock. Any broker-dealer that resells New Preferred Stock that were
received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any
broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Preferred
Stock may be deemed to be a "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities
Act and any profit on any such resale of New Preferred Stock and any
commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be
underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal
states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
 
  For a period of 90 days from the date of this Prospectus, or such shorter
period as will terminate when all Old Preferred Stock acquired by broker-
dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities have been exchanged for New Preferred Stock and resold by
such broker-dealers, the Company will promptly send additional copies of this
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-
dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company
has agreed to indemnify such broker-dealers against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
                      VALIDITY OF THE NEW PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The validity of the New Preferred Stock will be passed upon for the Company
by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1994 that are incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference have been incorporated herein and in the Registration
Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the
authority of said firm of experts in accounting and auditing.
 
  The consolidated financial statements and schedules of A-R Cable Services,
Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994 that are incorporated in
this Prospectus by reference have been incorporated herein and in the
Registration Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm of experts in accounting and auditing.
 
  The consolidated financial statements of Cablevision of Boston Limited
Partnership as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1994 that are incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference have been incorporated herein and in the Registration
Statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the
authority of said firm of experts in accounting and auditing.
 
  The financial statements of American Movie Classics Company as of and for the
years ended December 31, 1993 and 1992 that are incorporated in this Prospectus
by reference have been incorporated herein and in the Registration Statement in
reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm of experts in accounting and auditing.
 
  The financial statements of Monmouth Cablevision Associates, Riverview
Cablevision Associates, L.P. and Framingham Cablevision Associates, Limited
Partnership each as of and for the years ended December 31, 1993 and 1992 that
are incorporated in this Prospectus by reference have been incorporated herein
and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the report of Deloitte &
Touche LLP, independent auditors, incorporated by reference herein, and upon
the authority of said firm of experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and
individuals against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the corporation--a "derivative action"),
if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe their
conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of
derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with defense or settlement
of such action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any
indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other
rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
 
  The first paragraph of Article Ninth of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation provides:
 
      The corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145
    of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same
    may be amended and supplemented, or by any successor thereto, indemnify
    any and all persons whom it shall have power to indemnify under said
    section from and against any and all of the expenses, liabilities or
    other matters referred to in or covered by said section. Such right to
    indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
    director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of
    the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. The
    indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of
    any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled
    under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
    directors or otherwise.
 
  Article VIII of the By-Laws of the Corporation provides:
 
      A. The corporation shall indemnify each person who was or is made a
    party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any
    threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
    civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
    "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of
    whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or
    officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
    corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
    corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
    enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans,
    whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official
    capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or alleged action in
    any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or
    agent, to the maximum extent authorized by the Delaware General
    Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but,
    in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such
    amendment permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification
    rights than said law permitted the corporation to provide prior to such
    amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
    attorney's fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and
    amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such
    person in connection with such proceeding. Such indemnification shall
    continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer,
    employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
    executors and administrators. The right to indemnification conferred in
    this Article shall be a contract right and shall include the right to
    be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such
    proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided that, if the
    Delaware General Corporation Law so requires, the payment of such
    expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final
    disposition of a proceeding
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
 
    shall be made only upon receipt by the corporation of an undertaking by
    or on behalf of such person to repay all amounts so advanced if it
    shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be
    indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article or
    otherwise.
 
      B. The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred
    on any person by this Article shall not limit the corporation from
    providing any other indemnification permitted by law nor shall it be
    deemed exclusive of any other right which any such person may have or
    hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of
    Incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
    directors or otherwise.
 
      C. The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its
    expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent
    of the corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
    or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or
    not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person
    against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General
    Corporation Law.
 
  The Corporation has entered into indemnification agreements with certain of
its officers and directors indemnifying such officers and directors from and
against certain expenses, liabilities or other matters referred to in or
covered by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Corporation
has also entered into an agreement with Charles F. Dolan ("Mr. Dolan"), the
Chairman of the Corporation, pursuant to which Mr. Dolan has agreed to
guarantee the Corporation's obligation to indemnify its officers and directors
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition, subject to
certain limitations, Mr. Dolan has agreed to indemnify such officers and
directors against any loss or expense such person may incur in connection with
any transaction involving Mr. Dolan or entities affiliated with Mr. Dolan to
the extent indemnification is not provided by the Corporation. Any payment
required to be made by Mr. Dolan pursuant to such agreement will be reduced by
any proceeds of insurance or reimbursement under any other form of
indemnification reimbursement available to such officer or director. The
Corporation maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance.
 
  Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a
corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of
the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) for payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or
redemptions, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. The second paragraph of Article Ninth of the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation provides for such limitation of
liability.
 
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
<TABLE>
 <C>   <S>
  4.1  --Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
        Form S-1 dated January 17, 1986, File No. 33-1936 (the "S-1")).
  4.1A --Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation and complete copy of amended
        and restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by
        reference to Exhibits 3.1A(i) and 3.1A(ii) to the Company's Annual
        Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1989 (the
        "1989 10-K")).
  4.1B --Certificate of Designations for the Series E Redeemable Exchangeable
        Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to
        Exhibit 3.1B to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the
        fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 (the "1994 10-K/A")).
  4.1C --Certificate of Designations for the Series F Convertible Preferred
        Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1C to the 1994 10-K/A).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
 <C>   <S>
  4.1D --Certificate of Designations for the Series G Redeemable Exchangeable
        Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1D to the
        Company's Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated
        October 17, 1995)
  4.1E --Certificate of Designations for the Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
        Preferred Stock.
  4.1F --Certificate of Designations for the Series I Cumulative Convertible
        Exchangeable Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by reference to
        Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Current Report on
        Form 8-K filed November 7, 1995)
  4.2  --By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
        3.2 to the S-1).
  4.2A --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and complete copy of amended
        and restated By-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2
        to the 1989 10-K).
  4.2B --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and complete copy of amended
        and restated By-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2B
        to the Company's Annual Report on Form
        10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992).
  4.2C --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and complete copy of amended
        and restated By-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2C
        to the Company's Annual Report on Form
        10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994).
  4.2D --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and complete copy of amended
        and restated By-laws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2D
        to the Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form
        S-4 dated October 17, 1995).
 *4.3  --Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 26, 1995, between the
        Registrant and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill
        Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, and Morgan Stanley & Co.
        Incorporated.
 *4.4  --Indenture dated as of September 26, 1995 between the Registrant and
        The Bank of New York, Trustee.
 *4.5  --Form of 11 3/4% Exchange Debenture due 2007 (included in Exhibit 4.4).
  5    --Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell.
 *12   --Computation of ratio of deficiency of earnings to fixed charges
        (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 12 to the Company's
        Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 7, 1995).
  23.1 --Consents of KPMG Peat Marwick.
  23.2 --Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
  23.3 --Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in Exhibit 5).
 *24   --Powers of Attorney.
 *25   --Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York, Trustee.
  99.1 --Form of Letter of Transmittal.
  99.2 --Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
* Previously filed.     
 
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant, pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of
1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by any such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of
whether or not such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of
such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or
other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through
the date of responding to the request.
 
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-
effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company
being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in
the registration statement when it became effective.
 
  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
      (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
    Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed
    as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
    contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
    Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall
    be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it
    was declared effective.
 
      (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
    Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
    prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
    to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
    at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
    thereof.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-4 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE TOWN OF OYSTER BAY AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 24TH
DAY OF JANUARY, 1996.     
 
                                          Cablevision Systems Corporation
                                                             
                                                          *     
                                          By __________________________________
                                                    JAMES L. DOLAN
                                                CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                   
          
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITIES INDICATED ON THE 24TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1996.     
 
              SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
 
                                        Chief Executive Officer (Principal
               *                         Executive Officer) and Director
- -------------------------------------
          (JAMES L. DOLAN)
                                        
               *                        Chairman of the Board     
- -------------------------------------
         (CHARLES F. DOLAN)
 
                                        Senior Vice President--Finance and
               *                         Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
- -------------------------------------
         (BARRY J. O'LEARY)

                                        
      /s/ William J. Bell               Vice Chairman (Principal Accounting
- -------------------------------------    Officer)
                                         and Director 
       (WILLIAM J. BELL)     

                                        
               *                        Vice Chairman and Director     
- -------------------------------------
         
      (MARC A. LUSTGARTEN)     

                                       
      /s/ Robert S. Lemle               Senior Vice President, General Counsel,
- -------------------------------------    Secretary and Director     
          
       (ROBERT S. LEMLE)     
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
              SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
 
                                        Vice President and Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
         (SHEILA A. MAHONY)
 
                                        Director and Chairman of the Executive
               *                         Committee
- -------------------------------------
            (JOHN TATTA)
 
                                        Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
         (PATRICK F. DOLAN)
 
                                        Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
     (FRANCIS F. RANDOLPH, JR.)
 
                                        Senior Vice President and Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
         (DANIEL T. SWEENEY)
 
                                        Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
         (CHARLES D. FERRIS)
 
                                        Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
        (RICHARD H. HOCHMAN)
 
                                        Director
               *     
- -------------------------------------
          (VICTOR ORISTANO)

          
       /s/ Robert S. Lemle
*By: ___________________________ 
         Attorney-in-Fact     
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                            LOCATION OF EXHIBIT
 EXHIBIT                                                       IN SEQUENTIAL
 NUMBER               DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                NUMBERING SYSTEM
 -------              -----------------------               -------------------
 <C>     <S>                                                <C>
   4.1   --Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
          (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on
          Form S-1 dated January 17, 1986, File No. 33-
          1936 (the "S-1")).
   4.1A  --Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation and
          complete copy of amended and restated
          Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated
          herein by reference to Exhibits 3.1A(i) and
          3.1A(ii) to the Company's Annual Report on Form
          10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
          1989 (the "1989 10-K")).
   4.1B  --Certificate of Designations for the Series E
          Redeemable Exchangeable Convertible Preferred
          Stock (incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit 3.1B to the Company's Annual Report on
          Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December
          31, 1994 (the "1994 10-K/A")).
   4.1C  --Certificate of Designations for the Series F
          Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by
          reference to Exhibit 3.1C to the 1994 10-K/A).
   4.1D  --Certificate of Designations for the Series G
          Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1D to
          the Company's Amendment No. 1 to Registration
          Statement on Form S-4 dated October 17, 1995)
   4.1E  --Certificate of Designations for the Series H
          Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock.
   4.1F  --Certificate of Designations for the Series I
          Cumulative Convertible Exchangeable Preferred
          Stock (incorporated herein by reference to
          Exhibit 99.3 to the Company's Current Report on
          Form 8-K filed November 7, 1995)
   4.2   --By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated herein
          by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the S-1).
   4.2A  --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and
          complete copy of amended and restated By-laws
          (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          3.2 to the 1989 10-K).
   4.2B  --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and
          complete copy of amended and restated By-laws
          (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          3.2B to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-
          K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992).
   4.2C  --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and
          complete copy of amended and restated By-laws
          (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          3.2C to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-
          K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994).
   4.2D  --Amendment to By-laws of the Registrant and
          complete copy of amended and restated By-laws
          (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
          3.2D to the Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to
          Form S-4 dated October 17, 1995).
  *4.3   --Registration Rights Agreement, dated September
          26, 1995, between the Registrant and Bear,
          Stearns & Co. Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co.,
          Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
          Incorporated, and Morgan Stanley & Co.
          Incorporated.
  *4.4   --Indenture dated as of September 26, 1995
          between the Registrant and The Bank of New
          York, Trustee.
  *4.5   --Form of 11 3/4% Exchange Debenture due 2007
          (included in Exhibit 4.4).
   5     --Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell.
</TABLE>    
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                            LOCATION OF EXHIBIT
 EXHIBIT                                                       IN SEQUENTIAL
 NUMBER               DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT                NUMBERING SYSTEM
 -------              -----------------------               -------------------
 <C>     <S>                                                <C>
 *12     --Computation of ratio of deficiency of earnings
          to fixed charges (incorporated herein by
          reference to Exhibit 12 to the Company's
          Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 7,
          1995).
  23.1   --Consents of KPMG Peat Marwick.
  23.2   --Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
  23.3   --Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in
          Exhibit 5).
 *24     --Powers of Attorney.
 *25     --Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New
          York, Trustee.
  99.1   --Form of Letter of Transmittal.
  99.2   --Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
* Previously filed.     

<PAGE>
                                                                 
                                                             EXHIBIT 4.1(E)     

            CERTIFICATE OF VOTING POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES
             AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL
                   RIGHTS AND QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND
                  RESTRICTIONS THEREOF OF THE 11 3/4% SERIES H
                            REDEEMABLE EXCHANGEABLE
                                PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION

                           __________________________

                         Pursuant to Section 151 of the
                General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

                           __________________________


     I, William J. Bell, Vice Chairman of Cablevision Systems Corporation (the
"corporation"), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, DO HEREBY CERTIFY:

     That, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the
Certificate of Incorporation as amended of said corporation, said Board of
Directors, at a meeting duly called and held on _______  __, 1995, adopted a
resolution providing for the issuance of Four Million Five Hundred Thousand
(4,500,000) authorized shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock, which resolution is as follows:

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the corporation (the "Board of
Directors") is authorized, within the limitations and restrictions stated in the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to fix by resolution or resolutions
the designation of each series of preferred stock and the powers, designations,
preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights, if any, or the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, such provisions as may be desired concerning
voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of assets,
conversion or exchange, and such other subjects or matters as may be fixed by
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors under the General
Corporation Law of Delaware; and
<PAGE>
 
                                       2


     WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors, pursuant to its
authority as aforesaid, to authorize and fix the terms of a series of preferred
stock and the number of shares constituting such series;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that there is hereby authorized such series
of preferred stock on the terms and with the provisions herein set forth:


I.  Certain Definitions.
    ------------------- 

     As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings (with
terms defined in the singular having comparable meanings when used in the plural
and vice versa), unless the context otherwise requires:

          "Additional Preferred Stock" has the meaning set forth in Article
     Fourth of the corporation's Certificate of Incorporation.

          "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the corporation.

          "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, national or
     New York State holiday or other day on which commercial banks in New York
     City are authorized or required by law to close.

          "Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations,
     rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

          "Change of Control" means any transaction or series of transactions
     (including, without limitation, a tender offer, merger or consolidation)
     the result of which is that Dolan ceases (i) to elect a majority of the
     Board of Directors of the Corporation or (ii) to be the "beneficial owner"
     (as defined in Rule 13(d)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (the "Exchange Act")) of at least 50% of the aggregate voting power
     of the voting stock of the corporation.

          "Change of Control Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in
     Section VI(A)(iii) hereof.

          "Class A Common Stock" means the Class A Common Stock, par value $.01
     per share, of the corporation.
<PAGE>
 
                                       3

          "Class B Common Stock" means the Class B Common Stock, par value $.01
     per share, of the corporation.


          "Common Stock" means the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common
     Stock and any other class of common stock hereafter authorized by the
     corporation from time to time.

          "Contingent Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
     VI(A)(ii) hereof.

          "Corporation" or "corporation" means Cablevision Systems Corporation.

          "Dividend Default" has the meaning specified in Section VII(G)(i)(a)
     hereof.

          "Dividend Payment Date" means each January 1, April 1, July 1 and
     October 1 of each year on which dividends shall be paid or are payable, any
     Redemption Date and any other date on which dividends in arrears may be
     paid.

          "Dividend Period" means the Initial Dividend Period, and, thereafter,
     each Quarterly Dividend Period.

          "Dividend Record Date" means, with respect to the dividend payable on
     each Dividend Payment Date, the fifteenth day immediately preceding such
     Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date as may be designated by
     the Board of Directors with respect to the dividend payable on such
     Dividend Payment Date; provided, however, that such record date may not be
     more than 60 days or less than ten days prior to such Dividend Payment
     Date.

          "Dolan" shall mean Mr. Charles Dolan, his spouse, his descendants or
     any spouse of any such descendants and trusts for the benefit of, inter
     alia, him, his spouse, his descendants or any spouse of any such
     descendants, and any estate testamentary trust, or executor, administrator,
     conservator or legal or personal representative of any of the foregoing.

          "Exchange Date" means a date on which shares of 11 3/4% Series H
     Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock are exchanged by the corporation
     for Exchange Debentures.

          "Exchange Debentures" shall mean the 11 3/4% Senior Subordinated
     Debentures due 2007 of the corporation into
<PAGE>
 
                                       4

     which the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock are
     exchangeable at the option of the corporation.

          "Exchange Indenture" has the meaning specified in Section VII(D)
     hereof.


          "Exchange Notice" has the meaning specified in Section VII(A) hereof.

          "Holder" means a registered holder of shares of 11 3/4% Series H
     Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

          "Initial Dividend Period" means the dividend period commencing on and
     including January 1, 1996 and ending on and including March 31, 1996.

          "Junior Securities" has the meaning specified in Section III(A)(i)
     hereof.

          "Liquidation Preference" means the Original Liquidation Preference,
plus an amount equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends from and after the
Dividend Payment Date on which such dividends were to be paid.  The Liquidation
Preference of a share of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock will increase by the amount of dividends that accrue on such share on a
Dividend Payment Date and will decrease only to the extent such dividends are
actually paid, all as provided in Section IV hereof.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in determining the amount to be paid on a Redemption Date or Exchange
Date or the amount of shares to be issued in payment of a dividend on a Dividend
Payment Date, Liquidation Preference shall not be deemed to include any
dividends to the extent such dividends are to be paid on such date in accordance
with the requirements of this Certificate of Designations.

          "Make-Whole Premium" means, with respect to a share of 11 3/4% Series
     H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, the present value of (i) all
     accrued and unpaid dividends for the period from the Dividend Payment Date
     immediately preceding the date of calculation to the date of calculation
     (assuming payment thereof in cash on the date of calculation), (ii) all
     dividends accruing until October 1, 2002 (assuming payment thereof in cash
     on the applicable Dividend Payment Date), and (iii) the Liquidation
     Preference and any applicable optional redemption premium therefor payable
     on such date for such share (in each case assuming payment thereof on
     October 1, 2002), computed using a
<PAGE>
 
                                       5

     discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points.

          "Mandatory Redemption Date" means October 1, 2007.

          "Mandatory Redemption Price" has the meaning specified in Section
     VI(B) hereof.

          "Optional Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in Section
     VI(A)(i) hereof.

          "Original Liquidation Preference" means $100 per share of 11 3/4%
     Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

          "Parity Securities" has the meaning specified in Section III(A)(ii)
     hereof.

          "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, business
     trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint
     venture, governmental authority or other entity of whatever nature.

          "Quarterly Dividend Period" means the quarterly period commencing on
     and including a Dividend Payment Date and ending on and including the day
     immediately preceding the next subsequent Dividend Payment Date.

          "Rainbow Spin-off" means the payment of any dividend by the
     corporation or the making by the corporation of any other distribution or
     the consummation of an exchange offer, or any combination of the foregoing,
     which results in all or a portion of the capital stock of Rainbow
     Programming Holdings, Inc. or any successor to the assets or equity
     interests thereof, or of another entity, holding only assets that were held
     by Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. immediately prior to the acquisition
     thereof by such entity, being held by all or any portion of the
     shareholders of the corporation.

          "Redemption Date" has the meaning specified in Section VI(C)(i)(e)
     hereof.

          "Redemption Default" has the meaning specified in Section VII(G)(i)(b)
     hereof.

          "Redemption Notice" has the meaning specified in Section VI(C)(i)
     hereof.
<PAGE>
 
                                       6

          "Redemption Price" has the meaning specified in Section VI(A)(i)
     hereof.

          "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          "Securities Act" has the meaning specified in Section VIII(A)(ii)(a)
     hereof.

          "Senior Securities" has the meaning specified in Section III(A)(iii)
     hereof.

          "Series B Preferred Stock" means the Series B Cumulative Convertible
     Preferred Stock of the corporation.

          "Series C Preferred Stock" means the Series C Cumulative Preferred
     Stock of the corporation.

          "Series D Preferred Stock" means the Series D Cumulative Preferred
     Stock of the corporation.

          "Series G Preferred Stock" means the Series G Redeemable Exchangeable
     Preferred Stock of the corporation.
         
          "Series I Preferred Stock" means the Series I Cumulative Convertible 
     Exchangeable Preferred Stock of the corporation.     

          "Strategic Equity Investor" means a corporation or entity with an
     equity market capitalization, a net asset value or annual revenues of at
     least $1.0 billion that owns and operates businesses in the
     telecommunications, information systems, entertainment, cable or similar or
     related industries.

          "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
     association or other business entity of which more than fifty percent (50%)
     of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without
     regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of
     directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
     directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more of the other
     Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof.

          "Transfer Agent" means Mellon Securities Trust Company or any
     successor transfer agent.

          "Treasury Rate" means the yield to maturity at the time of computation
     of United States Treasury securities (as compiled and published in the most
     recent Federal Reserve
<PAGE>
 
                                       7

     Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least
     two business days prior to the date fixed for redemption of the 11 3/4%
     Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock or, if such Statistical
     Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar
     market data with a constant maturity most nearly equal to the then
     remaining period to the Mandatory Redemption Date of the 11 3/4% Series H
     Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock; provided, however, that if such
     period of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock is
     not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for
     which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate shall be obtained
     by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year)
     from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for
     which such yields are given.

          "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
     amended.

          "Trustee" means The Bank of New York, as Trustee under the Exchange
     Indenture, or any successor Trustee appointed in accordance with the terms
     of the Exchange Indenture.

          "Voting Rights Trigger Event" has the meaning specified in Section
     VII(G)(i) hereof.


II.  Designation.
     ----------- 

          The series of preferred stock authorized hereunder shall be designated
as the "11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock".  The number
of shares constituting such series shall be 4,500,000.  The par value of the 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be $.01 per share of
11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, and the initial
liquidation preference of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock shall be $100 per share.


III. Ranking.
     ------- 

          (A) The 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall
rank, with respect to dividends and distributions upon the liquidation,
dissolution and winding-up of the affairs of the corporation:
<PAGE>
 
                                       8

          (i) senior to all classes or series of Common Stock of the corporation
     and any Capital Stock, including any series of Additional Preferred Stock
     hereafter created by the Board of Directors, the terms of which Capital
     Stock or Additional Preferred Stock do not expressly provide that it ranks
     senior to or on a parity with the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
     Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions upon liquidation,
     dissolution and winding-up of the corporation (collectively referred to as
     "Junior Securities");

          (ii) on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C
     Preferred Stock, the Series D Preferred Stock, the Series G Preferred
     Stock, the Series I Preferred Stock, and any Capital Stock, including any
     series of Additional Preferred Stock hereafter created by the Board of
     Directors, the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks on a parity
     with the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock as to
     dividends and distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding-
     up of the corporation (collectively referred to as "Parity Securities");
     and

          (iii) junior to any Capital Stock, including any series of Additional
     Preferred Stock hereafter created by the Board of Directors, the terms of
     which expressly provide that it ranks senior to the 11 3/4% Series H
     Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock as to dividends and distributions
     upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding-up of the corporation
     ("Senior Securities").


IV.  Dividends.
     --------- 

          (A) Beginning on January 1, 1996, the Holders of the outstanding
shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of
funds legally available for the payment of dividends, dividends on each
outstanding share of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock,
at a rate per annum equal to 11 3/4% of the Liquidation Preference per share of
the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, payable with
respect to each Dividend Period.  All dividends shall be cumulative and shall be
payable in arrears for each Dividend Period on each Dividend Payment Date,
commencing on April 1, 1996.  Dividends with respect to a share of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall only cumulate from
January 1, 1996, or, if later, the last Dividend Payment Date in respect of
which dividends on such share of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
<PAGE>
 
                                       9

Preferred Stock were paid.  Prior to the Dividend Payment Date occurring on
October 1, 2000, dividends may, at the option of the corporation, be paid either
in cash or fully paid and non-assessable shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock with an aggregate Liquidation Preference equal to
the amount of such dividend.  After the Dividend Payment Date occurring on
October 1, 2000, dividends shall be paid only in cash.

          (B) Each dividend paid on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock shall be payable to Holders of record as their names shall
appear in the stock ledger of the corporation on the Dividend Record Date for
such dividends, except that dividends in arrears for any past Dividend Payment
Date may be declared and paid at any time without reference to such regular
Dividend Payment Date to Holders of record on such date not more than sixty (60)
days or less than ten (10) days prior to the date of payment as shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.

          (C) Dividends shall cease to accumulate in respect of shares of 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock on the day prior to the
Exchange Date or on the day prior to their earlier redemption, unless the
corporation shall have failed to issue the appropriate aggregate principal
amount of Exchange Debentures (as defined in Section VIII(A) hereof) in respect
of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock on the Exchange
Date or shall have failed to pay the relevant redemption price on the date fixed
for redemption.

          (D) All dividends paid with respect to shares of the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be paid pro rata to the Holders
entitled thereto based upon the number of shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock held by each such Holder on the relevant Dividend
Record Date.  Dividends shall cease to accumulate in respect of any particular
share of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock on the day
prior to the Redemption Date with respect thereto.

          (E) No full dividends shall be declared by the Board of Directors or
paid or funds set apart for payment by the corporation on the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock or any Parity Securities for any period
unless full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid, or declared and (in the case of dividends payable in cash) a sum set apart
sufficient for such payment, on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock and any Parity Securities for all Dividend Periods terminating
on or
<PAGE>
 
                                       10

prior to the date of payment of such full dividends on the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock or such Parity Securities.  If any
dividends are not paid in full, as aforesaid, upon the shares of the 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock and any other Parity
Securities, all dividends declared upon shares of the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock and any other Parity Securities shall be
declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share on the 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock and such Parity Securities
shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per
share on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock and such
Parity Securities bear to each other.  No interest or additional dividends, or
sum of money in lieu of interest or additional dividends, shall be payable in
respect of any dividend payment or payments on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock or any other Parity Securities which may be in
arrears.

          (F) So long as any shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock are outstanding, except with respect to (i) any
conversion of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, (ii) prior to
October 1, 2000, the occurrence of the Rainbow Spin-off, (iii) repurchases of
Common Stock issued under the corporation's stock incentive programs from
employees of the corporation, and (iv) dividends or distributions payable in
kind in additional shares of, or warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable
for or convertible into additional shares of Junior Securities the corporation
shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend on any Junior
Securities (except dividends on Junior Securities payable in additional shares
of Junior Securities), or make any payment on account of, or set apart for
payment money for a sinking or other similar fund for, the purchase, redemption
or other retirement of, any of the Junior Securities or any warrants, rights,
calls or options exercisable for or convertible into any of the Junior
Securities, and shall not permit any corporation or other entity directly or
indirectly controlled by the corporation to purchase or redeem any of the Junior
Securities or any warrants, rights, calls or options exercisable for or
convertible into any of the Junior Securities, unless prior to or concurrently
with such declaration, payment, setting apart for payment, purchase, redemption
or distribution, as the case may be, all accrued and unpaid dividends on shares
of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock not paid on the
dates provided for in Section IV(A) hereof (and, to the extent previously due
but not yet paid, any and all redemption payments on the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock) shall have been or are concurrently
being paid.
<PAGE>
 
                                       11

          (G) Dividends payable on shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock for any period less than a year shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the actual number of
days elapsed in the period for which payable.  If any Dividend Payment Date
occurs on a day that is not a Business Day, any accrued dividends otherwise
payable on such Dividend Payment Date shall be paid on the next succeeding
Business Day.


V.   Payment on Liquidation.
     ---------------------- 

          (A) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the affairs of the corporation, the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive out of the
assets of the corporation available for distribution to the holders of its
Capital Stock, whether such assets are capital, surplus or earnings, an amount
in cash equal to the Liquidation Preference, before any payment shall be made or
any assets distributed to the holders of any of the Junior Securities.  Except
as set forth in the preceding sentence, Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any distribution in the
event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
affairs of the corporation.  If upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of the corporation, the assets of the
corporation are not sufficient to pay in full the liquidation payments payable
to the holders of outstanding shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock and all Parity Securities, then the holders of all
such shares shall share equally and ratably in any distribution of assets in
proportion to the full liquidation preferences, determined as of the date of
such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, to which
they are entitled.

          (B) For the purposes of this Section V only, neither the sale, lease,
conveyance, exchange or transfer (for cash, shares of stock, securities or other
consideration) of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the
corporation nor the consolidation or merger of the corporation with or into one
or more corporations shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the affairs of the corporation.
<PAGE>
 
                                       12

VI.  Redemption.
     ---------- 

          (A) Optional Redemption.  (i)  The corporation may, at its option, at
              -------------------                                              
any time redeem (subject to contractual and other restrictions with respect
thereto and the legal availability of funds therefor), at any time on or after
October 1, 2002, from any source of funds legally available therefor, in whole
or in part, in the manner provided in Section VI(C) hereof, any or all of the
shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, at the
redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the Liquidation Preference
thereof) set forth below plus an amount in cash equal to all accumulated and
unpaid dividends per share for the period from the Dividend Payment Date
immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the day prior to the Redemption
Date) (the "Optional Redemption Price"), if redeemed during the 12-month period
beginning October 1, of the years indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  Year                    Percentage
                  ---------------------   -----------
                  <S>                     <C>
                  2002.................     105.875%
                  2003.................     103.917%
                  2004.................     101.958%
                  2005 and thereafter..     100.000%
</TABLE>

          (ii) In addition, on or prior to October 1, 1998, the corporation may
redeem, in the manner provided in Section VI(C) hereof, shares of the 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock having an aggregate Liquidation
Preference of up to 33 1/3% of the aggregate Liquidation Preference of all 
11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then outstanding, at a
redemption price equal to 100.00% of the Liquidation Preference thereof, plus an
amount in cash equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share for the
period from the Dividend Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date
to the day prior to the Redemption Date) plus a premium of $10 per share (the
"Contingent Redemption Price"), out of the proceeds of the sale of Junior Stock
to a Strategic Equity Investor or a public offering of Class A Common Stock;
provided that following such redemption, at least 1,666,667 shares of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding
thereafter.

          (iii)  In addition, the corporation may, at its option, prior to
October 1, 2002, redeem the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock, in whole but not in part, at any time within 180 days after a Change of
Control at a redemption price (the "Change of Control Redemption Price") per
share equal to the sum of (i) the Original Liquidation Preference plus (ii)
accrued and unpaid dividends for the period from the
<PAGE>
 
                                       13

Dividend Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the day prior
to the Redemption Date plus (iii) the Make-Whole Premium.

          (iv) In the event of a redemption pursuant to this Section VI(A) of
only a portion of the then outstanding shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock, the corporation shall effect such redemption pro
rata according to the number of shares held by each Holder of such 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock or by lot, as determined by the
corporation, except that the corporation may redeem such shares held by any
Holders of fewer than 100 shares (or shares held by Holders who would hold less
than 100 shares as a result of such redemption) as determined by the corporation
in its sole discretion.

          (B) Mandatory Redemption.  On the Mandatory Redemption Date, the
              --------------------                                        
corporation shall redeem from any source of funds legally available therefor, in
the manner provided in Section VI(C) below, all of the shares of the 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then outstanding at a
redemption price equal to the Liquidation Preference thereof, plus an amount of
cash equal to all accumulated and unpaid dividends per share for the period from
the Dividend Payment Date immediately prior to the Redemption Date to the day
prior to the Redemption Date (the "Mandatory Redemption Price").

          (C) Procedure for Redemption.  (i)  Not more than sixty (60) and not
              ------------------------                                        
less than thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for any redemption of the 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, written notice (the
"Redemption Notice") shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to
each Holder of record of shares to be redeemed on the record date fixed for such
redemption of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock at
such Holder's address as the same appears on the stock ledger of the
corporation, provided, however, that no failure to give such notice nor any
deficiency therein shall affect the validity of the procedure for the redemption
of any shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be
redeemed except as to the Holder or Holders to whom the corporation has failed
to give said notice or except as to the Holder or Holders whose notice was
defective.  The Redemption Notice shall state:

          (a) whether the redemption is pursuant to Section VI(A)(i), VI(A)(ii),
     VI(A)(iii) or VI(B) hereof;
<PAGE>
 
                                       14

          (b) the Optional Redemption Price, Contingent Redemption Price, Change
     of Control Redemption Price or Mandatory Redemption Price, as the case may
     be;

          (c) whether all or less than all the outstanding shares of the 11 3/4%
     Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock redeemable thereunder are
     to be redeemed and the total number of shares of such 11 3/4% Series H
     Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock being redeemed;

          (d) the number of shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
     Preferred Stock held by the Holder that the corporation intends to redeem;

          (e) the date fixed for redemption (the "Redemption Date");

          (f) that the Holder is to surrender to the corporation, at the place
     or places, which shall be designated in such Redemption Notice, its
     certificates representing the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
     Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be redeemed are to be surrendered; and

          (g) that dividends on the shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
     Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on such
     Redemption Date unless the corporation defaults in the payment of the
     Optional Redemption Price, Contingent Redemption Price, Change of Control
     Redemption Price or Mandatory Redemption Price, as the case may be.

          (ii) On or before the Redemption Date, each Holder of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender the
certificate or certificates representing such shares of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock to the corporation, in the manner and at
the place designated in the Redemption Notice, and on the Redemption Date the
full Optional Redemption Price, Contingent Redemption Price, Change of Control
Redemption Price or Mandatory Redemption Price, as the case may be, for such
shares shall be payable in cash to the Person whose name appears on such
certificate or certificates as the owner thereof, and each surrendered
certificate shall be returned to authorized but unissued shares.  In the event
that less than all of the shares represented by any such certificate are
redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.
<PAGE>
 
                                       15

          (iii)  Unless the corporation defaults in the payment in full of the
applicable redemption price, dividends on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock called for redemption shall cease to accumulate on
the day prior to the Redemption Date, and the Holders of such shares shall cease
to have any further rights with respect thereto on the Redemption Date, other
than the right to receive the Optional Redemption Price, Contingent Redemption
Price, Change of Control Redemption Price or Mandatory Redemption Price, as the
case may be, without interest.

          (iv) If a Redemption Notice shall have been duly given, and if, on or
before the Redemption Date specified therein, all funds necessary for such
redemption shall have been set aside by the corporation, separate and apart from
its other funds, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of the 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock called for redemption, so as to
be and continue to be available therefor, then, notwithstanding that any
certificate for shares so called for redemption shall not have been surrendered
for cancellation, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed
outstanding, and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such
Redemption Date cease and terminate, except only the right of the Holders
thereof to receive the amount payable on redemption thereof, without interest.

          (v) If a Redemption Notice shall have been duly given or if the
corporation shall have given to the bank or trust company hereinafter referred
to irrevocable authorization promptly to give such notice, and if on or before
the Redemption Date specified therein the funds necessary for such redemption
shall have been deposited by the corporation with such bank or trust company in
trust for the pro rata benefit of the Holders of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock called for redemption, then, notwithstanding that
any certificate for shares so called for redemption shall not have been
surrendered for cancellation, from and after the time of such deposit, all
shares so called, or to be so called pursuant to such irrevocable authorization,
for redemption shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with
respect of such shares shall forthwith cease and terminate, except only the
right of the Holders thereof to receive from such bank or trust company at any
time after the time of such deposit the funds so deposited, without interest.
The aforesaid bank or trust company shall be organized and in good standing
under the laws of the United States of America or of the State of New York,
shall be doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, shall
have capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating at least $100,000,000
according to its last published statement of
<PAGE>
 
                                       16

condition, and shall be identified in the Redemption Notice.  Any interest
accrued on such funds shall be paid to the corporation from time to time.  Any
funds so set aside or deposited, as the case may be, and unclaimed at the end of
three years from such Redemption Date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
released or repaid to the corporation, after which repayment the Holders of the
shares so called for redemption shall look only to the corporation for payment
thereof.


VII. Voting Rights.
     ------------- 

          (A) The holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock, except as otherwise required under Delaware law and as set forth in
paragraphs (B) and (C) below, shall not be entitled or permitted to vote on any
matter required or permitted to be voted upon by the stockholders of the
corporation.

          (B) Without the approval of Holders of at least a majority of the
shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then
outstanding, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or
special meeting called for the purpose, the corporation will not (i) create,
authorize or issue any Senior Securities or any warrants, rights, calls or
options exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into, or any obligations
evidencing the right to purchase or acquire any Senior Securities, including in
connection with a merger, consolidation or other reorganization or (ii)
reclassify any Junior Securities, Parity Securities or other outstanding Capital
Stock of the corporation into any Senior Securities or any warrants, rights,
calls or options exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into, or any
obligations evidencing the right to purchase or acquire any Senior Securities.

          (C) Without the approval of Holders of at least a majority of the
shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then
outstanding, voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, given in
person or by proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or
special meeting called for the purpose, the corporation will not amend, modify
or repeal the Certificate of Incorporation (including this Certificate of
Designations), By-Laws of the corporation, or any other specified designations,
rights, preferences or powers of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock in a manner adverse to Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the
<PAGE>
 
                                       17

amendment of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation so as to
authorize or create, or to increase the authorized amount of, any Junior
Securities or any Parity Securities shall not be deemed to affect adversely the
Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock; and
provided further the authorization of the issuance from time to time of
additional shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock,
which are included in the 4,500,000 shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock authorized under this Certificate of Designations
shall not be subject to the requirements of this Section VII(C).

          (D) Prior to the exchange of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock for Exchangeable Debentures, the corporation shall not amend or
modify the indenture dated September 26, 1995, between the corporation and the
Trustee for the Exchange Debentures (the "Exchange Indenture"), a copy of which
is on file at the principal executive offices of the corporation, without the
affirmative vote or consent of Holders of at least a majority of the shares of
11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then outstanding,
voting or consenting, as the case may be, as one class, given in person or by
proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or special
meeting called for the purpose; provided that the corporation and the Trustee
shall be permitted, without any vote or consent of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series
H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, to effect any amendments to the
Exchange Indenture that could have been effected under the Exchange Indenture
without the consent of holders of Exchange Debentures if any Exchange Debentures
were then outstanding.

          (E) The Holders of at least a majority of the shares of 11 3/4% Series
H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock then outstanding, voting or
consenting, as the case may be, as one class, whether voting in person or by
proxy, either in writing or by resolution adopted at an annual or special
meeting called for the purpose, may waive compliance with any provision of the
Certificate of Designations.

          (F) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the creation,
authorization or issuance of any shares of any Parity Securities or Junior
Securities, or (ii) the increase or decrease in the amount of authorized Capital
Stock of any class, including any preferred stock, shall not require the consent
of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock and
shall not be deemed to affect adversely the rights, preferences, privileges or
voting rights of Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock.
<PAGE>
 
                                       18

          (G) (i)  In the event that (a) dividends on the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock are in arrears and unpaid for six
Quarterly Dividend Periods (whether or not consecutive) (a "Dividend Default"),
or (b) the corporation shall fail to discharge its obligation to redeem the 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock on the Mandatory
Redemption Date (a "Redemption Default"), then the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall be adjusted to permit the Holders of
the majority of the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock then outstanding, voting as one class, to elect one member of the Board of
Directors of the corporation.  Each such event described in clause (a) or (b) is
a "Voting Rights Triggering Event".  Holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock,
voting as one class shall thereupon have the exclusive right to elect one member
of the Board of Directors at any annual or special meeting of stockholders or at
a special meeting of the holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock called as hereinafter provided.

          (ii) The right of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock to vote pursuant to Section VII(G)(i) to elect one
member of the Board of Directors as aforesaid shall continue until such time as
(a) in the event such right arises due to a Dividend Default, all accumulated
dividends that are in arrears on the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock are paid in full and (ii) in the event such right arises due to
a Redemption Default, the corporation remedies any such failure, at which time
the special right of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock to vote for the election of a director and the term of office of
the director elected by the Holders of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall terminate and the number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall be reduced accordingly.  At any time
after voting power to elect a director shall have become vested and be
continuing in the Holders of shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock pursuant to Section VII(G)(i) hereof, or if a
vacancy shall exist in the office of a director elected by the Holders of 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, a proper officer of the
corporation may, and upon the written request of the Holders of record of at
least twenty percent (20%) of the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock then outstanding addressed to the Secretary of the
corporation shall, call a special meeting of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock, for the purpose of electing the one
director which such Holders are entitled to elect as herein provided.  If such
meeting shall
<PAGE>
 
                                       19

not be called by a proper officer of the corporation within 20 days after
personal service of said written request upon the Secretary of the corporation,
or within 20 days after mailing the same within the United States by certified
mail, addressed to the Secretary of the corporation at its principal executive
offices, then the Holders of record of at least twenty percent (20%) of the
outstanding shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
may designate in writing one of their number to call such meeting at the expense
of the corporation, and such meeting may be called by the Person so designated
upon the notice required for the annual meetings of stockholders of the
corporation and shall be held at the place for holding the annual meetings of
stockholders.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section VII(G)(ii), no
such special meeting shall be called if any such request is received less than
60 days before the date fixed for the next ensuing annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the corporation.  Any Holder of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock so designated shall have access to the lists of
stockholders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock to be
called pursuant to the provisions hereof.

          (iii)     At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at
which the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
shall have the right, voting as one class, to elect a director as aforesaid, the
presence in person or by proxy of the Holders of at least a majority of the
outstanding 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be
required to constitute a quorum.

          (H) (i)  Any vacancy occurring in the office of a director elected by
the Holders of shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock may be filled by the departing director unless and until such vacancy
shall be filled by the Holders of shares of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

          (ii) In any case in which the Holders of shares of the 11 3/4% Series
H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote pursuant to
this Section VII or pursuant to Delaware law, each Holder of shares of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote
for each share of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock held.
<PAGE>
 
                                       20

VIII.     Exchange.
          -------- 

          (A)  The corporation may, at its option, on any Dividend Payment Date
on or after January 1, 1996, exchange the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock, in whole but not in part, for the Exchange
Debentures issued pursuant to the Exchange Indenture.  At least thirty (30) and
not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for exchange, the
corporation shall send a written notice (the "Exchange Notice") of exchange by
mail to each Holder, which notice shall state:  (a) that the corporation has
elected to exchange the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
into Exchange Debentures pursuant to this Certificate of Designations; (b) the
Exchange Date; (c) that the Holder is to surrender to the corporation, at the
place or places where certificates for shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for exchange, in the manner
designated in the Exchange Notice, its certificate or certificates representing
the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock; (d) that
dividends on the shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock to be exchanged shall cease to accrue at the close of business on the day
prior to the Exchange Date whether or not certificates for shares of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock are surrendered for exchange on
the Exchange Date unless the corporation shall default in the delivery of
Exchange Debentures; and (e) that interest on the Exchange Debentures shall
accrue from the Exchange Date whether or not certificates for shares of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock are surrendered for exchange on
the Exchange Date.  On the Exchange Date, if the conditions set forth in clauses
(i) through (iv) below are satisfied and if the exchange is then permitted under
the Exchange Indenture, the corporation shall issue Exchange Debentures in
exchange for the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock as
provided in the next paragraph, provided that on the Exchange Date:  (i) there
shall be legally available funds sufficient therefor (including, without
limitation, legally available funds sufficient therefor under Sections 160 and
170 (or any successor provisions), to the extent applicable, of the Delaware
General Corporation Law); (ii) either (a) a registration statement relating to
the Exchange Debentures shall have been declared effective under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), prior to such exchange and shall
continue to be in effect on the Exchange Date or (b)(1) the corporation shall
have obtained a written opinion of counsel acceptable to the corporation that an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available
for such exchange and (2) such exemption is relied upon by the corporation for
such exchange; (iii) the Exchange Indenture and
<PAGE>
 
                                       21

the Trustee shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act or the
corporation shall have obtained a written opinion of counsel that such
qualification is not required; (iv) immediately after giving effect to such
exchange, no Default or Event of Default (each as defined in the Exchange
Indenture) would exist under the Exchange Indenture.  In the event that any of
the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) of the preceding sentence
are not satisfied on the Exchange Date, then no shares of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be exchanged and in order to
effect an exchange as provided for in this Section VIII, the corporation shall
be required to fix another date for the exchange and issue a new Exchange
Notice.

          (B) Upon any exchange pursuant to Section VIII(A), Holders of
outstanding shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
shall be entitled to receive a principal amount of Exchange Debentures equal to
the Liquidation Preference of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock, plus an amount in cash equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon
for the period from the immediately preceding Dividend Payment Date to the day
prior to the Exchange Date); provided that the corporation shall pay cash in
lieu of issuing an Exchange Debenture in a principal amount of less than $1,000
and further provided that the Exchange Debentures will be issuable only in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.  If any amount is owed
by the corporation in respect of accrued and unpaid dividends relating to any
Dividend Payment Date prior to October 1, 2000, such amount may, at the option
of the corporation, be paid in a principal amount of Exchange Debentures equal
to such amount in lieu of a payment in cash.

          (C) On or before the date fixed for exchange, each Holder of 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificate
or certificates representing such shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock, in the manner and at the place designated in the
Exchange Notice.  The corporation shall cause the Exchange Debentures to be
executed on the Exchange Date and, upon surrender in accordance with the
Exchange Notice of the certificates for any shares of 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock so exchanged (properly endorsed or
assigned for transfer, if the notice shall so state), such shares shall be
exchanged by the corporation into Exchange Debentures as aforesaid.  The
corporation shall pay interest on the Exchange Debentures at the rate and on the
dates specified therein from the Exchange Date.

          (D) If  the Exchange Notice has been mailed as aforesaid, and if
before the Exchange Date all Exchange Debentures necessary for such exchange
shall have been duly
<PAGE>
 
                                       22

executed by the corporation and delivered to the Trustee with irrevocable
instructions to authenticate the Exchange Debentures necessary for such
exchange, then the rights of the Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock as stockholders of the corporation shall cease
(except the right to receive Exchange Debentures), and the Person or Persons
entitled to receive the Exchange Debentures issuable upon exchange shall be
treated for all purposes as the registered Holder or Holders of such Exchange
Debentures as of the date of exchange.  Upon the exchange of the 11 3/4% Series
H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock for Exchange Debentures, the rights of
Holders of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock as
stockholders of the corporation shall cease (except the right to receive the
Exchange Debentures), and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Exchange
Debentures issuable upon exchange shall be treated for all purposes as
registered holder or holders of such Exchange Debentures as of the date of
exchange.


IX.  Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.
     ---------------------------------------- 

          Without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority
of the issued and outstanding shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock, the corporation may not consolidate or merge with or into, or
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless:  (a) the entity formed by
such consolidation or merger (if other than the corporation) or to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have
been made shall be a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the
United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (b) the 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock shall be converted into or
exchanged for and shall become shares of such successor, transferee or resulting
corporation, having in respect of such successor, transferee or resulting
corporation the same powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or
other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereon, that the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock had
immediately prior to such transaction; and (c) immediately after giving effect
to such transaction, no Voting Rights Triggering Event shall have occurred or be
continuing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the corporation may consolidate or
merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person if the
corporation makes adequate provision (i) prior to October 1, 2002, to redeem the
11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock after a Change of
Control or (ii) on or after October 1, 2002, to redeem the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable
<PAGE>
 
                                       23

Exchangeable Preferred Stock at the applicable redemption price set forth
herein.


X.   Covenant to Report.
     ------------------ 

          Notwithstanding that the corporation may not be subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
corporation will file with the SEC and provide the Transfer Agent and the
holders of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock with all
information, documents and reports specified in Section 13 and Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.


XI.  Mutilated or Missing 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock Certificates.
- ------------------ 

          If any of the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
certificates shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the corporation
shall issue, in exchange and in substitution for and upon cancellation of the
mutilated 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock certificate,
or in lieu of and substitution for the 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock certificate lost, stolen or destroyed, a new 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock certificate of like tenor and
representing an equivalent amount of shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable
Exchangeable Preferred Stock, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss,
theft or destruction of such 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock certificate and indemnity, if requested satisfactory to the corporation
and the Transfer Agent (if other than the corporation).


XII. Reissuance; Conversion; Preemptive Rights
     -----------------------------------------

          (i) Shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
that have been issued and reacquired in any manner, including shares purchased
or redeemed or exchanged, shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions
of the laws of the State of Delaware) have the status of authorized and unissued
shares of preferred stock undesignated as to series and may be redesignated and
reissued as part of any series of Additional Preferred Stock other than the 11
3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock.

          (ii) The Holders of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock shall not have any rights hereunder
<PAGE>
 
                                       24

to convert such shares into or exchange such shares for shares of any other
class or classes or of any other series of any class or classes of Capital Stock
of the corporation.

          (iii)     No shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any
securities of the corporation, or any warrants, rights or options issued or
granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities or such
warrants, rights or options may be designated, issued or granted.


XIII.     Business Day.
          ------------ 

          If any payment or redemption shall be required by the terms hereof to
be made on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment, redemption or
exchange shall be made on the immediately succeeding Business Day and no further
dividends shall accumulate after the day payment was required.


XIV. Headings of Subdivisions.
     ------------------------ 

          The headings of various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions
hereof.


XV.  Severability of Provisions.
     -------------------------- 

          If any right, preference or limitation of the 11 3/4% Series H
Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock set forth in these resolutions and the
Certificate of Designations filed pursuant hereto (as such Certificate of
Designations may be amended from time to time) is invalid, unlawful or incapable
of being enforced by reason of any rule or law or public policy, all other
rights, preferences and limitations set forth in such Certificate of
Designations, as amended, which can be given effect without the invalid,
unlawful or unenforceable right, preference or limitation shall, nevertheless
remain in full force and effect, and no right, preference or limitation herein
set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any other such right, preference or
limitation unless so expressed herein.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5

                                                               January 24, 1996


Cablevision Systems Corporation,
   One Media Crossways,
      Woodbury, New York 11797.

Dear Sirs:

     In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Act") of 4,500,000 shares of 11 3/4% Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Securities"), of Cablevision Systems
Corporation (the "Company"), which Securities will be, at the Company's option,
exchangeable for the Company's 11 3/4% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2007
(the "Exchange Debentures") issuable pursuant to an indenture, dated as of
September 26, 1995 (the "Exchange Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank
of New York, as trustee, we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate
records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for the
<PAGE>
 
Cablevision Systems Corporation                                            -2-

purposes of this opinion.  Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you
that, in our opinion:

          (1)  When the registration statement relating to the Securities (the
     "Registration Statement") has become effective under the Act, a certificate
     of designations with respect to the Securities substantially in the form
     filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement has been duly filed with
     the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the terms of the
     Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Company's
     certificate of incorporation, and the Securities have been duly issued and
     exchanged for shares of the Company's 11 3/4% Series G Redeemable
     Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, as contemplated by
     the Registration Statement, the Securities will be validly issued, fully
     paid and nonassessable.

          (2)  When the Registration Statement has become effective under the
     Act and when the Exchange Debentures have been duly authorized by the
     Company and duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in
     conformity with the Exchange Indenture so as not to violate any applicable
     law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or
<PAGE>
 
Cablevision Systems Corporation                                            -3-

     instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any
     requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
     jurisdiction over the Company, the Exchange Debentures will constitute
     valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in
     accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
     transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
     applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
     equity principles.

          The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United
States, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws
of any other jurisdiction.

          We have relied as to certain matters on information obtained from
public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be
responsible, and we have assumed that the Exchange Indenture has been duly 
authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee thereunder, an assumption 
which we have not independently verified.

          We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading "Validity of
the New Preferred Stock" in the Prospectus.  In giving such consent, we do not
thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                                /s/ Sullivan & Cromwell

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------

The Board of Directors
A-R Cable Services, Inc.:


     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement 
(No. 33-63691) on Form S-4 of Cablevision Systems Corporation of our report 
dated March 10, 1995, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of A-R Cable 
Services, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the 
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' deficiency and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, 
which report appears as an exhibit in the December 31, 1994 annual report on 
Form 10-K of Cablevision Systems Corporation, and to the reference to our firm 
under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

                                                /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                                                
                                                KPMG Peat Marwick LLP




Jericho, New York
January 19, 1996

<PAGE>
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------


The Board of Directors
Cablevision Systems Corporation:

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration 
statement (No. 33-63691) on Form S-4 of Cablevision Systems Corporation of our 
report dated March 10, 1995, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of 
Cablevision Systems Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994 and 
1993, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' 
deficiency and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended 
December 31, 1994, and the related schedule, which report appears in the
December 31, 1994 annual report on Form 10-K of Cablevision Systems Corporation,
and to the references to our firm under the headings "Selected Financial Data"
and "Experts" in the prospectus.

                                       /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Jericho, New York
January 19, 1996
<PAGE>
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Partners
Cablevision of Boston Limited Partnership:

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration 
statement (No. 33-63691) on Form S-4 of Cablevision Systems Corporation of our 
report dated March 10, 1995, except as to Note 11 which is as of April 14, 1995,
relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Cablevison of Boston Limited 
Partnership and Consolidated Company as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the 
related consolidated statements of operations, partners' deficiency and cash 
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, 
which report appears in the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-
62717), of Cablevision Systems Corporation, and to the reference to our firm
under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

                                        /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                                            KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Jericho, New York
January 19, 1996
<PAGE>
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                        -------------------------------

The Partners
American Movie Classics Company:

        We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration 
statement (No. 33-63691) on Form S-4 of Cablevision Systems Corporation of our 
report dated March 4, 1994, relating to the balance sheets of American Movie 
Classics Company as of December 31, 1993 and 1992, and the related statements of
income, partners' capital (deficiency) and cash flows for each of the years in 
the three-year period ended December 31, 1993, which report appears in the 
registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-62717), of Cablevision Systems 
Corporation, and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the
prospectus.

                                        /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                                            KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Jericho, New York
January 19, 1996

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


We consent to the use in Amendment No. 1 of Registration Statement No. 33-63691,
on Form S-4, of Cablevision Systems Corporation of our report dated April 28,
1994 (June 3, 1994 as to Note 9) relating to the financial statements of
Monmouth Cablevision Associates, L.P., of our report dated April 28, 1994 (June
3, 1994 as to Note 8) relating to the financial statements of Riverview
Cablevision Associates, L.P. and of our report dated April 28, 1994 (June 3,
1994 as to Note 8) relating to the financial statements of Framingham
Cablevision Associates, Limited Partnership, each incorporated in this
Registration Statement by reference to the Consent Solicitation
Statement/Prospectus No. 33-62717, on Form S-4, of Cablevision Systems
Corporation.

We also consent to the references to us under the heading "Experts" in such 
Registration Statement.


/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey
January 23,1996

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                                      FOR
            11 3/4% SERIES G REDEEMABLE EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                PURSUANT TO THE
                                 EXCHANGE OFFER
                                 IN RESPECT OF
                    ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 11 3/4% SERIES G
                    REDEEMABLE EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                      FOR
            11 3/4% SERIES H REDEEMABLE EXCHANGEABLE PREFERRED STOCK

                                _______________

               PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY __, 1996
             
         THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY
         TIME, ON FEBRUARY __, 1996 UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS
         EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF OLD PREFERRED
         STOCK MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE
         BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.     
 
             To:  Mellon Securities Trust Company, Exchange Agent
 
                        Mellon Securities Trust Company
 
By Mail:                                  By Hand:
                                        
Mellon Securities Trust Company           Mellon Securities Trust Company
P.O. Box 817                              120 Broadway
Midtown Station                           13th Floor
New York, New York 10018                  New York, New York 10271
                                        
  Attention: Reorganization Department      Attention: Reorganization Department
                                        
By Overnight Courier:                     By Facsimile:
                                        
Mellon Securities Trust Company           (201) 296-4293
85 Challenger Road
Overpeck Centre                           
Ridgefield, New Jersey 07660              Confirm by Telephone:
                                          (800) 777-3674       
  Attention: Reorganization Department
<PAGE>
 
          DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION
VIA TELEGRAM, TELEX OR FACSIMILE, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT
CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.  THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE READ
CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

          HOLDERS WHO WISH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE NEW PREFERRED STOCK FOR
THEIR OLD PREFERRED STOCK PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER MUST VALIDLY TENDER
(AND NOT WITHDRAW) THEIR OLD PREFERRED STOCK TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE.

          By execution hereof, the undersigned acknowledges receipt of the
Prospectus (the "Prospectus"), dated January __, 1996, of Cablevision Systems
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which, together with this
Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto (the "Letter of Transmittal"),
constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange its 11 3/4%
Series H Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "New Preferred Stock")
that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), pursuant to a Registration Statement of which the Prospectus
constitutes a part, for its outstanding 11 3/4% Series G Redeemable Exchangeable
Preferred Stock (the "Old Preferred Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Prospectus. Holders who wish to tender the
additional shares of Old Preferred Stock received by such holder in respect of
the January 2, 1996 dividend payment with respect to the Old Preferred Stock may
do so.

          This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by Holders if: (i)
certificates representing Old Preferred Stock are to be physically delivered to
the Exchange Agent herewith by Holders; (ii) tender of Old Preferred Stock is to
be made by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC") pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Prospectus
under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering" by any financial
institution that is a participant in DTC and whose name appears on a security
position listing as the owner of Old Preferred Stock (such participants, acting
on behalf of Holders, are referred to herein, together with such Holders, as
"Acting Holders"); or (iii) tender of Old Preferred Stock is to be made
according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus
under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering." DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO
DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

          The term "Holder" with respect to the Exchange Offer means any person:
(i) in whose name shares of Old Preferred Stock are registered on the books of
the Company or any other person who has obtained a properly completed stock
power from the registered Holder; or (ii) in whose name shares of Old Preferred
Stock are held of record by DTC who desires to deliver such Old Preferred Stock
by book-entry transfer at DTC.

          The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of
Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect
to the Exchange Offer. Holders who wish to tender their Old Preferred Stock must
complete this letter in its entirety.

          All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meaning ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

          The instructions included with this Letter of Transmittal must be
followed. Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the
Prospectus, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may
be directed to the Exchange Agent. See Instruction 8 herein.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          HOLDERS WHO WISH TO ACCEPT THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR OLD
PREFERRED STOCK MUST COMPLETE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
          List below the Old Preferred Stock to which this Letter of Transmittal
relates. If the space provided below is inadequate, list the certificate numbers
and liquidation preferences on a separately executed schedule and affix the
schedule to this Letter of Transmittal.


                      DESCRIPTION OF OLD PREFERRED STOCK

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            CERTIFICATE          AGGREGATE
                                             NUMBER(S)*         LIQUIDATION
                                           (ATTACH SIGNED        PREFERENCE
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF HOLDER(S)          LIST IF         TENDERED (IF LESS
   (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK)                NECESSARY)          THAN ALL) **
<S>                                        <C>                <C>
 
  
 
 
TOTAL LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE OF OLD PREFERRED STOCK TENDERED
</TABLE> 

  * Need not be completed by Holders tendering by book-entry transfer.
 
 ** Need not be completed by Holders who wish to tender with respect to all Old
    Preferred Stock listed. See Instruction 2.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 

[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD PREFERRED STOCK ARE BEING DELIVERED BY DTC TO
     THE EXCHANGE AGENT'S ACCOUNT AT DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     Name of Tendering Institution:  ________________________________

     DTC Book-Entry Account No.:  ___________________________________

     Transaction Code No.:  _________________________________________

If Holders desire to tender Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and (i) certificates representing such Old Preferred Stock are not lost but are
not immediately available, (ii) time will not permit this Letter of Transmittal,
certificates representing such Old Preferred Stock or other required documents
to reach the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) the procedures
for book-entry transfer cannot be completed prior to the Expiration Date, such
Holders may effect a tender of such Old Preferred Stock in accordance with the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering."

[ ]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD PREFERRED STOCK ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
     A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT
     AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     Name(s) of Holder(s) of Old Preferred Stock: ___________________

     Window Ticket No. (if any): ____________________________________

     Date of Execution of
     Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: _________________________________

     Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: _________

     ________________________________________________________________

     If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer: 
     Name of Tendering Institution: _________________________________

     DTC Book-Entry Account No.: ____________________________________

     Transaction Code No.: __________________________________________

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
[ ]  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER TENDERING SHARES OF OLD PREFERRED
     STOCK ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND
     WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY
     AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

     Name: __________________________________________________________

     Address: _______________________________________________________

              _______________________________________________________

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
Ladies/Gentlemen:

          Subject to the terms of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby
tenders to the Company the aggregate liquidation preference of Old Preferred
Stock indicated above. Subject to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange
of the aggregate liquidation preference of Old Preferred Stock tendered in
accordance with this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned sells, assigns and
transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in
and to the Old Preferred Stock tendered hereby. The undersigned hereby
irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent its agent and attorney-
in-fact (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of
the Company) with respect to the tendered Old Preferred Stock with full power of
substitution to (i) deliver certificates for such Old Preferred Stock to the
Company, or transfer ownership of such Old Preferred Stock on the account books
maintained by DTC, together in either such case, with all accompanying evidences
of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of, the Company and (ii)
present such Old Preferred Stock for transfer on the books of the Company and
receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership
of such Old Preferred Stock, all in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
Offer. The power of attorney granted in this paragraph shall be deemed
irrevocable and coupled with an interest.

          The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that he or she has full
power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Old Preferred Stock
tendered hereby and that the Company will acquire good and unencumbered title
thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and
not subject to any adverse claim, when the same are acquired by the Company. The
undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in reliance
upon an interpretation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission
that the New Preferred Stock issued in exchange for the Old Preferred Stock
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for sale, resold and otherwise
transferred by holders thereof (other than any such holder that is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions
of the Securities Act provided that such New Preferred Stock are acquired in the
ordinary course of such holders business and such holders have no arrangement
with any person to participate in the distribution of such New Preferred Stock.
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the New
Preferred Stock.

          The undersigned represents that (i) the New Preferred Stock acquired
pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of such
holder's business, (ii) such holder has no arrangements with any person to
participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such New Preferred Stock and (iii) such holder is not an "affiliate," as defined
under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of the Company or, if such holder is an
affiliate, that such holder will comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable. If the
undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Preferred
Stock. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Preferred
Stock for its own account in exchange for Old Preferred Stock that were acquired
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Preferred Stock; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

          The undersigned will upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the Company to be necessary or
desirable to complete the assignment and transfer of the Old Preferred Stock
tendered hereby.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
          For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be deemed to
have accepted validly tendered Old Preferred Stock when, and as if the Company
has given oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent. If any tendered
Old Preferred Stock are not accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer
for any reason, certificates for any such unaccepted Old Preferred Stock will be
returned (except as noted below with respect to tenders through DTC), without
expense, to the undersigned at the address shown below or at a different address
shown below or at a different address as may be indicated under "Special
Issuance Instructions" as promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date.

          All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of
Transmittal shall survive the death, incapacity or dissolution of the
undersigned and every obligation under this Letter of Transmittal shall be
binding upon the undersigned's heirs, personal representatives, successors and
assigns.

          The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Preferred Stock
pursuant to the procedures described under the caption "The Exchange Offer--
Procedures for Tendering" in the Prospectus and in the instructions hereto will
constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.

          Unless otherwise indicated under "Special Issuance Instructions,"
please issue the certificates representing the New Preferred Stock issued in
exchange for the Old Preferred Stock accepted for exchange and return any Old
Preferred Stock not tendered or not exchanged, in the name(s) of the undersigned
(or in either such event in the case of Old Preferred Stock tendered by DTC, by
credit to the account at DTC). Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under
"Special Delivery Instructions," please send the certificates representing the
New Preferred Stock issued in exchange for the Old Preferred Stock accepted for
exchange and any certificates for Old Preferred Stock not tendered or not
exchanged (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the undersigned at the
address shown below the undersigned's signatures, unless, in either event,
tender is being made through DTC. In the event that both "Special Issuance
Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" are completed, please issue
the certificates representing the New Preferred Stock issued in exchange for the
Old Preferred Stock accepted for exchange and return any Old Preferred Stock not
tendered or not exchanged in the name(s) of, and send said certificates to, the
person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that the Company has no
obligation pursuant to the "Special Issuance Instructions" and "Special Delivery
Instructions" to transfer any Old Preferred Stock from the name of the
registered holder(s) thereof if the Company does not accept for exchange any of
the Old Preferred Stock so tendered.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                               PLEASE SIGN HERE
 
                 (TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS OF
  OLD PREFERRED STOCK REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SHARES OF OLD PREFERRED STOCK ARE
                     BEING PHYSICALLY DELIVERED HEREWITH)
 
     This Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the Holder(s) of Old Preferred
Stock exactly as their name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s) for Old Preferred
Stock or, if tendered by a participant in DTC, exactly as such participant's
name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Old Preferred Stock,
or by person(s) authorized to become registered Holder(s) by endorsements and
documents transmitted with this Letter of Transmittal. If signature is by a
trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must set
forth his or her full title below under "Capacity" and submit evidence
satisfactory to the Company of such person's authority to so act. See
Instruction 3 herein. 

     If the signature appearing below is not of the registered Holder(s) of the
Old Preferred Stock, then the registered Holder(s) must sign a valid proxy.
 
X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Date: . . . . . . . . . . . 

X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Date: . . . . . . . . . . .
 SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S) OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY

Name(s):. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Address:. . . . . . . . . .   

        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .               . . . . . . . . . .   
                    (PLEASE PRINT)                        (INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
 
Capacity:   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       Area Code and Telephone No.:

Social Security No.:. . . . . . . . . . . .               . . . . . . . . . .   

                SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (SEE INSTRUCTION 3 HEREIN)
       Certain Signatures Must Be Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
            (NAME OF ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION GUARANTEEING SIGNATURES)

 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
              (ADDRESS (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) AND TELEPHONE NUMBER 
                        (INCLUDING AREA CODE) OF FIRM)
 

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                            (AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE)
 
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                (PRINTED NAME)
 
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                    (TITLE)


Date:. . . . . . . . . . . . .

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
                         SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
                          (SEE INSTRUCTION 4 HEREIN)
                                         
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Preferred Stock in the aggregate
liquidation preference not tendered are to be issued in the name of, or the New
Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer are to be issued to the
order of, someone other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s)
within this Letter of Transmittal or issued to an address different from that
shown in the box entitled "Description of Old Preferred Stock" within this
Letter of Transmittal, or if Old Preferred Stock tendered by book-entry transfer
that are not accepted for purchase are to be credited to an account maintained
at DTC. 
 
                                         
                                         
Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                (PLEASE PRINT)
 
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                (PLEASE PRINT)
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                      ZIP CODE
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
               TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER




                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                          (SEE INSTRUCTION 4 HEREIN)


To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Preferred Stock in the aggregate
liquidation preference not tendered or not accepted for purchase or the New
Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer are to be sent to someone
other than the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) within this Letter
of Transmittal or to an address different from that shown in the box entitled
"Description of Old Preferred Stock" within this Letter of Transmittal. 



Name:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                (PLEASE PRINT)
 
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                (PLEASE PRINT)
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                      ZIP CODE
 
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
               TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
                                  INSTRUCTIONS

                    FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                   OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND THE SOLICITATION

     1.   DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OLD PREFERRED STOCK. The
certificates for the tendered Old Preferred Stock (or a confirmation of a book-
entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC of all Old Preferred
Stock delivered electronically), as well as a properly completed and duly
executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal or facsimile hereof and any other
documents required by this Letter of Transmittal must be received by the
Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City
time, on the Expiration Date. The method of delivery of the tendered Old
Preferred Stock, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents to
the Exchange Agent is at the election and risk of the Holder and, except as
otherwise provided below, the delivery will be deemed made only when actually
received by the Exchange Agent. Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended
that the Holder use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases,
sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely delivery. No Letter of
Transmittal or Old Preferred Stock should be sent to the Company.

          Holders who wish to tender their Old Preferred Stock and (i) whose Old
Preferred Stock are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their
Old Preferred Stock, this Letter of Transmittal or any other documents required
hereby to the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date must tender their Old
Preferred Stock and follow the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the
Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures: (i) such tender must be made by or
through an Eligible Institution; (ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange
Agent must have received from the Eligible Institution a properly completed and
duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail or
hand delivery) setting forth the name and address of the Holder of the Old
Preferred Stock, the certificate number or numbers of such Old Preferred Stock
and the aggregate liquidation preference of Old Preferred Stock tendered,
stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that, within five
business days after the Expiration Date, this Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile thereof) together with the certificate(s) representing the Old
Preferred Stock (or a confirmation of electronic delivery of book-entry delivery
into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC) and any of the required documents will
be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (iii) such
properly completed and executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof), as
well as all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal and the
certificate(s) representing all tendered Old Preferred Stock in proper form for
transfer (or a confirmation of electronic mail delivery of book-entry delivery
into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC), must be received by the Exchange
Agent within five business days after the Expiration Date, all as provided in
the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed Delivery
Procedures." Any Holder of Old Preferred Stock who wishes to tender his Old
Preferred Stock pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above
must ensure that the Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

          All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Old Preferred Stock will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination will be
final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all
Old Preferred Stock not properly tendered or any Old Preferred Stock the
Company's acceptance of which would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company,
be unlawful. The Company also reserves the right to waive any irregularities or
conditions of tender as to particular Old Preferred Stock. The Company's
interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the
instructions in this Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all
parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders
of Old Preferred Stock must be cured within such time as the Company shall
determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be
under

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to
tenders of Old Preferred Stock, nor shall any of them incur any liability for
failure to give such notification. Tenders of Old Preferred Stock will not be
deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or
waived. Any Old Preferred Stock received by the Exchange Agent that are not
properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been
cured or waived will be returned without cost by the Exchange Agent to the
tendering Holders of Old Preferred Stock, unless otherwise provided in this
Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.

     2.   PARTIAL TENDERS. If a tendering Holder is tendering less than the
entire aggregate liquidation preference of such Holder's Old Preferred Stock,
such Holder should fill in the aggregate liquidation preference tendered in the
third column of the chart entitled "Description of Old Preferred Stock." The
entire aggregate liquidation preference of Old Preferred Stock delivered to the
Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
If the entire aggregate liquidation preference of all Old Preferred Stock is not
tendered, Old Preferred Stock for the aggregate liquidation preference of Old
Preferred Stock delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been
tendered unless otherwise indicated. If the entire aggregate liquidation
preference of all Old Preferred Stock is not tendered, Old Preferred Stock for
the aggregate liquidation preference of Old Preferred Stock not tendered and a
certificate or certificates representing New Preferred Stock issued in exchange
of any Old Preferred Stock accepted will be sent to the Holder at his or her
registered address, unless a different address is provided in the appropriate
box on this Letter of Transmittal or unless tender is made through DTC, promptly
after the Old Preferred Stock are accepted for exchange.

     3.   SIGNATURES ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL; STOCK POWERS AND
ENDORSEMENTS; GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. If this Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile hereof) is signed by the registered Holder(s) of the Old Preferred
Stock tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name(s) as written
on the face of the Old Preferred Stock without alteration, enlargement or any
change whatsoever.

     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by the
registered Holder(s) of Old Preferred Stock tendered and the certificate(s) for
New Preferred Stock issued in exchange therefor is to be issued (or any
untendered Old Preferred Stock is to be reissued) to the registered Holder, such
Holder need not and should not endorse any tendered Old Preferred Stock, nor
provide a separate stock power. In any other case, such holder must either
properly endorse the Old Preferred Stock tendered or transmit a properly
completed separate stock power with this Letter of Transmittal, with the
signatures on the endorsement or stock power guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.

     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) is signed by a person
other than the registered Holder(s) of any Old Preferred Stock listed, such Old
Preferred Stock must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers
signed as the name of the registered Holder(s) appears on the Old Preferred
Stock.

     If this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) or any Old Preferred
Stock or stock powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators,
guardians, attorneys-in-fact, or officers of corporations or others acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when
signing, and unless waived by the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company
of their authority so to act must be submitted with this Letter of Transmittal.

     Endorsements on Old Preferred Stock or signatures on stock powers required
by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
     Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless the Old Preferred Stock tendered
pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered Holder (including any
participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the
owner of Old Preferred Stock) who has not completed the box set forth herein
entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery
Instructions" or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.

     4.   SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. Tendering Holders should
indicate, in the applicable spaces, the name and address to which New Preferred
Stock or substitute Old Preferred Stock for the aggregate liquidation preference
not tendered or not accepted for exchange are to be issued or sent, if different
from the name and address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal (or
in the case of tender of the Old Preferred Stock through DTC, if different from
DTC). In the case of issuance in a different name, the taxpayer identification
or social security number of the person named must also be indicated.

     5.   TRANSFER TAXES. The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any,
applicable to the exchange of Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange
Offer. If, however, certificates representing New Preferred Stock or Old
Preferred Stock for the aggregate liquidation preference not tendered or
accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be registered or issued
in the name of, any person other than the registered Holder of the Old Preferred
Stock tendered hereby, or if shares of tendered Old Preferred Stock are
registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter
of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the
exchange of Old Preferred Stock pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount
of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered Holder or any
other person) will be payable by the tendering Holder. If satisfactory evidence
of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted with this
Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly
to such tendering Holder.

     Except as provided in this Instruction 5, it will not be necessary for
transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Old Preferred Stock listed in this
Letter of Transmittal.

     6.   WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The Company reserves the absolute right to
amend, waive or modify specified conditions in the Exchange Offer in the case of
any Old Preferred Stock tendered.

     7.   MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED OLD PREFERRED STOCK. Any
tendering Holder whose Old Preferred Stock has been mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated herein for
further instruction.

     8.   REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES. Requests for additional copies of the
Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent
at the address specified in this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may also contact
their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for
assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
Certificate Surrendered     Old Preferred Stock Tendered   Old Preferred Stock Accepted
<S>                         <C>                            <C> 
 
 
Delivery Prepared by ________________  Checked by __________________  Date ___________
</TABLE>

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
                 The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:


                        Mellon Securities Trust Company


By Mail:                                  By Hand:
 
Mellon Securities Trust Company           Mellon Securities Trust Company
P.O. Box 817                              120 Broadway
Midtown Station                           13th Floor
New York, New York 10018                  New York, New York 10271
 
  Attention: Reorganization Department      Attention: Reorganization Department

By Overnight Courier:                     By Facsimile:
 
Mellon Securities Trust Company           (201) 296-4293
85 Challenger Road
Overpeck Centre
Ridgefield, New Jersey 07660              Confirm by Telephone:
                                          (800) 777-3674       
  Attention: Reorganization Department

                                      -15-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2

                         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
                                      for
            11 3/4% Series G Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock
                                       of
                        Cablevision Systems Corporation


     As set forth in the Prospectus, dated January __, 1996 (the "Prospectus"),
of Cablevision Systems Corporation (the "Company"), in the accompanying Letter
of Transmittal and instructions thereto (the "Letter of Transmittal"), this form
or one substantially equivalent hereto must be used to accept the Company's
exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") to purchase all of its outstanding 11 3/4%
Series G Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Old Preferred Stock") if
(i) certificates representing the Old Preferred Stock to be tendered for
purchase and payment are not lost but are not immediately available, (ii) time
will not permit the Letter of Transmittal, certificates representing such Old
Preferred Stock or other required documents to reach the Exchange Agent prior to
the Expiration Date or (iii) the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be
completed prior to the Expiration Date.  This form may be delivered by an
Eligible Institution by mail or hand delivery or transmitted, via telegram,
telex or facsimile, to the Exchange Agent as set forth below.  All capitalized
terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in the Prospectus.

         THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY
         TIME, ON FEBRUARY __, 1996 UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE
         "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF OLD PREFERRED STOCK MAY BE
         WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. ON THE BUSINESS DAY
         PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.


                              The Exchange Agent:

                        Mellon Securities Trust Company


By Mail:                                  By Hand:
 
Mellon Securities Trust Company           Mellon Securities Trust Company
P.O. Box 817                              120 Broadway
Midtown Station                           13th Floor
New York, New York 10018                  New York, New York 10271
 
  Attention: Reorganization Department      Attention: Reorganization Department

By Overnight Courier:                     By Facsimile:
 
Mellon Securities Trust Company           (201) 296-4293
85 Challenger Road
Overpeck Centre
Ridgefield, New Jersey 07660              Confirm by Telephone:
                                          (800) 777-3674       
  Attention: Reorganization Department

     DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA TELEGRAM,
TELEX OR FACSIMILE, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID
DELIVERY.

     This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures.  If a signature on the
Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an "Eligible Institution"
under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the
applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.

Ladies/Gentlemen:

     The undersigned hereby tender(s) to the Company, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer and the Letter of Transmittal,
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the aggregate liquidation preference of
Old Preferred Stock set forth below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in the Prospectus.
<PAGE>
 
     The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Preferred Stock pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may not be withdrawn after 5:00 p.m., New York City time
on the Business Day prior to the Expiration Date.  Tenders of Old Preferred
Stock may also be withdrawn if the Exchange Offer is terminated without any such
Old Preferred Stock being purchased thereunder or as otherwise provided in the
Prospectus.

          All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by this
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery shall survive the death or incapacity of the
undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned under this Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and other
legal representatives of the undersigned.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                            PLEASE SIGN AND COMPLETE
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C> 
Signature(s) of Registered Owner(s) or Authorized                   Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
Signatory:
          ----------------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------------------------

Aggregate Liquidation Preference of Old Preferred Stock             Address:
Tendered:
         -----------------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------      ------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------      
                                                                    Area Code and Telephone No.:
Certificate No(s). of Old Preferred Stock (if available):                                       --------------------------------
                                                                    If Old Preferred Stock will be delivered by book-entry
- --------------------------------------------------------------      transfer at The Depository Trust Company, insert,
- --------------------------------------------------------------      Depository Account No.: 
- --------------------------------------------------------------                             -------------------------------------
Date:
     ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE> 

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be signed by the registered holder(s) of
Old Preferred Stock exactly as its (their) name(s) appear on certificates for
Old Preferred Stock or on a security position listing as the owner of Old
Preferred Stock, or by person(s) authorized to become registered Holder(s) by
endorsements and documents transmitted with this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-
fact, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,
such person must provide the following information.
 
                     Please print name(s) and address(es)
 

Name(s): 
        ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Capacity:
         ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Address(es):
            ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
DO NOT SEND OLD PREFERRED STOCK WITH THIS FORM. PREFERRED STOCK SHOULD BE SENT
TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT TOGETHER WITH A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

 
 
                                   GUARANTEE
                   (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
 
 
        The undersigned, a member firm of a registered national securities
exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a
commercial bank or trust company having an office or a correspondent in the
United States, hereby (a) represents that each holder of Old Preferred Stock on
whose behalf this tender is being made "own(s)" the Old Preferred Stock covered
hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, (b) represents that such tender of Old Preferred Stock
complies with such Rule 14e-4, and (c) guarantees that, within five New York
Stock Exchange trading days from the date of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,
a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile
thereof), together with certificates representing the Old Preferred Stock
covered hereby in proper form for transfer (or confirmation of the book-entry
transfer of such Old Preferred Stock into the Exchange Agent's account at The
Depository Trust Company, pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set
forth in the Prospectus) and required documents will be deposited by the
undersigned with the Exchange Agent.

       THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT MUST DELIVER THE LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND OLD PREFERRED STOCK TENDERED HEREBY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITHIN
THE TIME PERIOD SET FORTH ABOVE AND THAT FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN
FINANCIAL LOSS TO THE UNDERSIGNED.

Name of Firm:                            
             -------------------------   ---------------------------------------
                                                    Authorized Signature

Address:                                 Name:
        ------------------------------         ---------------------------------

- --------------------------------------   Title: 
                                                --------------------------------
Area Code and Telephone No.:             Date:
                             ---------         ---------------------------------

                                      -3-


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