{{Short description|American cable provider}} {{Infobox brand | name = Optimum | image = | caption = Headquarters in Long Island City, Queens | logo = Optimum logo.png | logo_size = 200px | type = {{plainlist| *Digital cable *Internet *Mobile phone *VoIP phone}} | website = {{URL|https://www.optimum.com/|optimum.com}} | introduced = {{Start date|1996}} | currentowner = Optimum Communications, Inc. | origin=United States }}
'''Optimum''' is an American telecommunications brand owned and operated by Optimum Communications, formerly Altice USA.<ref name="Fierce 2022-08">{{cite web |url=https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/altice-usa-forges-ahead-suddenlink-rebrand-sale-rumors-swirl |title=Altice USA forges ahead with Suddenlink rebrand as sale rumors swirl |website=Fierce Telecom |date=1 August 2022}}</ref> It is the fourth-largest cable provider in the United States and a Fortune 500 company. Optimum offers Internet, television, mobile and home phone services in 21 states.
== Overview == thumb|left|upright=0.75|This Optimum customer service facility in Freehold Township, New Jersey, has existed during both the Cablevision and Altice eras
Introduced in 2018 on Long Island and then extended through its service area, Optimum One is the company's flagship home entertainment platform, and combines broadband internet access, television, VOIP telephone service, and various streaming applications.<ref name="dt-2021"/> An assessment in 2021 from the Digital Trends site said that the strength of Optimum One was its centralizing of internet connection, WiFi access point, and streaming in one device, whereas its weakness was the need for Optimum One Mini devices that extend the WiFi signal around a home.<ref name="dt-2021">{{cite news | url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/altice-one-crams-modem-router-streaming-together/ | title= Altice One crams your modem, router, and streaming box into one device | first= Kevin | last=Parrish | publisher=Digital Trends | date= August 3, 2021}}</ref> thumb|right|Optimum HD cable box (top) and cable modem, in place and connected
Optimum TV offers cable television service in several tiers,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.optimum.com/tv | title=There's a TV package for everyone | publisher=Altice USA | access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref> the names of which have changed over time. Optimum offers broadband internet service, similarly with several tiers available.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.optimum.com/internet | title=Internet | publisher=Altice USA | access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref> The company also offers a low-cost broadband option, Optimum Advantage Internet.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.optimumadvantageinternet.com/ | title=Optimum connects our communities | publisher=Altice USA | access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref> Optimum offers landline VOIP telephone service branded as Optimum Voice; the service utilizes a telephony-capable cable modem to provide the service, either alone or combined into a household's main cable modem box.
Optimum provides small and mid-sized businesses with Internet, telephone, television, mobile, WiFi, and advertising services.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.optimum.com/business/ | title=Customizable Solutions for Your Business | publisher=Altice USA | access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>
== History == Optimum began as a "30-channel<ref>Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report {{Cite report |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/fr042197/ |title=Federal Register – 1977 – Delegated legislation |date=October 5, 1977 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |issue=197 |publication-date=October 12, 1977 |volume=42 |page=54958 |quote=The cable television system has a 30-channel capacity. Subscribers ...}}</ref> system built in the 1970s"<ref name="IPL70s.NYT">{{Cite news|author=Linda Saslow|date=April 6, 1997|title=New Channels and New Costs for Cable TV|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/06/nyregion/new-channels-and-new-costs-for-cable-tv.html|quote=in the older systems we maxed out on channels available.}}</ref> using "copper cable" technology. Modernizations and expansions of their services included "a fiber optic network" and more channels, with an expanded set of offerings. As of 2020, the name is still used.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Denis Slattery|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-optimum-network-enhancement-fee-lawsuit-attorney-general-20191223-4gl2diyeerew7hoffeebhygr7y-story.html|title=State lawmaker slams Optimum over hidden fee, demands refund for customers|date=December 23, 2019|newspaper=New York Daily News}}</ref>
The original ''Optimum'' pre-digital technology was limited in the number of channels it could carry.<ref name="IPL70s.NYT" /> The trademark (styled as ''OPTIMUM'') was "first in use in commerce in August 1994".<ref name="OptTrademarkCourtCase.Lis">{{Cite web |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2472438/csc-holdings-llc-v-optimum-networks-inc |title=CSC HOLDINGS LLC v. Optimum Networks, Inc., 731 F. Supp. 2d 400 (D.N.J. 2010) |date=August 17, 2010}}</ref> left|thumb|160x160px|Optimum logo used from 2004 until 2012
=== Optimum as a Cablevision offering === thumb|right|upright=0.667|Cablevision Optimum equipment return facility in Brooklyn, New York Following Optimum being acquired by Cablevision,<ref name="IoDigiOpt.NYT2002" /> the brand Optimum TV<ref>(2008: commonly referred to as "Family Basic" or "Family Cable")</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2021}} was used to market a more expensive offering with more channels.<ref name="IPL70s.NYT" /> By 2004 the name ''Optimum Voice'' was used to offer "a new phone service" based on cable-modem technology.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/08/technology/connections-from-cablevision-another-way-to-carry-your-voice.html |title=Connections; From Cablevision, Another Way to Carry Your Voice |author=David Pogue |date=April 8, 2004}}</ref> Like competing offerings from AT&T, "it stops working altogether if the power goes out".
The ''Optimum'' name was also used to offer Cable-based Internet access;<ref name="BundledPioneer.NYT2009">{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/sports/baseball/25sandomir.html |title=Watching the Yankees on the Computer |author=Richard Sandomir |date=June 24, 2009}}</ref> Optimum also pioneered in optionally bundling this with TV access, using "streaming" technology. In what was termed "digital service" ''Interactive Optimum'' was not first, but was early in steering the introduction of video-on-demand, alternate camera views for sporting events, and VCR-like rewind and replay.<ref name="IoDigiOpt.NYT2002">{{Cite news|author=Warren Strugatch|date=March 3, 2002|title=L.I.@WORK: As Cablevision Sees the Future, It's Interactive|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/03/nyregion/li-work-as-cablevision-sees-the-future-it-s-interactive.html|quote=instructional programs about bird-watching or fine wines.}}</ref> ''Optimum Select'' was a related offering, "in which viewers could click on their remote controls to receive more information".<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=Advertising Age |url=https://adage.com/article/mediaworks/141501 |title=Interactive Commercials Show Strong Early Results: Cablevision's Optimum Select Pleases Marketers |quote=After years .. and several false starts .. the first .. to offer the technology |author=Andrew Hampp |date=January 14, 2010}}</ref> Similarly, regarding Optimum's branding and HBO Now, writes ''the New York Times'', "Cablevision’s Internet subscribers can order the service on the company’s website, ''Optimum.net'' .., or by calling."<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/technology/personaltech/hbo-makes-game-of-thrones-easier-to-see-if-not-follow.html |title=HBO Now Makes 'Game of Thrones' Easier to See, if Not Follow |author=Brian X. Chen |date=April 8, 2015}}</ref>
Although references such as "Cablevision's Optimum"<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/technology/personaltech/22pogue-email.html |title=A Convenient, Mysterious Service From Cable Companies |author=David Pogue |date=April 22, 2010}}</ref> do not include the ''Altice'' name, both names<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Cable Customers to See Price Increase |quote=Cablevision's premium service, called Optimum Gold, will ... |author=Stewart Ain |date=December 10, 2000}}</ref> reflect major market share: one study showed ''Optimum Voice'' as the eight-largest phone service provider in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Leichtman Research Group |url=http://www.leichtmanresearch.com/research/notes04_2012.pdf |title=Research Notes |date=April 2012 |page=6}}</ref> The name's value was used for about two years when an acquisition held June 2010 through February 2013 was named ''Optimum West''.<ref>Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming. {{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-08/charter-to-buy-optimum-west-for-1-63-billion.html |title=Charter to Buy Optimum West for $1.63 Billion |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=February 8, 2013 |access-date=2013-02-08 |author=Serena Saitto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323452204578290213200288742 |title=Charter Communications to Buy Optimum West |date=February 7, 2013}}</ref>
====Interactive Optimum (iO)==== <!--- IO Digital Cable Service redirects here --> thumb|right|upright=0.571|Cablevision remote with a large "iO" button in the middle In late 2001, Interactive Optimum (iO Digital Cable Service)<ref name=IoDigiOpt.NYT2002 /> combined "telephone, Internet, entertainment" with "60 channels of digital music and 20 channels of topics like antique car collecting, vegetarian cooking or wedding planning'. ''The New York Times'' described other cable companies in 2002 as having offered "merely a way of improving television reception". By 2004, there were 15 competitors, but the entire subscribing customer base for what others called "Interactive TV" was described as "still rare".<ref name=ITV.AA2004>{{Cite news |newspaper=Advertising Age |url=https://adage.com/article/news/interactive-tv-shows-signs-life/97917 |title=Interactive TV shows signs of life |author=Simon Applebaum |date=March 8, 2004}}</ref> ''Advertising Age'' reported that "several high-profile ventures that had their plug pulled for troublesome economic or technological reasons".
Even so, by "playing catch-up"<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/nyregion/in-business-going-digital.html |title=Going Digital |author=Carin Rubenstein |date=January 5, 2003}}</ref> ''iO'' and the rest of the company's offerings increased customer count from 689,000 (2004)<ref name=ITV.AA2004 /> to over 3 million (2016).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ncta.com/industry-data/item/217 |title=Cable Industry Data |date=January 6, 2016}}</ref>
=== Altice USA === Altice bought Cablevision, the Optimum brand included, for $17.7 billion in June 2016. Cablevision was combined with Suddenlink Communications to create Altice USA, the fourth largest operator in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/altice-cablevision-cable-operator-fourth-largest-1201800266/|title=Altice Completes Cablevision Acquisition, Creating No. 4 U.S. Cable Operator|last1=Littleton|first1=Cynthia|date=2016-06-21|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}</ref>
On March 1, 2021, Altice USA announced that it would acquire Morris Broadband in North Carolina for $310 million which was later closed on April 6, 2021. Altice later announced that Morris Broadband would be rebranded into the Optimum name, making it the first time since 2011 when under its predecessor, Cablevision, in which Optimum had systems outside of the New York area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alticeusa.com/news/articles/press-release/corporate/altice-usa-completes-acquisition-morris-broadband|title = Altice USA Completes Acquisition of Morris Broadband|date = 6 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alticeusa.com/news/articles/press-release/corporate/altice-usa-acquire-morris-broadband|title=Altice USA to Acquire Morris Broadband|date=March 2021}}</ref>
In April 2022, Altice USA announced that SuddenLink was to be rebranded into Optimum. Because of this, Optimum will automatically expand its footprint to eleven additional states, in addition to expanding in North Carolina with its previous acquisition with Morris Broadband.<ref name="Suddenlink Rebranding">{{Cite web|last=Baumgartner|first=Jeff|title=Suddenlink rebranding as 'Optimum' amid fiber upgrades|url=https://www.lightreading.com/cable-tech/suddenlink-rebranding-as-optimum-amid-fiber-upgrades-/d/d-id/776544|work=Light Reading|publisher=Informa Tech|date=April 5, 2022}}</ref> The rebranding was later completed by August 1, 2022.<ref name="Fierce 2022-08" /><ref>{{Cite press release|title=Suddenlink is Now Optimum|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220731005070/en/Suddenlink-is-Now-Optimum|publisher=Altice USA|date=August 1, 2022|via=BusinessWire}}</ref>
On November 6, 2025, Altice USA announced that it would change its corporate name to Optimum Communications effective November 19, unifying it with its service brand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-06 |title=Altice USA Changes Corporate Name and NYSE Ticker Symbol to Align with Optimum Brand |url=https://investors.optimum.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/224/altice-usa-changes-corporate-name-and-nyse-ticker-symbol-to |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=Optimum Communications, Inc. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2025-11-06 |title=Altice Changes Corporate Name to Optimum Communications |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/altice-changes-name-to-optimum-communications-1236420014/ |access-date=2026-05-22 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> == Conflicts == A New Jersey company that named itself "Optimum Networks Inc." was sued by then-owner Cablevision Systems Corporation (CSC) for violation of the ''OPTIMUM'' trademark in 2010.<ref name=OptTrademarkCourtCase.Lis />
Optimum customers lost access to NY1 on June 30, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CampbellShare |first=Jon |date=2025-05-29 |title=Thousands in NY, NJ to lose access to NY1, News 12 in cable dispute |url=https://gothamist.com/news/thousands-in-ny-nj-to-lose-access-to-ny1-news-12-in-cable-dispute |access-date=2025-08-25 |website=Gothamist |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * List of multiple-system operators
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Altice USA}} {{Internet service providers of the United States}} {{CATV USA}}
Category:Cable television companies of the United States Category:Altice USA Category:VoIP companies of the United States Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States Category:Internet service providers of the United States