SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION 

             Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                       Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

          Filed by the Registrant [X]
          Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]


          Check the appropriate box:

          [ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
          [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
          [X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
          [ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
          [ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
               Section 240.14a-12

                           CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
          .................................................................
                   (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

          .................................................................
       (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


          Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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               14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
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               Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
          [ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 
               14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

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          applies:
                    
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               3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
          computed   pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
          amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
          determined):
                     
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               4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                    
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                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD JUNE 19, 1996
 
To the Stockholders:
 
     The  annual meeting of the  stockholders of Cablevision Systems Corporation
will be held at the Company's executive offices, One Media Crossways,  Woodbury,
New  York 11797, on Wednesday,  June 19, 1996 at ten  o'clock in the morning for
the following purposes:
 
        1. To elect fourteen  (14) directors, each  to serve for  a term of  one
           year  and  until their  respective  successors shall  have  been duly
           elected and qualified;
 
        2. To authorize  and  approve Cablevision  Systems  Corporation's  First
           Amended and Restated 1996 Employee Stock Plan;
 
        3. To  authorize  and  approve  Cablevision  Systems  Corporation's 1996
           Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan;
 
        4. To ratify and  approve the appointment  of KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP  as
           independent auditors of the Company for the fiscal year 1996;
 
        5. To  transact  such other  business as  may  properly come  before the
           meeting, or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Pursuant to the By-Laws, the Board of Directors has fixed the time and date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to  notice of and to vote at  the
meeting  as of the close of business  on May 15, 1996. Accordingly, only holders
of record of issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Company on such date and
at such  time will  be entitled  to  vote at  the meeting,  notwithstanding  any
transfer of any stock on the books of the Company thereafter.
 
                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                          CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
 
                                          ROBERT S. LEMLE
                                          Executive Vice President,
                                            General Counsel and Secretary
 
Woodbury, New York
May 24, 1996
 
IF  YOU DO NOT  EXPECT TO BE  PRESENT AT THE  MEETING AND WISH  YOUR STOCK TO BE
VOTED, PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY AS PROMPTLY  AS
POSSIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE.


                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                               EXECUTIVE OFFICES
                              ONE MEDIA CROSSWAYS
                            WOODBURY, NEW YORK 11797
 
                           --------------------------
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                           --------------------------
 
                            SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
 
     The  accompanying  proxy is  solicited by  and  on behalf  of the  Board of
Directors of  Cablevision Systems  Corporation (the  'Company') for  use at  the
annual  meeting  of  its stockholders  to  be  held at  the  Company's executive
offices, on June  19, 1996  at ten o'clock  in the  morning and at  any and  all
adjournments thereof.
 
     The shares represented by the proxy will be voted at the annual meeting and
will  be  voted  as specified  on  the proxy  with  respect to  the  election of
directors and with respect to Proposals (2), (3) and (4) or, if no direction  is
indicated,  will be voted in favor of  the election as directors of the nominees
listed below and in favor of Proposals  (2), (3) and (4). The person giving  the
proxy  has the power to revoke  it at any time before  it is voted at the annual
meeting by written notice to  the Secretary of the  Company, or upon request  if
such person is present at the annual meeting.
 
     The  cost of solicitation will be borne by the Company. The Company may use
the services of its directors, officers  and other regular employees to  solicit
proxies  personally  or  by  telephone, and  may  request  brokers, fiduciaries,
custodians and nominees to send proxies, proxy statements and other material  to
their  principals at the  expense of the  Company. This proxy  statement and the
accompanying proxy are being sent to the stockholders of the Company on or about
May 24, 1996. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company's  fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995 is enclosed herewith.
 
                                 VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Pursuant to the By-Laws, the Board of Directors has fixed the time and date
for  the determination of stockholders entitled to  notice of and to vote at the
meeting as of the close of business  on May 15, 1996. Accordingly, only  holders
of  record of Common Stock of the Company on  such date and at such time will be
entitled to vote at  the meeting, notwithstanding any  transfer of any stock  on
the  books  of  the Company  thereafter.  On  March 31,  1996,  the  Company had
outstanding 14,345,569 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share,
each of which entitled the holder to one vote, and 11,572,709 shares of Class  B
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, each of which entitled the holder to ten
votes.
 
     Charles  F. Dolan, the Chairman of the  Company, and trusts for the benefit
of members of his family, together  beneficially own shares of capital stock  of
the  Company having the power to elect as directors the ten persons nominated by
the Board of Directors for  election by holders of  Class B Common Stock,  which
directors would constitute a majority of the Board of Directors and to authorize
and approve Proposals (2), (3) and (4).
 
     In  accordance with  Company's confidential voting  policy, all stockholder
proxies, ballots  and  voting materials  will  be confidentially  inspected  and
tabulated by independent inspectors of election and will not be disclosed to the
Company except under certain limited circumstances.
 
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The  Board of Directors of the Company  met, or acted by written consent in
lieu of meeting, seventeen times in 1995 and presently consists of 13 members, 7
of whom are officers of the Company or its subsidiaries.
 


BOARD COMMITTEES
 
     The Board of Directors has an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee and a
Compensation Committee.  The  Board of  Directors  does not  have  a  nominating
committee.
 
     The  Executive Committee consists of Messrs. Tatta, Bell, Lustgarten, Lemle
and James  Dolan. The  Executive Committee  is authorized  to exercise,  between
meetings  of the Board of Directors, all the powers thereof except as limited by
Delaware law and except for certain specified exceptions including authorization
of contracts with officers  or directors, significant acquisitions,  investments
or guarantees, entering new businesses, the approval of operating budgets or the
issuance  of capital  stock. The  Executive Committee  met, or  acted by written
consent in lieu of meeting, six times in 1995.
 
     The Audit Committee of the Board  of Directors consists of Messrs.  Hochman
and  Oristano. The functions of the Audit  Committee are to review and report to
the Board of Directors with respect to selection and the terms of engagement  of
the  Company's independent  public accountants,  and to  maintain communications
among the  Board  of Directors,  such  independent public  accountants  and  the
Company's  internal  accounting  staff  with  respect  to  accounting  and audit
procedures, the  implementation of  recommendations by  such independent  public
accountants,  the adequacy of the Company's  internal audit controls and related
matters. The Audit Committee met two times in 1995.
 
     The Compensation Committee consists of  Messrs. Charles Dolan, Hochman  and
Tatta.  The functions  of the  Compensation Committee  are (i)  to represent the
Board in discharging its responsibilities with respect to the Company's employee
stock plans and, in  doing so, to  administer such plans  with regard to,  among
other  things, the  determination of eligibility  of employees,  the granting of
stock, SARs  and/or options,  and the  termination  of such  plans and  (ii)  to
determine  the appropriate levels of  compensation, including salaries, bonuses,
stock and option  rights and retirement  benefits for members  of the  Company's
senior  management,  subject to  the  approval of  the  Board of  Directors. The
Compensation Committee met, or acted by written consent in lieu of meeting,  two
times in 1995.
 
     Each  member of the Board of Directors participated in not less than 75% of
the aggregate number of meetings or consents in lieu of meeting of the Board  of
Directors  and of each Board  committee of which he or  she was a member, during
1995.
 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Directors who are  not employees are  paid a  fee of $20,000  per year  for
services rendered in that capacity, a fee of $1,000 for each meeting attended in
person  and a fee of $500 for each meeting participated in by telephone. Members
of the Audit  Committee and members  of the Compensation  Committee who are  not
officers  of the Company are  paid a fee of $1,000  for each meeting attended in
person and  a  fee  of $500  for  each  meeting participated  in  by  telephone.
Non-employee  members of  the Board  of Directors  who serve  on the Cablevision
Employee Benefit Plans  Investment Committee receive  a fee of  $1,000 for  each
meeting attended in person and a fee of $500 for each meeting participated in by
telephone.
 
     John  Tatta, a non-employee  director, has a  consulting agreement with the
Company expiring  in  1998  which  provides for  an  annual  consulting  fee  of
$485,000, reimbursement of certain expenses and the continuation of certain life
insurance  and  supplemental pension  benefits provided  to him  when he  was an
employee. Pursuant  to  this  consulting agreement.  Mr.  Tatta  assists  senior
management  of the Company  in strategic planning  and performs special projects
relating to the Company's business.
 
                           (1) ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     With respect to the election of directors, the Certificate of Incorporation
of the  Company provides  that holders  of Class  A Common  Stock, voting  as  a
separate  class, are  entitled to  elect 25%  of the  total number  of directors
constituting the whole Board 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.  Under  the Company's  By-Laws,  the  Board  of
Directors  is to consist of at least three members, the exact number to be fixed
by the Board. The  Board has set the  number of Directors to  be elected at  the
annual meeting at fourteen directors (four of
 
                                       2
 


whom  are to be elected by the holders of  Class A Common Stock, and ten of whom
are to be elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock), to hold office  until
the  next annual meeting  of stockholders and  until their respective successors
have been duly elected and qualified. The four Class A Directors of the  Company
are elected by the favorable vote of a plurality of the shares of Class A Common
Stock  present in person or represented by  proxy at the meeting and entitled to
vote on the election of Directors. The ten Class B Directors of the Company  are
elected  by the favorable  vote of a plurality  of the shares  of Class B Common
Stock present in person or represented by  proxy at the meeting and entitled  to
vote on the election of Directors.
 
     All  proxies received  by the  Board of Directors  from holders  of Class A
Common Stock and  Class B Common  Stock will be  voted for the  election of  the
respective  directors hereinafter shown as the  nominees of each such respective
class of Common Stock, if  no direction to the contrary  is given. In the  event
that  any nominee is unable  or declines to serve,  the proxy solicited herewith
may be voted for the election of another  person in his or her stead. The  Board
of  Directors knows of no reason to anticipate that this will occur. Abstentions
from voting and broker non-votes (that is, shares held for customers of a broker
but not voted  because of a  lack of instructions  from the broker's  customers)
will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.
 
     The  following table  sets forth  information at  April 1,  1996 as  to the
nominees for election as directors of the Company.
 
            NOMINEES FOR ELECTION BY HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
 


                                                              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                      DIRECTOR
                                                              AND POSITION(S) WITH                    CONTINUOUSLY
          NAME OF NOMINEE              AGE                        THE COMPANY                            SINCE
- ------------------------------------   ---   ------------------------------------------------------   ------------
                                                                                             
Charles D. Ferris...................   62    Director; Member, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky        1985
                                               & Popeo, P.C., Attorneys
Richard H. Hochman(1)(2)............   50    Director; Managing Partner of Regent Capital Partners,       1986
                                               L.P.
Victor Oristano(1)..................   79    Director; Chairman of Alda Communications Corp.              1985
Vincent Tese........................   53    Nominee for election as a Director; Director of The         --
                                               Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.

 
            NOMINEES FOR ELECTION BY HOLDERS OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK
 


                                                              PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                      DIRECTOR
                                                              AND POSITION(S) WITH                    CONTINUOUSLY
          NAME OF NOMINEE              AGE                        THE COMPANY                            SINCE
- ------------------------------------   ---   ------------------------------------------------------   ------------
                                                                                             
William J. Bell(3)..................   56    Vice Chairman and Director                                   1985
Charles F. Dolan(2).................   69    Chairman and Director                                        1985
James L. Dolan(3)...................   40    Chief Executive Officer and Director                         1991
Patrick F. Dolan....................   44    Director and Vice President of News                          1991
Robert S. Lemle(3)..................   43    Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary         1988
                                               and Director
Marc A. Lustgarten(3)...............   49    Vice Chairman and Director                                   1985
Sheila A. Mahony....................   54    Senior Vice President and Director                           1988
Francis F. Randolph, Jr.............   68    Director                                                     1985
Daniel T. Sweeney...................   66    Director                                                     1985
John Tatta(2)(3)....................   75    Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director             1985

 
- ------------
 
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.
 
(3) Member of the Executive Committee.
 
                                       3


               DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
 
     The  following table sets  forth the directors, nominees  for election as a
director and executive officers of the Company as of April 1, 1996.
 


               NAME                   AGE                                  POSITION
- -----------------------------------   ---   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                      
Charles F. Dolan...................   69    Chairman and Director
James L. Dolan.....................   40    Chief Executive Officer and Director
William J. Bell....................   56    Vice Chairman and Director
Marc A. Lustgarten.................   49    Vice Chairman and Director
Robert S. Lemle....................   43    Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Director
William J. Quinn...................   49    President, Cable Operations
Joseph W. Cece.....................   43    Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning
Patrick F. Dolan...................   44    Director and Vice President of News
Thomas C. Dolan....................   43    Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Sheila A. Mahony...................   54    Senior Vice President and Director
Barry J. O'Leary...................   52    Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
Andrew B. Rosengard................   38    Senior Vice President and Controller
John Tatta.........................   75    Chairman of the Executive Committee and Director
Charles D. Ferris..................   62    Director
Richard H. Hochman.................   50    Director
Victor Oristano....................   79    Director
Francis F. Randolph, Jr............   68    Director
Daniel T. Sweeney..................   66    Director
Vincent Tese.......................   53    Nominee for election as a Director

 
     All directors hold office until the  annual meeting of stockholders of  the
Company next following their election and until their successors are elected and
qualified.  All executive officers are elected to serve until the meeting of the
Board of Directors following the next  annual meeting of stockholders and  until
their successors have been elected and qualified.
 
     Information with respect to the business experience and affiliations of the
directors,  nominees for  election as a  director and executive  officers of the
Company is set forth below.
 
     Charles F. Dolan -- Chairman and Director of the Company since 1985.  Chief
Executive Officer of the Company from 1985 to October 1995. Founded and acted as
the  General  Partner  of  the  Company's  predecessor  from  1973  until  1985.
Established Manhattan Cable  Television in  1961 and  Home Box  Office in  1971.
Charles F. Dolan is the father of James L. Dolan, Patrick F. Dolan and Thomas C.
Dolan.
 
     James L. Dolan -- Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 1995
and  Director of the Company since 1991. Vice President of the Company from 1987
to September  1992. Chief  Executive Officer  of Rainbow  Programming  Holdings,
Inc.,  a subsidiary of the Company from September 1992 to October 1995. Director
of Advertising Sales from 1985 to  September 1992. Manager of Advertising  Sales
from 1983 to 1985. James L. Dolan is the son of Charles F. Dolan and the brother
of Patrick F. Dolan and Thomas C. Dolan.
 
     William  J. Bell -- Vice  Chairman and Director of  the Company since 1985.
Joined the Company's predecessor in 1979.
 
     Marc A. Lustgarten -- Director of the Company since 1985. Vice Chairman  of
the  Company since 1989.  Executive Vice President  of the Company  from 1985 to
1989.
 
     Robert S.  Lemle --  Director of  the Company  since 1988.  Executive  Vice
President,  General  Counsel  and  Secretary since  February  1994.  Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and  Secretary of the Company  from 1986 to  February
1994  and Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company from 1985
to 1986.
 
                                       4
 


     William J.  Quinn  -- President,  Cable  Operations of  the  Company  since
September  1991. Vice  President, Cable  Operations and  General Manager  of the
Company's Long Island cable television systems from 1986 to September 1991.
 
     Joseph W. Cece -- Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning of the  Company
since  February  1996.  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer  of Cablevision
Lightpath, Inc. from January 1994 to February 1996. Vice President, New Business
of the Company from September 1993  to January 1994. President and Publisher  of
T.V. Guide from October 1988 to August 1993.
 
     Patrick  F.  Dolan  -- Director  of  the  Company since  August  1991. Vice
President of News since September 1995. News Director of News 12 Long Island,  a
subsidiary  of the  Company, from December  1991 to September  1995. Producer of
Special Projects of News 12 Long Island  from January 1990 to December 1991  and
Special  Projects Director of News 12 Long Island from May 1989 to January 1990.
Patrick F. Dolan  is the son  of Charles F.  Dolan and the  brother of James  L.
Dolan and Thomas C. Dolan.
 
     Thomas  C. Dolan -- Senior Vice  President and Chief Information Officer of
the Company since February 1996. Vice President and Chief Information Officer of
the Company from July  1994 to February 1996.  General Manager of the  Company's
East  End Long Island cable system from  November 1991 through July 1994. Thomas
C. Dolan is the son of Charles F. Dolan and the brother of Patrick F. Dolan  and
James L. Dolan.
 
     Sheila  A.  Mahony  -- Director  of  the  Company since  1988.  Senior Vice
President of the Company since June 1995. Vice President of Government Relations
and Public Affairs of the Company and its predecessor from 1980 to June 1995.
 
     Barry J. O'Leary  -- Senior Vice  President, Finance of  the Company  since
1986,  Vice President  of the  Company from  1985 to  1986 and  Treasurer of the
Company since December 1985. Joined the Company's predecessor in 1984.
 
     Andrew B. Rosengard -- Senior Vice President and Controller of the  Company
since  February  1996. Senior  Vice President,  Finance for  Rainbow Programming
Holdings, Inc. from 1990 to February 1996.
 
     John Tatta -- Director of the Company since 1985. Chairman of the Executive
Committee of  the Company  and consultant  to the  Company since  January  1992.
President  of  the  Company from  1985  through December  1991.  Chief Operating
Officer of the Company from 1985 to 1989.
 
     Charles D. Ferris -- Director of the Company since 1985. Member of the  law
firm of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. since 1981. Chairman
of the FCC from October 1977 until April 1981.
 
     Richard H. Hochman -- Director of the Company since February 1986. Managing
Partner  of Regent Capital Partners, L.P. since April 1995. Managing Director of
PaineWebber Incorporated from 1990 to April  1995. Mr. Hochman is also a  member
of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Alliance  Entertainment  Corporation, Western
Publishing Group, Inc. and The Cronos Group.
 
     Victor Oristano --  Director of the  Company since 1985.  Chairman of  Alda
Communications  Corp.,  a holding  company which  has  built and  operated cable
television systems in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and England
since 1975. Mr. Oristano is also a member of the Board of Directors of  People's
Choice TV, Corp.
 
     Francis  F.  Randolph, Jr.  --  Director of  the  Company since  1985. Vice
Chairman of the Company from 1985 to June 1994.
 
     Daniel T.  Sweeney --  Director  of the  Company  since 1985.  Senior  Vice
President of the Company from 1985 through June 1995.
 
     Vincent Tese -- Nominee for election as a Director of the Company. Director
of  The Bear Stearns  Companies, Inc. since December  1994. Chairman of Wireless
Cable International, Inc. since  July 1995. Chairman  of Cross Country  Wireless
from December 1994 to July 1995. Mr. Tese served as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer  of the New York State Urban  Development Corporation from 1985 to 1987,
and as Director of Economic Development for New York State from 1987 to December
1994. Mr. Tese also serves on  the Board of Directors of Quintel  Entertainment,
Inc. and Custodial Trust Company.
 
                                       5
 


         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The  following table sets forth (i) the  number and percentage of shares of
Class A and Class B  Common Stock owned of record  and beneficially as of  March
31,  1996 by  each director, each  nominee for  election as a  director and each
executive officer of the Company named  in the summary compensation table  below
and  (ii) the name, address  and the number and percentage  of shares of Class A
and  Class  B  Common  Stock  owned  of  record  and  beneficially  by   persons
beneficially owning more than five (5%) percent of any class.
 


                                                                                                         COMBINED VOTING
                                                                                                            POWER OF
                                                CLASS A              CLASS B          CLASS A & CLASS B CLASS A & CLASS B
                                              COMMON STOCK         COMMON STOCK         COMMON STOCK      COMMON STOCK
                                              BENEFICIALLY         BENEFICIALLY         BENEFICIALLY      BENEFICIALLY
             NAME AND ADDRESS                   OWNED(1)           OWNED(1)(2)          OWNED(1)(2)        OWNED(1)(2)
- ------------------------------------------  ----------------     ----------------     ----------------  -----------------
                                                                                   
Charles F. Dolan (3)(4)(5) ...............    259,306    1.8%    6,346,281   54.8%    6,605,587   25.5%        49.0%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Charles F. Dolan .........................     --                1,852,378   16.0%    1,852,378    7.1%        14.2%
1994 Grantor Retained
Annuity Trust (5)
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Charles F. Dolan .........................     --                2,147,622   18.6%    2,147,622    8.3%        16.6%
1996 Grantor Retained
Annuity Trust(5)
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
The Capital Group
Companies Inc.(6) ........................  1,856,110   12.9%       --        --      1,856,110    7.2%         1.4%
Capital Research and
Management Company(6)
Capital Guardian Trust Company(6)
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Putnam Investments, Inc.(7) ..............    963,862    6.7%       --        --        963,862    3.7%      *
Putnam Investment Management, Inc.(7)
One Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
The Equitable Companies ..................  1,724,320   12.0%       --        --      1,724,320    6.7%         1.3%
Incorporated(8)
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Gabelli Funds, Inc.(9) ...................  1,405,926    9.8%       --        --      1,405,926    5.4%         1.1%
Mario Gabelli(9)
One Corporate Center
Rye, New York 10580
John Tatta(10)............................     20,000    *          --        --         20,000    *         *
William J. Bell(11)(12)...................    111,099    *          --        --        111,099    *         *
Francis F. Randolph, Jr.(13)..............     58,500    *          --        --         58,500    *         *
Robert S. Lemle(12).......................     88,678    *          --        --         88,678    *         *
Marc A. Lustgarten(11)(12)................    116,813    *          --        --        104,313    *         *
Sheila A. Mahony(12)......................     16,330    *          --        --         16,330    *         *
Daniel T. Sweeney(12).....................     37,061    *          --        --         37,061    *         *
Charles D. Ferris.........................      1,000    *          --        --          1,000    *         *
Richard H. Hochman........................      2,094    *          --        --          2,094    *         *
Victor Oristano(14).......................      1,000    *          --        --          1,000    *         *
James L. Dolan(12)(15)(24)(25)............     10,125    *         745,241    6.4%      755,366    2.9%         5.8%
Patrick F. Dolan(12)(16)(22)(26)..........      2,425    *         817,410    7.1%      819,835    3.2%         6.3%

 
                                                  (table continued on next page)
 
                                       6
 


(table continued from previous page)
 


                                                                                                         COMBINED VOTING
                                                                                                            POWER OF
                                                CLASS A              CLASS B          CLASS A & CLASS B CLASS A & CLASS B
                                              COMMON STOCK         COMMON STOCK         COMMON STOCK      COMMON STOCK
                                              BENEFICIALLY         BENEFICIALLY         BENEFICIALLY      BENEFICIALLY
             NAME AND ADDRESS                   OWNED(1)           OWNED(1)(2)          OWNED(1)(2)        OWNED(1)(2)
- ------------------------------------------  ----------------     ----------------     ----------------  -----------------
                                                                                   
William J. Quinn(12)......................     39,858    *          --        --         39,858    *         *
Vincent Tese..............................     --        --         --        --         --        --       --
All executive officers, directors and
  nominees for election as a director as a
  group (19 persons)(3)(4)
  (5)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)
  (16)(17)(22)(23)(24)(25)
  (26)(27)(28)............................    804,539    5.4%    8,778,618   75.9%    9,583,157   36.3%        67.9%
Helen A. Dolan(5)(18) ....................    243,475    1.7%    4,000,000   34.6%    4,243,475   16.4%        30.9%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Lawrence Dolan(5) ........................     --                4,000,000   34.6%    4,000,000   15.4%        30.7%
100 Corporate Place Suite 150
Chardon, OH 44024
Paul J. Dolan(19)(24)(25)
(26)(27)(28) .............................      1,200    *       2,100,052   18.1%    2,101,252    8.1%        16.1%
100 Corporate Place Suite 150
Chardon, OH 44024
Kathleen M. Dolan(19)(25) ................      1,000    *         716,741    6.2%      717,741    2.8%         5.5%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Mary S. Dolan(20)(22) ....................      2,500    *         597,401    5.2%      599,901    2.3%         4.6%
300 So. Riverside Plaza Suite 1480
Chicago, IL 60606
Deborah A. Dolan(20)(26) .................      1,000    *         816,741    7.1%      817,741    3.2%         6.3%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Matthew J. Dolan(21)(23) .................      1,500    *         597,401    5.2%      598,901    2.3%         4.6%
231 Main Street
Court House Annex
Chardon, OH 44024
Marianne E. Weber(21)(27)(28) ............      1,000    *         860,855    7.4%      861,855    3.3%         6.6%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
Thomas C. Dolan(12)(17)
(23)(27)(28) .............................      1,883    *         869,686    7.5%      871,569    3.4%         6.7%
One Media Crossways
Woodbury, NY 11797
John MacPherson(29) ......................      3,000    *       1,893,074   16.4%    1,896,074    7.3%        14.6%
21 Old Town Lane
Halesite, NY 10019

 
- ------------
 
 (1) Beneficial  ownership of a security consists of sole or shared voting power
     (including the power  to vote  or direct the  vote) and/or  sole or  shared
     investment power (including the power to dispose or direct the disposition)
     with   respect  to   the  security   through  any   contract,  arrangement,
     understanding, relationship  or  otherwise.  Unless  indicated,  beneficial
     ownership   disclosed  consists  of  sole   voting  and  investment  power.
     Beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock is exclusive of the shares  of
     Class A Common Stock that are issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B
     Common Stock.
 
 (2) Class B Common Stock is convertible into Class A Common Stock at the option
     of  the holder on a share for share basis. The holder of one share of Class
     A Common Stock is entitled to one vote at a meeting of stockholders of  the
     Company, and the holder of one share of Class B Common Stock is entitled to
     ten  votes  at a  meeting  of stockholders  of  the Company  except  in the
     election of directors.
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       7
 


(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
 (3) Includes 238,475 shares of Class A  Common Stock owned by the Dolan  Family
     Foundation,  a  New York  not-for-profit corporation,  the sole  members of
     which are Charles Dolan  and his wife, Helen  Dolan. Neither Mr. Dolan  nor
     Mrs.  Dolan has an economic interest in  such shares, but Mr. Dolan and his
     wife share the  ultimate power to  vote and dispose  of such shares.  Under
     certain  rules of  the Securities and  Exchange Commission, so  long as Mr.
     Dolan and his wife retain  such powers, each of Mr.  Dolan and his wife  is
     deemed  to have beneficial ownership thereof. Also includes 5,000 shares of
     Class A Common Stock owned directly by Mrs. Dolan.
 
 (4) Does not include an aggregate of  5,225,928 shares of Class B Common  Stock
     held by trusts for the benefit of Dolan family interests (the 'Dolan Family
     Trusts'). The Dolan Family Trusts also own an aggregate of 94,026 shares of
     Series  C Preferred  Stock which, commencing  on December 30,  1997, may be
     converted by the Company into  shares of Class B  Common Stock, in lieu  of
     redeeming such shares for cash. Mr. Dolan disclaims beneficial ownership of
     the  shares owned by the Dolan Family Trusts, in that he has neither voting
     nor investment power with respect to such shares. The amount shown includes
     the 1,852,378 shares of Class B Common  Stock held by the Charles F.  Dolan
     1994  Grantor  Retained  Annuity  Trust  (the  '1994  GRA  Trust')  and the
     2,147,622 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the Charles F. Dolan  1996
     Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (the '1996 GRA Trust', and together with the
     1994 GRA Trust, the 'GRA Trusts') described in footnote (5) below.
 
 (5) Includes 1,852,378 shares of Class B common stock by the 1994 GRA Trust and
     2,147,622  shares of Class  B common stock  by the 1996  GRA Trust. The GRA
     Trusts  were  created  on   December  31,  1994   and  February  6,   1996,
     respectively,  by  Charles  Dolan  for estate  planning  purposes.  The GRA
     Trusts, through their trustees, have the sole power to vote and dispose  of
     such  shares. The two  co-trustees of the  GRA Trusts are  Helen Dolan, the
     wife of Charles Dolan,  and Lawrence Dolan. For  two years, the GRA  Trusts
     will  pay to  Charles Dolan, and  in the event  of his death,  to his wife,
     Helen Dolan, a certain percentage of the fair market value of the  property
     initially  contributed to the GRA Trusts  (the 'Annuity'). In addition, the
     Trustees may pay to Mr. Dolan (or,  if Mr. Dolan dies within such  two-year
     term,  to Mrs. Dolan) such amounts in excess of the Annuity as the Trustees
     in their  discretion may  deem advisable.  If Mr.  Dolan is  living at  the
     expiration of the term of a GRA Trust, the remainder will pass into another
     trust  for the benefit of Mrs. Dolan  and the descendants of Charles Dolan.
     If Mr. Dolan is not  living at the expiration of  the term of a GRA  Trust,
     the then principal of the GRA Trust will revert to his estate.
 
 (6) The  Company has been  informed that certain  operating subsidiaries of The
     Capital Group Companies, Inc., exercised investment discretion over various
     institutional accounts which held as of December 29, 1995, 1,856,110 shares
     of Class A common stock. Capital Guardian Trust Company, a bank, and one of
     such operating companies, exercised  investment discretion over 650,850  of
     said   shares.  Capital  Research  and  Management  Company,  a  registered
     investment  adviser,  and   Capital  International   Limited  and   Capital
     International,   S.A.,   other  operating   subsidiaries,   had  investment
     discretion  with   respect  to   1,144,660,  30,100   and  30,500   shares,
     respectively,  of the above shares. The  number of shares held as indicated
     includes 600,010 shares resulting from the assumed conversion of  1,618,600
     shares  of  Series I  Cumulative  Convertible Exchangeable  Preferred Stock
     (0.37070 shares  of common  stock for  each share  of Series  I  Cumulative
     Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock).
 
 (7) The Company has been informed that certain operating subsidiaries of Putnam
     Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies,
     Inc.,  including Putnam Investment Management Inc., held as of December 31,
     1995 an aggregate  of 963,862  shares of Class  A Common  Stock. Of  these,
     906,262  were held by Putnam Investment Management, Inc., which held shared
     dispositive and voting power with respect to all such shares.
 
 (8) The Company has been  informed that certain  operating subsidiaries of  The
     Equitable  Companies Incorporated exercise  sole investment discretion over
     various institutional  accounts  which  owned, as  of  December  31,  1995,
     1,724,320  shares  of  Class  A  Common  Stock,  and  that  such  operating
     subsidiaries exercised sole voting power with respect to 1,468,380 of  such
     shares and sole dispositive power with respect to all of such shares.
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       8
 


(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
 (9) The  Company  has  been  informed that  certain  operating  subsidiaries of
     Gabelli Funds,  Inc., ('GFI')  beneficially held,  or exercised  investment
     discretion  over various institutional accounts  which beneficially held as
     of February 28, 1996,  an aggregate of 1,405,926  shares of Class A  Common
     Stock,  including approximately 37,026 shares of  Class A Common Stock that
     may be  obtained  upon conversion  of  shares  of the  Company's  Series  I
     Cumulative  Convertible Exchangeable Preferred Stock  held by such entities
     on such  date.  The Company  has  been  informed that  Mario  Gabelli,  the
     majority  stockholder and Chief Executive Officer  of GFI, may be deemed to
     have  beneficial  ownership  of  the   shares  of  Class  A  Common   Stock
     beneficially held by such entities.
 
(10) Does  not include 40,000 shares  of Class A Common  Stock held by the Tatta
     Family Group. The Tatta Family Group is a New York limited partnership, the
     general partners of which  are six trusts for  the benefit of Tatta  family
     interests  (the co-trustees of each of which  are Stephen A. Carb, Esq. and
     either Deborah T. DeCabia or Lisa T. Crowley, each a daughter of John Tatta
     who has been a  director since 1985  and was the  President of the  Company
     from 1985 until 1991), and the limited partners of which are trusts for the
     benefit  of Mr. Tatta  and Tatta family  interests (the trustee  of each of
     which is Stephen A. Carb, Esq.). Mr.  Tatta, who, as of April 1, 1996,  was
     the  holder of 20,000 shares of  Class A Common Stock, disclaims beneficial
     ownership of the stock beneficially owned by trusts for the benefit of  his
     family,  in that he has neither voting nor investment power with respect to
     such shares.
 
(11) Includes shares owned by children  of the individuals listed, which  shares
     represent less than 1% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock.
 
(12) Includes  shares  of Common  Stock issuable  upon  the exercise  of options
     granted pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Employee Stock  Plan
     or  its predecessor plans which on April  1, 1996 were unexercised but were
     exercisable within  a period  of  60 days  from  that date.  These  amounts
     include  the following number of shares  for the following individuals: Mr.
     James Dolan  9,125; Mr.  Bell  110,800; Mr.  Lemle 88,467;  Mr.  Lustgarten
     115,800;  Ms.  Mahony 16,183;  Mr. Sweeney  28,300;  Mr. Quinn  39,400; Mr.
     Patrick Dolan 425  and Mr.  Thomas Dolan  833; all  executive officers  and
     directors  as a  group 447,700.  Certain of  these options  held by Messrs.
     Bell, Lustgarten and  Lemle, may  be exercised  only when  the Fair  Market
     Value (as defined) of a share of Class A Common Stock exceeds $67.80. These
     Options (which are included in the aggregate option amounts set forth above
     in  this footnote  (12)) are  as follows:  Mr. Bell  75,000; Mr. Lustgarten
     80,000 and Mr. Lemle 60,000.
 
(13) Includes 500 shares of Class A Common Stock held by The Utopia Fund and 500
     shares of Class A Common Stock held by The Sarah Tod Fund. The Utopia  Fund
     and  The Sarah  Tod Fund  are both private  charitable trusts  of which Mr.
     Randolph is the sole trustee.  Mr. Randolph disclaims beneficial  ownership
     of the shares of Class A Common Stock held by The Utopia Fund and The Sarah
     Tod  Fund in  that neither  Mr. Randolph  nor any  member of  his immediate
     family has a vested interest in the income or corpus of such trusts.
 
(14) The  shares  listed  are  owned  by  Alda  Investment  Company,  a  Florida
     partnership consisting of members of the Oristano family.
 
(15) Includes  28,500 shares of Class  B Common Stock owned  by trusts for minor
     children as  to  which James  Dolan  disclaims beneficial  ownership.  Also
     includes  716,741 shares of Class B Common  Stock held by two family trusts
     of which James Dolan  is a contingent beneficiary  and a co-trustee, as  to
     which  James Dolan  disclaims beneficial  ownership, which  shares are also
     described in footnotes (24) and (25).
 
(16) Includes 9,500 shares of Class  B Common Stock owned  by trust for a  minor
     child  as  to  which  Patrick Dolan  disclaims  beneficial  ownership. Also
     includes 807,910 shares of Class B  Common Stock held by two family  trusts
     of  which Patrick Dolan is a contingent beneficiary and a co-trustee, as to
     which Patrick Dolan disclaims beneficial  ownership, which shares are  also
     described in footnotes (22) and (26).
 
(17) Includes 869,686 shares of Class B Common Stock held by three family trusts
     of  which Thomas Dolan is a contingent  beneficiary and a co-trustee, as to
     which Thomas Dolan  disclaims beneficial ownership,  which shares are  also
     described in footnotes (23) (27) and (28).
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       9
 


(footnotes continued from previous page)
 
(18) Includes  238,475 shares of Class A Common  Stock owned by the Dolan Family
     Foundation, 5,000 shares  of Class A  Common stock owned  directly by  Mrs.
     Dolan  and 4,000,000 shares of Class B  Common Stock held by the GRA Trusts
     for which Mrs. Dolan is co-trustee, respectively.
 
(19) Includes 303,116 shares  of Class B  Common Stock held  by the DC  Kathleen
     Trust, the co-trustees of which are Kathleen Dolan and Paul Dolan.
 
(20) Includes  303,116 shares  of Class  B Common Stock  held by  the DC Deborah
     Trust, the co-trustees of which are Deborah Dolan and Mary Dolan.
 
(21) Includes 294,285 shares  of Class B  Common Stock held  by the DC  Marianne
     Trust, the co-trustees of which are Marianne Weber and Matthew Dolan.
 
(22) Includes  294,285 shares  of Class  B Common Stock  held by  the DC Patrick
     Trust, the co-trustees of which are Patrick Dolan and Mary Dolan.
 
(23) Includes 303,116  shares of  Class B  Common Stock  held by  the DC  Thomas
     Trust, the co-trustees of which are Thomas Dolan and Matthew Dolan.
 
(24) Includes 303,116 shares of Class B Common Stock held by the DC James Trust,
     the co-trustees of which are James Dolan and Paul Dolan.
 
(25) Includes  413,625  shares  of  Class  B  Common  Stock  held  by  the Dolan
     Descendants Trust, the co-trustees of which are James Dolan, Kathleen Dolan
     and Paul Dolan.
 
(26) Includes 513,625 shares of Class B  Common Stock held by the Dolan  Progeny
     Trust,  the co-trustees of which are  Patrick Dolan, Deborah Dolan and Paul
     Dolan.
 
(27) Includes 513,625  shares  of  Class  B  Common  Stock  held  by  the  Dolan
     Grandchildren  Trust, the co-trustees  of which are  Thomas Dolan, Marianne
     Weber and Paul Dolan.
 
(28) Includes 52,945 shares  of Class B  Common Stock held  by the Dolan  Spouse
     Trust,  the co-trustees of which are  Thomas Dolan, Marianne Weber and Paul
     Dolan.
 
(29) Includes an aggregate of 1,893,074 shares  of Class B Common Stock held  by
     various  trusts for the benefit of family members of Charles Dolan's family
     for which Mr. MacPherson serves as Trustee and, in such capacity, exercises
     sole voting power and dispositive power  with respect to such shares.  Such
     trusts also own an aggregate of 38,724 shares of Series C Preferred Stock.
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The  Dolan family interests  (other than Charles Dolan  and the GRA Trusts)
have agreed with  the Company that  in the case  of any sale  or disposition  by
Dolan  family interests (other than Charles Dolan  and the GRA Trusts) of shares
of Class B Common  Stock to a  holder other than Charles  Dolan or Dolan  family
interests,  the Class B Common Stock will be converted on the basis of one share
of Class A Common Stock for each share of Class B Common Stock.
 
     Charles Dolan  and trusts  for the  benefit of  members of  his family,  by
virtue  of their  ownership of  Class B common  stock, are  able collectively to
control stockholder decisions on matters in which holders of Class A and Class B
common stock vote together as a class,  and to elect 75% of the Company's  Board
of Directors.
 
     Registration  Rights. The  Company has  granted to  each of  Charles Dolan,
certain Dolan family  interests and  the Dolan  Family Foundation  the right  to
require  the Company  to register, at  any time prior  to the death  of both Mr.
Dolan and his wife,  the shares of  Class A Common Stock  held by them  provided
that  the shares requested to be registered shall have an aggregate market value
of at least $3,000,000. There is no limitation on the number or frequency of the
registrations that such parties can  demand pursuant to the preceding  sentence.
After  the death of both Mr. Dolan and  his wife, such parties will be permitted
one additional registration. In addition,  the Company has granted such  parties
'piggyback'  rights pursuant to  which they may require  the Company to register
their holdings of Class A Common  Stock on any registration statement under  the
Act  with respect to an  offering by the Company  or any security holder thereof
(other than a  registration statement on  Form S-8, S-4,  S-15 or any  successor
form thereto).
 
     The  Company has granted  Mr. Tatta and certain  Tatta family interests the
right to require the Company,  on any date, with  the consent of Charles  Dolan,
his  widow or  the representative  of the estate  of Mr.  Dolan or  his wife, to
register the shares  of Class  A Common  Stock held  by them  provided that  the
shares  requested to be  registered have an  aggregate market value  of at least
$3,000,000. After the death of both Charles Dolan
 
                                       10
 


and his wife, such  parties will be permitted  to demand only one  registration.
Such  parties have also been granted  piggyback registration rights identical to
those described above, provided that  in certain instances they receive  written
consent of Mr. Dolan, his widow or the representative of the estate of Mr. Dolan
or his wife.
 
     Pursuant  to an Agreement of Sale and  Assignment, dated as of February 14,
1989 among the A.  Jerrold Perenchio Living Trust  (the 'Perenchio Trust'),  the
Company,  Mr. Tatta and certain Tatta  family interests, the Perenchio Trust was
assigned registration  rights with  respect to  the 270,000  shares of  Class  A
Common  Stock  purchased  under such  agreement.  In connection  with  an option
granted to  Mr. Randolph  to acquire  840,000  shares of  Class A  Common  Stock
pursuant  to  the Company's  1986 Nonqualified  Stock  Option Plan,  the Company
granted to Mr. Randolph a limited right to require the Company to register  such
shares.  Pursuant to these agreements, in  1990 the Company filed a registration
statement on Form S-3  with respect to  these shares and has  agreed to use  its
best  efforts to keep  such registration statement  continuously effective until
such time as all the shares covered thereby have been publicly sold.
 
     The demand and piggyback registration rights described above are subject to
certain limitations which are  intended to prevent  undue interference with  the
Company's ability to distribute securities.
 
                                       11


                             CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
 
     Charles  Dolan  and certain  other principal  officers  of the  Company and
various affiliates of the Company are subject to certain conflicts of  interest.
These conflicts include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
     Business  Opportunities. Charles Dolan  may from time  to time be presented
with business  opportunities  which  would  be  suitable  for  the  Company  and
affiliates  of  the Company  in  which Mr.  Dolan  and his  family  have varying
interests. Mr. Dolan has  agreed that he will  own and operate cable  television
systems  only through the Company, except for cable television systems owned and
operated under franchises held  by Mr. Dolan  or affiliates of  Mr. Dolan as  of
January  27, 1986, any expansions  of such systems within  the same county or an
adjacent county, and systems which the  Company elects not to acquire under  its
right  of first refusal. Except for any such expansions, Mr. Dolan will offer to
the Company the opportunity to acquire or invest in any cable television  system
or franchise therefor or interest therein that is offered or available to him or
his  family interests. If a  majority of the members  of the Board of Directors,
who are not employees of the Company or any of its affiliates (the  'Independent
Directors')  rejects such offer, Mr. Dolan  or such family interests may acquire
or invest in  such cable  television system  or franchise  therefor or  interest
therein individually or with others on terms no more favorable to Mr. Dolan than
those  offered to the Company. Mr. Dolan's interests in companies other than the
Company, may conflict with his interest in the Company.
 
     Except for  the  limitations  on  the  ownership  and  operation  of  cable
television  systems  as  described  above,  Mr.  Dolan  is  not  subject  to any
contractual limitations with respect  to his other  business activities and  may
engage  in  programming  and other  businesses  related to  cable  television. A
significant portion of Mr. Dolan's time may be spent, from time to time, in  the
management  of such affiliates. Mr. Dolan will devote as much of his time to the
business of the Company as is reasonably  required to fulfill the duties of  his
office.  During 1995,  approximately 90%  of Mr.  Dolan's professional  time was
devoted to the business of the Company.
 
     In the event  that Charles Dolan  or any Dolan  family interest decides  to
offer  (other than to any Dolan family interest or an entity affiliated with Mr.
Dolan) for sale for  his, her or its  account any of his,  her or its  ownership
interest  in any cable  television system or  franchise therefor, he,  she or it
will (subject to the rights of third  parties existing at such time) offer  such
interest  to the Company. Mr.  Dolan or such Dolan  family interest may elect to
require that,  if  the  Company  accepts  such offer,  up  to  one-half  of  the
consideration for such interest would consist of shares of Class B Common Stock,
which shares will be valued at the prevailing market price of the Class A Common
Stock  and the remainder would consist of  shares of Class A Common Stock and/or
cash. If a majority of the  Independent Directors rejects such offer, Mr.  Dolan
or  such Dolan family interest may sell  such interest to third parties on terms
no more favorable to such third parties than those offered to the Company.
 
     Services Rendered to Affiliates. Cablevision Systems Services  Corporation,
a  corporation wholly owned by Charles Dolan  ('CSSC') was, during 1995, a party
to management agreements with various affiliates of the Company. The  agreements
generally provided for payment of a specified percentage of revenues to CSSC for
management services rendered to such affiliates and the reimbursement of certain
expenses.   The  employees  of  CSSC  have  become  employees  of  the  Company.
Accordingly, the Company paid  the compensation of  such employees and  incurred
related overhead expenses. To the extent that such employees (other than Charles
Dolan)  rendered services to  affiliated entities, such  entities reimbursed the
Company for an  allocable portion  of such employees'  compensation and  related
expenses.  The affiliated entities were not otherwise obligated to reimburse the
Company for such employees' compensation and related expenses.
 
     The executive officers of the Company  devote such time to the business  of
the  Company as is reasonably  required to fulfill the  duties of their offices.
However, pursuant to management agreements in effect during 1995, certain of the
executive officers of the Company were involved in the management of  affiliated
entities,  which required significant amounts of their time and which could have
conflicted with  their duties  to the  Company. To  the extent  that there  were
conflicting  demands for the services of such executive officers, such conflicts
were resolved in favor of the Company.
 
     Contracts with Affiliates.  The Company  has also  entered into  agreements
with  entities  in  which  Charles  Dolan  or  his  affiliates  had  substantial
interests. The terms of any such agreements were not
 
                                       12
 


fixed pursuant to arm's-length  negotiations but were at  least as favorable  as
arrangements which could be made with third parties.
 
     As   described  under   'Compensation  Committee   Interlocks  and  Insider
Participation' below, Atlantic Publishing  holds an interest  in a company  that
publishes  a  weekly  cable  television  guide that  is  sold  to  the Company's
subscribers.
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
REPORT OF COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Compensation Committee  of the  Board of  Directors of  the Company  is
comprised  of Charles Dolan,  John Tatta and  Richard Hochman. Mr.  Dolan is the
Chairman of the  Company. Mr.  Tatta, the  Chairman of  the Company's  Executive
Committee  and former President of the Company,  is not currently an employee of
the Company but  is a  consultant to  the Company  (see 'Board  of Directors  --
Compensation  of  Directors', above).  Mr.  Hochman is  not  an employee  of the
Company. The Compensation Committee's  responsibilities include determining  the
appropriate   levels  of  compensation  for  members  of  the  Company's  senior
management, including salaries, bonuses, stock and option rights and  retirement
benefits,  subject to the approval of the  Board of Directors. Mr. Tatta and Mr.
Hochman make the determinations of compensation for Mr. Dolan and members of his
family subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
 
     The Company's executive  compensation program  is designed  to attract  and
retain  highly qualified  and motivated  management personnel,  to appropriately
reward individual executives for  their contributions to  the attainment of  the
Company's  key  strategic goals,  and to  link the  interests of  executives and
stockholders through performance-based  annual cash  incentives and  stock-based
long-term   incentives.  The  Compensation  Committee   meets  with  an  outside
consultant at  least  annually to  evaluate  how well  the  Company's  executive
compensation  program adheres to  this philosophy and to  evaluate the level and
mix of salary, annual bonuses and long-term incentives.
 
     This Committee  report  first describes  the  components of  the  executive
compensation  program,  the  policies  used  by  the  Compensation  Committee in
determining compensation levels for senior executives, and their application  in
1995.  It then  describes the manner  in which  1995 compensation determinations
were made for  the Company's  Chairman, Charles F.  Dolan, who  served as  Chief
Executive  Officer  until October  15, 1995,  and  for James  L. Dolan,  who was
elected Chief Executive Officer on October 15, 1995.
 
     Compensation Program  Components. The  major  components of  the  executive
compensation  program  are  base  salaries,  annual  cash  bonus  incentives and
long-term stock incentives, as follows:
 
     Base Salaries.  Base salaries  are  determined within  the framework  of  a
structure  of position grades  and salary ranges,  developed and maintained with
the assistance  of  the  Committee's  outside  consultant,  to  which  executive
positions have been assigned based on an evaluation and comparison of the scope,
complexity  and impact  of each position's  responsibilities with  that of other
executive positions within the Company, and  on the Committee's view of  general
salary  trends  for  executive  and managerial  positions  based  on information
derived by its  outside consultant from  various published sources  such as  the
Cable  Television Administrative  and Marketing Society  (CTAM) MSO Compensation
Study and the Towers  Perrin Media Industry  Compensation survey. The  published
services  considered  by  the  consultant include  information  with  respect to
approximately one hundred  companies from  all segments of  the media  industry.
While  seven of the eight companies included in the Peer Group Index utilized in
the Performance  Graph below  participate  in various  surveys reviewed  by  the
consultant  (including  the  CTAM  and  Towers  Perrin  surveys),  the Committee
believes that  consideration of  a larger  number of  companies, including  both
publicly  traded and non-publicly traded  companies, provides a more appropriate
basis for the  review of  salary trends  than does  the limited  group of  eight
companies  included in the Peer  Group Index. Each year  the Committee, with the
assistance of its  consultant, reviews  this salary structure  to determine  the
adjustment  needed to reflect the general rate of salary inflation for executive
and managerial  positions. For  each of  the past  three years,  this  structure
adjustment has been in a range of 3.8 to 4.1 percent.
 
                                       13
 


     In reviewing individual base salaries each year within the framework of the
Company's  executive  salary  structure,  the  Committee  first  determines  the
adjustments needed  to reflect  general salary  trends and  inflation, and  then
further  adjusts the  base salary  of each  individual executive  to reflect the
Committee's assessment of the executive's  individual performance of his  duties
and  responsibilities  without  regard  to  measures  of  corporate performance.
Overall, the Committee seeks to ensure  that the base salaries of the  Company's
executives  are  in the  median  of the  range  for similar  positions  at other
similarly  situated  companies.  The  Committee  relies  in  doing  so  on   the
recommendations  of the consultant, which are  based on the consultant's general
knowledge of  industry trends,  and does  not engage  in any  direct  comparison
between  particular executive  salaries and those  of any  particular company or
group of companies.
 
     Annual Cash  Bonus Incentives.  Cash bonus  incentives for  executives  are
determined  each  year by  the Committee.  In  making bonus  determinations, the
Committee begins with the guideline bonus opportunity (expressed as a percentage
of base salary)  that has been  assigned to each  executive's salary grade.  The
guideline  bonus opportunities  currently range  from 50%  of salary  for senior
executives to  15% of  salary  for lower  level  managers. The  guideline  bonus
opportunity  constitutes neither  a minimum nor  a maximum  bonus amount. Actual
bonuses may range from zero percent of salary to a maximum of 175 percent of the
guideline bonus opportunity. The  50 percent guideline  bonus for the  Company's
most  senior  executives reflects  the Committee's  determination that  for this
group, the  desired  mix of  total  cash  compensation at  guideline  should  be
one-third  in variable compensation (through  incentive bonus) and two-thirds in
fixed compensation (through base salary).  The Committee believes that  variable
compensation for less senior executives and managers should constitute a smaller
portion  of total cash compensation because of their lesser responsibilities for
total Company performance. The  Committee adjusts the  guideline bonus for  each
executive  upwards or downwards (within the range of 0% to 175% of guideline) on
a  subjective   basis,   taking  into   consideration   the  degree   to   which
pre-established  Company or subsidiary performance  objectives formulated by the
Company have been achieved  and the individual  executive's contribution to  the
achievement of these performance objectives.
 
     In  1995, the guideline bonus opportunity for  each of Charles F. Dolan and
James L. Dolan  and for the  four other  highest paid executives  listed in  the
tables beginning on page 16, was 50 percent of salary, and the maximum allowable
bonus  was  88 percent  of salary.  The calculated  guideline bonuses  for these
executives  were  first  adjusted  to  reflect  the  achievement  of  applicable
Company/subsidiary  performance objectives,  both quantitative  and qualitative.
Quantitative objectives for 1995 were cash flow increase (for the Company or the
applicable subsidiary), decrease in the ratio of debt to cash flow,  improvement
in  cash  flow  margin, increase  in  cash  flow per  subscriber  and  growth in
subscribers. Qualitative  objectives  for  1995  were  improving  the  Company's
capital  structure,  accomplishing  strategic  acquisitions  and  improving  the
Company's level of customer  service. While specific target  levels are set  for
each  of the  quantitative objectives, the  determination of  the achievement of
qualitative objectives is made on a subjective basis.
 
     After  adjusting  guideline  bonuses  for  Company/subsidiary  performance,
further  adjustments were made as deemed appropriate by the Committee to reflect
each executive's individual contributions to the achievement of the  performance
objectives.  In 1995, final bonuses for the four highest paid executive officers
who were serving as executive officers at the end of 1995, excluding Charles  F.
Dolan  and James L. Dolan, ranged from 69  to 88 percent of salary, averaging 78
percent. In 1994, final bonuses for the four most highly compensated executives,
excluding the Chief Executive Officer, ranged  from 78 percent to 88 percent  of
salary,  averaging  81 percent.  In 1995  each  of the  quantitative performance
objectives was substantially met.
 
     Long-Term Stock Incentives. The long-term stock incentives component of the
Company's executive  compensation program  is designed  to align  executive  and
stockholder  interests by rewarding executives for the attainment of stock price
appreciation. The Committee  administers the long-term  stock incentive  program
through  biennial grants of  stock options, SARs, and,  in some instances, bonus
award shares, to officers and other key  employees of the Company and its  major
operating subsidiaries.
 
     The  Company's Amended and Restated Employee  Stock Plan (the 'Stock Plan')
authorized grants of  stock options,  SARs, restricted shares,  and bonus  award
shares.  Bonus award shares are restricted  shares that are payable upon vesting
in  cash   and/or  stock   at  the   Company's  election.   Charles  F.   Dolan,
 
                                       14
 


does  not participate  in the  Company's long-term  stock incentive  program. In
November 1995, Robert S. Lemle was granted an award of stock options and SARs in
recognition of the increase in his level of responsibilities at the Company.  No
other  long-term stock incentive awards were made in 1995 to the named executive
officers.
 
     The Committee undertakes periodic reviews of the long-term stock incentives
component of the  Company's executive  compensation program to  ensure that  the
interests  of executives and stockholders  remain aligned and balanced. Pursuant
to its terms, no awards  may be granted under the  Stock Plan after December  2,
1995.  Accordingly, on February 13, 1996, the  Board of Directors of the Company
adopted, subject to the receipt of  the approval of the Company's  stockholders,
the  1996 Employee Stock  Plan (the '1996  Stock Plan'). On  April 25, 1996, the
Board of Directors approved certain amendments to the 1996 Plan (as so  amended,
the  'Restated 1996 Stock Plan'), and directed that the Restated 1996 Stock Plan
be submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting.
The Restated 1996  Stock Plan would  permit the Compensation  Committee to  make
grants  of bonus award shares,  stock options and SARs on  the same terms as the
Stock Plan, except that the Compensation  Committee would have the authority  to
add  performance criteria as a  condition to any employee's  exercise of a stock
option or SAR or to the payment of a bonus award granted under the Restated 1996
Stock Plan. (See  Item 2  -- 'Authorization and  Approval of  First Amended  and
Restated 1996 Employee Stock Plan.' )
 
     Determination  of CEO's  1995 Compensation. Decisions  regarding the salary
and cash bonus incentive  compensation of the Chairman,  Charles Dolan, are  the
responsibility  of the two  non-employee members of  the Compensation Committee,
subject to approval  by the Board  of Directors. Charles  Dolan served as  Chief
Executive Officer of the Company until October 1995.
 
     In  February 1995, Charles  F. Dolan requested that  his salary be reduced,
effective March 1995, to  put him at  a salary level equivalent  to that of  the
Company's other most senior executives. Accordingly, Mr. Dolan received a salary
of  $516,667 in 1995, $83,333 less than  his salary for 1994. Charles F. Dolan's
cash bonus  for 1995  was set  by the  Committee at  $390,000 (75%  of  salary),
$15,000  greater than the  $375,000 paid to  him for 1994  and 1993, and $10,000
less than the $400,000 paid to him  for 1992. In determining Charles F.  Dolan's
bonus,  the Committee  considered the  same quantitative  performance objectives
that were considered  in connection with  the determination of  the bonuses  for
other  executives. As noted above, in  1995 each of the quantitative performance
objectives was  substantially  met.  Charles  F.  Dolan's  employment  agreement
provides for cash compensation of not less than $400,000 per year.
 
     In  October 1995, James L. Dolan was elected Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. Decisions regarding the salary,  cash bonus incentive compensation  and
long-term  incentive compensation for James Dolan, are the responsibility of the
two non-employee members of the Compensation Committee, subject to the  approval
of  the Board of Directors.  James Dolan received a  salary of $360,000 in 1995.
James Dolan's cash bonus for 1995 was  set by the Committee at $275,000 (76%  of
salary).  In determining James Dolan's bonus,  the Committee considered the same
quantitative performance objectives that were considered in connection with  the
determination  of  the bonuses  for  other executives  with  particular emphasis
placed on  the performance  of Rainbow  Programming Holdings,  Inc. where  James
Dolan  served as Chief Executive Officer until  October 1995. As noted above, in
1995 each of the quantitative performance objectives was substantially met.
 
     Deductibility of Compensation  in excess  of $1  million. In  light of  the
Company's  present compensation structure,  the Committee does  not believe that
the application of the limitations on deductibility of payments of  compensation
to the Chief Executive Officer and the other four highest paid executives of the
Company of over $1,000,000, as imposed by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue
Code  of 1986, as amended,  will have a significant  impact on the Company's tax
position in  the  near future.  The  Committee  will continue  to  consider  the
potential  impact of Section  162(m) in connection  with its future compensation
decisions and will  take such  steps as  it deems  appropriate and  in the  best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.
 
Compensation Committee
 
            Charles F. Dolan      John Tatta      Richard H. Hochman
 
                                       15
 


SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
     The  following table shows,  for the fiscal years  ended December 31, 1995,
1994 and 1993,  the cash  compensation paid  by the  Company, and  a summary  of
certain  other compensation paid or accrued for  such years, to Charles F. Dolan
and James  L.  Dolan  and to  each  of  the Company's  four  other  most  highly
compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at the end
of  1995 (the 'named executive officers') for service in all capacities with the
Company.
 


                                             ANNUAL COMPENSATION             LONG TERM
                                                                        COMPENSATION AWARDS
                                                                    RESTRICTED STOCK    OPTIONS/        ALL OTHER
   NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION      YEAR    SALARY($)    BONUS($)      AWARDS($)        SARS(#)     COMPENSATION($)(1)
                                                                                  
Charles Dolan                       1995      516,667     390,000            0                0           150,796
 Chairman and Director              1994      600,000     375,000            0                0           150,861
                                    1993      600,000     375,000            0                0           150,861
 
James L. Dolan                      1995      360,000     275,000            0                0             5,425
 Chief Executive Officer and
 Director
 
William J. Bell                     1995      500,000     390,000            0                0            94,092
 Vice Chairman and Director         1994      450,000     360,000            0          192,000           100,197
                                    1993      450,000     340,000            0                0           100,324
 
Marc A. Lustgarten                  1995      500,000     390,000            0                0            52,866
 Vice Chairman and Director         1994      450,000     360,000            0          202,000            54,183
                                    1993      450,000     340,000            0                0            54,182
 
Robert S. Lemle                     1995      425,000     372,000            0            7,600            43,271
 Executive Vice President,          1994      330,000     290,000            0          152,000            44,094
 General Counsel, Secretary and     1993      330,000     250,000            0                0            44,092
 Director
 
William J. Quinn                    1995      360,000     250,000            0                0            53,801
 President of Cable Operations      1994      320,000     250,000            0           32,000            55,886

 
(1) For 1995, represents the sum of (i) for each individual, $2,250  contributed
    by  the  Company on  behalf  of such  individual  under the  Company's Money
    Purchase Pension  Plan  (the  'Pension Plan'),  (ii)  for  each  individual,
    $25,500  credited to  such individual  (other than  Mr. James  Dolan) on the
    books of the  Company pursuant to  the defined contribution  portion of  the
    Company's  Supplemental Benefit  Plan (the  'Supplemental Plan'),  (iii) for
    each individual, $2,250 in each case contributed by the Company on behalf of
    such individual as a basic  company contribution under the Company's  401(k)
    Plan,  (iv) for  each individual, the  following amounts  contributed by the
    Company on behalf of  such individual as a  matching contribution under  the
    Company's  401(k) Plan:  Mr. Charles Dolan  $935; Mr. James  Dolan $925; Mr.
    Bell $792; Mr. Lustgarten $1,202, Mr.  Lemle $983, and Mr. Quinn $1,010  and
    (v)  for  each  individual,  the  following amounts  paid  as  a  premium on
    individual  life  insurance  policies  purchased  by  the  Company  for  the
    executive officer to replace coverage under the integrated policy previously
    provided  by the Company: Mr. Charles  Dolan $119,861; Mr. Bell $63,300; Mr.
    Lustgarten $21,664, Mr. Lemle $12,288 and Mr. Quinn $22,791.
 
                                       16
 


OPTION/SAR GRANTS TABLE
 
     The following  table contains  certain information  with respect  to  stock
options  and SAR's  granted to  the named executive  officers in  1995 under the
Company's Amended and Restated Employee Stock Plan.
 
                     OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 


                                                                                                                   POTENTIAL
                                                                                                                   REALIZABLE
                                                                                                                VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                                                                                ANNUAL RATES OF
                                                                                                                  STOCK PRICE
                                                                                                                APPRECIATION FOR
                                                           INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                     OPTION TERM(1)
                                                   % OF TOTAL
                                                  OPTIONS/SARS
                                                   GRANTED TO
                                                   EMPLOYEES      EXERCISE OR    MARKET PRICE
                             OPTIONS/SARS          IN FISCAL      BASE PRICE      ON DATE OF     EXPIRATION
           NAME               GRANTED(#)           YEAR 1995       ($/SHARE)      GRANT ($)         DATE        5%($)     10%($)
                                                                                                     
 
Robert S. Lemle                  7,600(2)              8.7%          52.125         52.125        11/02/05     249,130    631,330

 
(1) The dollar amounts shown under these columns are the result of  calculations
    at  5% and  10% rates  set by  the SEC,  and therefore  are not  intended to
    forecast possible future appreciation of  the Company's stock price. In  all
    cases  the appreciation is calculated from the  award date to the end of the
    option term.
 
(2) Options and SARs granted on November 2, 1995 under the Company's Amended and
    Restated Employee Stock Plan.  Such options and  SARs become exercisable  in
    annual  installments of 33 1/3  percent per year on  each of the first three
    anniversaries of  the grant  date. One  half of  the amounts  set forth  are
    options  and  one  half are  SARs.  Options  and SARs  may  be independently
    exercised. Vesting of options and SARs  may be accelerated upon a change  of
    control   of  the  Company  (see   'Employee  Contracts  and  Severance  and
    Change-In-Control Arrangements' below).
 
FISCAL YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUE TABLE
 
     The following table  shows certain  information with respect  to the  named
executive  officers concerning  unexercised stock  options and  SARs held  as of
December 31, 1995. None of the named executive officers exercised stock  options
or SARs during 1995.
 
            AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND
                       FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION/SAR VALUES


                                                                   NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                      SHARES                      UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED           VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                    ACQUIRED ON                 OPTIONS/SARS AT 12/31/95(#)        IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/
                                     EXERCISE        VALUE                                          SARS AT 12/31/95($)
               NAME                     (#)       REALIZED($)   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE     EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
                                                                                            
 
Charles F. Dolan..................       0             0                0              0                  0
James L. Dolan....................       0             0            9,125         27,375            111,781        335,344
William J. Bell...................       0             0          130,500        224,600(1)       3,853,937      1,754,506
Marc A. Lustgarten................       0             0          135,500        237,100(2)       4,042,062      1,848,569
Robert S. Lemle...................       0             0          102,150        185,850(3)       3,020,994      1,396,744
William J. Quinn..................       0             0           48,550         28,250          1,406,269        407,156
 

 
(1) Includes  (i) an aggregate of 150,000 options and SARs that may be exercised
    only when the Fair Market  Value (as defined) of a  share of Class A  Common
    Stock  exceeds the exercise price of $56.50  by at least 20 percent and (ii)
    37,500 SARs as to  which the distribution of  proceeds upon any exercise  is
    automatically deferred without interest until October 15, 1996.
 
(2) Includes  (i) an aggregate of 160,000 options and SARs that may be exercised
    only when the Fair Market  Value (as defined) of a  share of Class A  Common
    Stock exceeds the exercise price of $56.50
 
                                              (footnotes continued on next page)
 
                                       17
 


(footnotes continued from previous page)
    by  at least 20 percent and (ii) 40,000 SARs as to which the distribution of
    proceeds upon any exercise is automatically deferred without interest  until
    October 15, 1996.
 
(3) Includes  (i) an aggregate of 120,000 options and SARs that may be exercised
    only when the Fair Market  Value (as defined) of a  share of Class A  Common
    Stock  exceeds the exercise price of $56.50  by at least 20 percent and (ii)
    30,000 SARs  as  to which  the  distribution of  proceeds  is  automatically
    deferred without interest until October 15, 1996.
 
DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN
 
     The  Company's  nonqualified Supplemental  Benefit Plan  (the 'Supplemental
Plan') provides actuarially-determined  pension benefits, among  other types  of
benefits,  for  21 employees  of  the Company  who  were previously  employed by
Cablevision Systems Services Corporation  ('CSSC'). CSSC, which is  wholly-owned
by  Charles  Dolan, provided  management  services to  Cablevision  Company (the
Company's  predecessor)  and   to  certain  affiliates   of  the  Company.   The
Supplemental  Plan is designed  to provide these  employees, in combination with
certain qualified benefit plans maintained by the Company and certain  qualified
retirement  plans formerly maintained by CSSC,  with the same retirement benefit
formulae they  would  have enjoyed  had  they  remained employees  of  CSSC  and
continued  to participate in  the former CSSC  qualified plans. The Supplemental
Plan provides that the Company  may set aside assets  for the purpose of  paying
benefits under the Supplemental Plan, but that any such assets remain subject to
the claims of general creditors of the Company.
 
     The  defined benefit feature  of the Supplemental  Plan provides that, upon
attaining normal retirement age (the later of  age 65 or the completion of  five
years  of service), a  participant will receive  an annual benefit  equal to the
lesser of 75%  of his  or her average  compensation (not  including bonuses  and
overtime)  for his or  her three most  highly compensated years  and the maximum
benefit permitted by the Code (the maximum in 1995 is $120,000 for employees who
retire at age 65), reduced by the amount of any benefits paid to such individual
pursuant to the qualified defined benefit plan formerly maintained by CSSC. This
benefit will be reduced proportionately if the participant retires or  otherwise
terminates employment before reaching normal retirement age.
 
     The  following sets forth the estimated annual benefits payable upon normal
retirement under the defined benefit  portion of the Supplemental Plan  (reduced
by  any retirement benefits paid in connection  with the termination of the CSSC
Defined Benefit  Pension Plan)  to  the following  persons: Mr.  Charles  Dolan,
$52,000; Mr. Bell, $92,431, Mr. Lustgarten, $99,996; Mr. Lemle, $105,150 and Mr.
Quinn, $103,720.
 
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
 
     The  chart below compares  the performance of the  Company's Class A Common
Stock with the  performance of the  American Stock Exchange  Market Value  Index
(the  'Amex Value  Index') and a  Peer Group  Index by measuring  the changes in
common stock  prices  from December  31,  1990  through December  31,  1995.  As
required  by the SEC, the values shown assume the reinvestment of all dividends.
Because no  published  index of  comparable  media companies  currently  reports
values  on a  dividends-reinvested basis, the  Company has created  a Peer Group
Index for purposes of this graph in accordance with the requirements of the SEC.
The Peer Group Index  is made up  of companies that  engage in cable  television
operations  as a significant element of their  business, although not all of the
companies included in the Peer  Group Index participate in  all of the lines  of
business  in which the Company is engaged  and some of the companies included in
the Peer Group Index also engage in lines of business in which the Company  does
not  participate.  Additionally,  the  market  capitalizations  of  many  of the
companies included  in the  Peer Group  are  quite different  from that  of  the
Company.  The common stocks of the following companies have been included in the
Peer Group  Index:  Adelphia Communications  Corporation,  Comcast  Corporation,
Century  Communications Corporation, Falcon Cable Systems Company, TCA Cable TV,
Inc., Tele-Communications, Inc., The Times  Mirror Company and Time Warner  Inc.
The  chart  assumes  $100 was  invested  on December  31,  1990 in  each  of the
 
                                       18
 


Company's Class A Common Stock,  the Amex Value Index  and the Peer Group  Index
and  reflects  reinvestment  of  dividends  on  a  quarterly  basis  and  market
capitalization weighting.
 
FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN FOR CABLEVISION SYSTEMS
  CORPORATION, AMEX VALUE INDEX AND PEER GROUP.
 


                            [PERFORMANCE GRAPH]


                  1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     1995

CSC               $100     $226     $226     $438     $326     $350
Amex Index        $100     $128     $130     $155     $141     $178
Peer Group        $100     $121     $147     $216     $165     $194


EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS AND SEVERANCE AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
 
     Charles Dolan  has an  employment agreement  with the  Company expiring  in
January  1997  with  automatic  renewals for  successive  one-year  terms unless
terminated by either party at  least three months prior to  the end of the  then
existing  term. The agreement provides for  annual compensation of not less than
$400,000 per year to Mr. Dolan. The  agreement also provides for payment to  Mr.
Dolan's  estate in the event of his death  during the term of such agreement, of
an amount equal  to the greater  of one year's  base salary or  one-half of  the
compensation that would have been payable to Mr. Dolan during the remaining term
of such agreement.
 
     Under  the  applicable award  agreements, the  vesting  of the  bonus award
shares, stock options  and SARs  granted to employees,  including Messrs.  James
Dolan, Bell, Lustgarten, Lemle and Quinn, under the proposed Restated 1996 Stock
Plan  and under the Company's  Amended and Restated Employee  Stock Plan and its
predecessor plans, may be accelerated, in certain circumstances, upon a  'change
of  control' of the Company. A 'change of control' is defined as the acquisition
by any person or  group, other than  Charles Dolan or  members of his  immediate
family  (or trusts for the benefit of  Charles Dolan or his immediate family) or
any employee benefit  plan sponsored or  maintained by the  Company, of (1)  the
power  to direct  the management  of substantially  all of  the cable television
systems then owned by the Company in the New York City metropolitan area, or (2)
after any fiscal  year of the  Company in which  the Company's cable  television
systems in the New York City metropolitan area contributed in the aggregate less
than  a  majority  of the  net  revenues  of the  Company  and  its consolidated
subsidiaries, the power to direct the management of the Company or substantially
all of its assets. Upon such a change in control, the bonus award shares,  stock
options  and SARs may be  converted into either a right  to receive an amount of
cash based  upon  the highest  price  per share  of  common stock  paid  in  the
transaction  resulting in the  change of control, or  into a corresponding award
with equivalent profit potential in the surviving entity, at the election of the
Compensation Committee.
 
                                       19
 


     The Company adopted as  of May 1,  1994, a severance  pay plan pursuant  to
which  an employee whose employment is  involuntarily terminated (other than for
cause) or who resigns with the approval of the Company, may receive a benefit in
an amount determined by the Company.
 
     In November 1994, the Company entered into employment agreements with  each
of  Messrs. Bell, Lustgarten and Lemle. The agreements are each for a three year
term ending December 31, 1997 and  may each be extended for additional  one-year
periods up until December 31, 2000, unless the Company or the executive notifies
the other of its election not to extend by the preceding October 31. Under their
respective  agreements, these executives  are to receive  annual salaries of not
less then  $450,000 in  the  case of  Mr.  Bell, $450,000  in  the case  of  Mr.
Lustgarten,  and $330,000 in the case of Mr. Lemle. Each agreement also provides
that in the  event that the  executive leaves the  Company involuntarily  (other
than  for cause), following a  change of control (as  defined above), or because
such executive's compensation, title or responsibilities are reduced without his
consent, such executive shall be entitled to receive (1) a severance payment  of
not  less than the salary  due for the remainder  of the employment agreement or
one year's annual salary (or three times  the sum of his annual salary plus  his
prior  year's annual  bonus in the  event of  a change of  control), whatever is
greater, (2)  a pro-rated  portion  of his  annual  bonus, (3)  acceleration  of
unvested  stock options,  conjunctive rights and  bonus award  shares, (4) three
years payment of life insurance premiums and (5) the right to participate in the
Company's health plan for retired executives.
 
     In February  1996,  the  Compensation  Committee  adopted  the  Cablevision
Systems  Corporation  Supplemental  Life  Insurance  Premium  Payment  Plan (the
'Supplemental Life Insurance Premium Payment Plan'). Under the Supplemental Life
Insurance Premium Payment Plan, at all  times following a change of control  (as
defined  above) the Company would pay on behalf of certain executive officers of
the Company, including Messrs. Charles Dolan, Bell, Lustgarten, Lemle and  Quinn
all  premiums  on life  insurance  policies purchased  by  the Company  for such
executive officers, up to the aggregate  amount of additional premiums, if  any,
necessary to fund fully the face amount of such executive officer's policy as in
effect immediately prior to the change of control.
 
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
 
     Charles Dolan has entered into an agreement pursuant to which he has agreed
to guarantee the Company'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 Company. 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.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     As disclosed above, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is
comprised  of  Messrs.  Charles  Dolan,  Tatta  and  Hochman.  (See  'Report  of
Compensation  Committee,' above.) Charles  Dolan is the  Chairman of the Company
and also serves  as an  officer of certain  of the  Company's subsidiaries.  Mr.
Tatta,  the  Chairman  of  the  Company's  Executive  Committee  and  the former
President of the Company, is currently a consultant to the Company. Mr.  Hochman
is not an employee of the Company.
 
     The Company has made investments in and advances to certain affiliates over
which  Charles Dolan is, or was, managing  general partner or in which Mr. Dolan
or Dolan  family  interests  have,  or  had,  substantial  ownership  interests,
including  Cablevision of Boston Limited Partnership, Cablevision of Chicago and
Atlantic Cable Television Publishing Corporation.
 
     Cablevision  of  Boston  Limited   Partnership,  a  Massachusetts   limited
partnership  ('Cablevision Boston'),  is engaged in  the construction, ownership
and  operation   of  cable   television  systems   in  Boston   and   Brookline,
Massachusetts.  On  December 15,  1995, the  Company  acquired the  interests in
Cablevision Boston  that it  did not  previously own  pursuant to  an  agreement
entered into by the
 
                                       20
 


Company  and Cablevision Boston. In connection with the acquisition, the limited
partners (other than the Company) of Cablevision Boston received 682,454  shares
(of  which 680,266  shares were  issued by December  31, 1995)  of the Company's
Class A Common Stock and the Company paid approximately $83 million,  (including
fees  and expenses)  primarily with  funds borrowed  under the  Company's credit
agreement, to repay existing Cablevision Boston indebtedness and to make certain
payments to  Charles F.  Dolan,  referred to  below.  Upon consummation  of  the
acquisition of Cablevision Boston, all outstanding subordinated advances made by
the Company to Cablevision Boston became intercompany indebtedness. Mr. Dolan, a
former  general partner of Cablevision  Boston and the Chairman  of the Board of
the Company, received  7,357 shares of  the Company's Class  A Common Stock  and
approximately  $20.8 million in cash to  repay a portion of Cablevision Boston's
indebtedness to him  in connection  with the  acquisition. The  Company and  its
affiliates  (other than Cablevision  Boston's former general  partners and their
affiliates) received  1,041,553 shares  of the  Company's Class  A Common  Stock
(such  shares are reflected as treasury shares at December 31, 1995) and assumed
approximately $42.9 million of intercompany  indebtedness referred to above.  As
part  of  the acquisition  of Cablevision  Boston, the  Company entered  into an
agreement with Mr. Dolan with respect  to his 0.5% general partnership  interest
in  Cablevision of  Brookline Limited  Partnership ('Cablevision  Brookline'), a
partnership  affiliated  with  Cablevision  Boston.  The  Company  acquired  the
remaining  99.5% of  the partnership interests  in Cablevision  Brookline in the
acquisition of Cablevision Boston. Under the Agreement, the Company has a  right
of first refusal to acquire Mr. Dolan's general partnership interest and a right
to acquire such interest on the earlier to occur of Mr. Dolan's death or January
1,  2002 at  the greater  of $10,000  or the  book value  of such  interest. Mr.
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 Brookline,  Mr.  Dolan  will  have the  right  to  put  his  general
partnership  interest in Cablevision 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.
 
     Cablevision  of  Chicago  ('Cablevision  Chicago'),  an  Illinois   limited
partnership  in  which  Charles  F.  Dolan  held,  directly  or  indirectly,  an
approximate 1% prepayout  and a 32.7%  postpayout general partnership  interest,
owned  cable  television systems  operating in  the  suburban Chicago  area. The
Company did not have  a material ownership interest  in Cablevision Chicago  but
had loans and advances outstanding to Cablevision Chicago in the amount of $12.3
million  (plus accrued interest which the Company had fully reserved). In August
1995, Cablevision  Chicago  sold its  cable  television systems  to  Continental
Cablevision,  Inc.  and  the  loans from  the  Company  to  Cablevision Chicago,
together with accrued  interest reserved by  the Company, were  repaid in  full.
Accordingly,  the Company recognized  a net gain  of approximately $15.3 million
representing the accrued interest which the Company had reserved.
 
     Atlantic Publishing  holds a  minority equity  interest in  a company  that
publishes a cable television guide which is offered to the Company's subscribers
and  to unaffiliated  cable television operators.  As of December  31, 1995, the
Company had advanced  an aggregate  of approximately $16.7  million to  Atlantic
Publishing,  reflecting  approximately  $1.0  million,  $0.6  million  and  $0.5
million, net paid back during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The Company has
written off all of its advances to Atlantic Publishing other than $2.4  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 made only a nominal investment in Atlantic Publishing to date.
 
     In July 1992, the Company  acquired (the 'CNYC Acquisition')  substantially
all  of  the remaining  interests in  Cablevision of  New York  City --  Phase I
through Phase  V (collectively,  'CNYC'),  the operator  of a  cable  television
system  in The  Bronx and parts  of Brooklyn, New  York City. Prior  to the CNYC
Acquisition, the Company had a 15% interest in CNYC and Charles Dolan owned  the
remaining  interests. Mr. Dolan remains a partner in CNYC with a 1% interest and
the right to certain preferential payments.
 
     Under the  agreement between  the  Company and  Mr.  Dolan, a  new  limited
partnership ('CNYC LP') was formed and holds 99% of the partnership interests in
CNYC. The remaining 1% interest in
 
                                       21
 


CNYC  is owned by the existing corporate general partner which is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. The Company owns 99% of the partnership interests  in
CNYC  LP and Mr. Dolan retains a 1% partnership interest in CNYC LP plus certain
preferential rights. Mr. Dolan's  preferential rights entitle  him to an  annual
cash payment (the 'Annual Payment') of 14% multiplied by the outstanding balance
of his 'Minimum Payment'. The Minimum Payment is $40.0 million and is to be paid
to  Mr. Dolan prior to any distributions from CNYC LP to partners other than Mr.
Dolan. In addition, Mr. Dolan has  the right, exercisable on December 31,  1997,
and  as of the earlier of (1) December 31, 2000 and (2) December 31 of the first
year after 1997 during which CNYC achieves an aggregate of 400,000  subscribers,
to  require the Company to purchase (Mr. Dolan's 'put') his interest in CNYC LP.
The Company has the right to require Mr.  Dolan to sell his interest in CNYC  LP
to  the Company (the  Company's 'call') during  the three-year period commencing
one year after the expiration of Mr. Dolan's second put. In the event of a  put,
Mr.  Dolan will be entitled to receive from the Company the Minimum Payment, any
accrued but  unpaid Annual  Payments,  a guaranteed  return  on certain  of  his
investments  in  CNYC LP  and  a Preferred  Payment  defined as  a  payment (not
exceeding $150.0 million) equal to 40% of the Appraised Equity Value (as defined
in the  agreement)  of CNYC  LP  after  making certain  deductions  including  a
deduction  of a 25% compound annual return on approximately 85% of the Company's
investments with respect to the construction of Phases III, IV and V of the CNYC
cable television system and 100% of  certain of the Company's other  investments
in  CNYC,  including  Mr.  Dolan's  Annual Payment.  In  the  event  the Company
exercises its call, the purchase price will be computed on the same basis as for
a put except that there  will be no payment in  respect of the Appraised  Equity
Value amount.
 
     The Company has the right to make payment of the put or call exercise price
in  shares of  the Company's Class  B Common Stock  or, if Mr.  Dolan so elects,
Class A Common Stock, except  that all Annual Payments must  be paid in cash  to
the  extent permitted  under the  Company's senior  credit agreement.  Under the
Company's senior  credit agreement,  the Company  is currently  prohibited  from
paying  the Preferred Payment  in cash and, accordingly,  without the consent of
the bank lenders, would be required to pay it in shares of the Company's  Common
Stock.  The Company has agreed  to invest in CNYC  LP sufficient funds to permit
CNYC LP to make the  required Annual Payments to Mr.  Dolan and to make  certain
equity contributions to CNYC.
 
     The  Company's by-laws  prohibit the  making of  further investments  in or
advances to entities owned or controlled  by Charles Dolan without the  approval
of  a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of
the Company or any of its affiliates.
 
     Richard H.  Hochman, a  director and  a nominee  for director,  was,  until
recently,   a  Managing   Director  of   PaineWebber  Incorporated.  PaineWebber
Incorporated has performed investment  banking services for entities  affiliated
with Charles Dolan.
 
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS WITH OTHER DIRECTORS
 
     Charles  D. Ferris, a director and a  nominee for director, is a partner in
the law  firm of  Mintz, Levin,  Cohn, Ferris,  Glovsky and  Popeo, P.C.  Mintz,
Levin,  Cohn, Ferris,  Glovsky and  Popeo, P.C.  provides legal  services to the
Company and certain of its subsidiaries.
 
     Vincent Tese, a nominee for  election as a Director,  is a director of  The
Bear  Stearns Companies, Inc. Certain affiliates  of The Bear Stearns Companies,
Inc. have performed investment banking services for the Company.
 
                     (2) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF THE
              FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN
 
     On February 13, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors adopted, subject  to
stockholder  approval, the  Cablevision Systems Corporation  1996 Employee Stock
Plan (the  '1996 Plan').  On April  25, 1996,  the Board  of Directors  approved
certain  amendments to the  1996 Plan (as  so amended, the  'Restated 1996 Stock
Plan') and directed that the Restated 1996 Stock Plan be submitted to a vote  of
the  stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting. The text of the Restated
1996 Stock Plan is set forth in  Exhibit A hereto, and the following  discussion
is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.
 
                                       22
 


     The Company has previously provided its long-term incentive program through
the  Amended and  Restated Employee  Stock Plan  (together with  its predecessor
plans, 'Prior Stock  Plan'). Pursuant  to its terms,  no further  awards may  be
granted under the Prior Stock Plan after December 2, 1995. Under the Prior Stock
Plan,  the Company was permitted to make awards for up to an aggregate number of
shares equal  to the  sum  of (i)  3,500,000 shares,  which  were to  be  either
treasury  shares  or authorized  and  unissued shares,  and  (ii) the  number of
restricted  shares,  if   any,  purchased   from  employees   of  the   Company.
Additionally,  if an  award was  paid or  settled in  cash, or  expired, lapsed,
terminated  or  was  cancelled  without   the  issuance  of  shares,  then   the
Compensation  Committee was  permitted to  grant awards  with respect  to shares
subject to such prior awards.
 
     The Restated  1996 Stock  Plan  will be  administered by  the  Compensation
Committee.  As in the case of the Prior  Stock Plan, awards may be granted under
the Restated 1996 Stock Plan to key employees of the Company and its  affiliates
(other than members of the Compensation Committee) as the Compensation Committee
may  determine. The  Compensation Committee may  make awards  under the Restated
1996 Stock Plan for up to an aggregate number of shares equal to the sum of  (i)
1,500,000 shares, which may be either treasury shares or authorized and unissued
shares,  and  (ii)  the number  of  restricted  shares, if  any,  purchased from
employees by the Company. Additionally, if an award is paid or settled in  cash,
or  expires, lapses, terminates or is  cancelled without the issuance of shares,
then the Compensation Committee may grant awards with respect to shares  subject
to such prior awards. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off,
reclassification, recapitalization, or other similar event resulting in dilution
of  the Class A Common Stock, then the  number of shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan shall be proportionately adjusted to
reflect such transaction. No single employee  may be issued awards for a  number
of shares exceeding 600,000 over the term of the Restated 1996 Stock Plan.
 
     Under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan, as in the case of the Prior Stock Plan,
the  Company may grant 'incentive stock options',  as defined in Section 422A of
the Internal  Revenue Code  of 1986  (the 'Code'),  nonqualified stock  options,
restricted  stock  and bonus  award shares.  Bonus  award shares  are restricted
shares that  are payable  upon vesting  in cash  and/or stock  at the  Company's
election.  The option exercise price  of stock options may  not be less than the
fair market value per share  of Class A Common Stock  on the date the option  is
granted. Other than in the case of the death of an award recipient, such options
may  be exercised for a  term no longer than ten  years. The Restated 1996 Stock
Plan provides that, in conjunction with the grant of an option, the Company  may
grant  stock appreciation  rights ('SARs')  pursuant to  which the  employee may
elect to receive payment, either in lieu of the right to exercise such option or
in addition to  the stock  received upon  the exercise  of such  option, as  the
Compensation  Committee may determine at  the time the SAR  is granted, equal to
the difference between the fair market value of the stock as of the date the SAR
is exercised and the option exercise price. The Restated 1996 Stock Plan permits
the granting of restricted shares and bonus award shares at prices determined by
the Compensation Committee.
 
     Under the Restated 1996 Stock  Plan, the Compensation Committee would  have
the  authority, in its discretion, to add performance criteria as a condition to
any employee's exercise of a stock option  or SAR, or the vesting or payment  of
any  bonus award  shares or restricted  shares, granted under  the Restated 1996
Stock Plan.  Additionally,  the  Restated  1996  Stock  Plan  specifies  certain
performance  criteria that may, in the case of certain executive officers of the
Company, be  conditions  precedent to  the  vesting  of bonus  award  shares  or
restricted shares granted to such executives under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan.
These performance criteria include: (i) earnings per share, (ii) total return to
stockholders,  (iii) return on equity, (iv)  operating income or net income, (v)
return on capital,  (vi) costs, (vii)  results relative to  budget, (viii)  cash
flow,  (ix) cash flow margin, (x) cash  flow per subscriber, (xi) revenues (xii)
revenues per subscriber,  (xiii) subscriber  growth, (xiv)  results relative  to
quantitative  customer service standards, (xv)  results relative to quantitative
customer satisfaction standards, or (xvi) specified increase in the Fair  Market
Value  of the  Company's Class  A common  stock. Application  of the performance
criteria may be by reference to the  performance of the Company or an  affiliate
of  the  Company, or  a subdivision  or other  business unit  of either,  or any
combination of the foregoing,  or based on  comparative performance relative  to
other  companies. Restricted shares, bonus award shares and shares issuable upon
the exercise of an option are paid,  at the specified vesting or exercise  date,
as
 
                                       23
 


the  case may  be, in shares  of the  Company's Class A  Common Stock ('Shares')
unless satisfied or settled in cash pursuant  to the terms of the Restated  1996
Stock Plan.
 
     The  Board of Directors  or the Compensation  Committee may discontinue the
Restated 1996 Stock Plan at any time and  from time to time may amend or  revise
the  terms of  the Restated  1996 Stock  Plan, as  permitted by  applicable law,
except that  it may  not  revoke or  alter, in  any  manner unfavorable  to  the
recipient  of an outstanding award under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan, any award
made under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan, without the consent of the recipient of
that award, nor may it amend the  Restated 1996 Stock Plan without the  approval
of  the stockholders of the  Company if such approval  is required by Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act for transactions pursuant to the Restated 1996 Stock Plan
to continue to be exempt thereunder.
 
     Certain Federal Income  Tax Consequences. The  following summary  generally
describes   the  principal  Federal  (but  not   state  and  local)  income  tax
consequences of the  issuance and exercise  of options under  the Restated  1996
Stock  Plan.  It is  general in  nature and  is  not intended  to cover  all tax
consequences that may  apply to  a particular  participant or  the Company.  The
provisions  of the Code and the regulations thereunder relating to these matters
are complex and  their impact in  any one  case may depend  upon the  particular
circumstances.
 
     An  employee will generally not realize  any income when an incentive stock
option is granted under the Restated 1996  Stock Plan or when such an option  is
exercised,  and the Company will not be  entitled to a deduction with respect to
the grant or  exercise of such  an option. The  difference between the  exercise
price  of an  incentive stock  option and  the fair  market value  of the Shares
subject to the option at the time of exercise is an item of tax preference which
may result in the employee being subject to the alternative minimum tax. If  the
employee  holds the Shares acquired under an incentive stock option for at least
two years from the  date the option is  granted and at least  one year from  the
date  of exercise  of the  option, any  gain realized  by the  employee when the
Shares are sold will be taxable as capital gain. If the holding periods are  not
satisfied,  the  employee  will  realize  ordinary income  in  the  year  of the
disposition of the Shares in  an amount equal to the  excess of the fair  market
value  of  such  Shares  on  the  date  of  exercise  (or  the  proceeds  of the
disposition, if lower) over the option  price, and the Company will be  entitled
to a corresponding deduction. Any remaining gain will generally be capital gain.
If  an incentive  stock option is  settled by the  Company in cash,  Shares or a
combination thereof, the employee will recognize ordinary income at the time  of
settlement  equal to the fair  market value of such  cash, Shares or combination
thereof and the Company shall be entitled to a corresponding deduction.
 
     An employee  will not  realize any  income,  and the  Company will  not  be
entitled to a deduction, at the time that a nonqualified stock option is granted
under the Restated 1996 Stock Plan. Upon exercising a nonqualified stock option,
an  employee will realize ordinary income, and the Company will be entitled to a
corresponding deduction, in  an amount equal  to the excess  of the fair  market
value on the exercise date of the Shares subject to the option over the exercise
price  of the option. The employee will have a basis in the Shares received as a
result of the exercise, for purposes of computing capital gain or loss, equal to
the fair market value of  those Shares on the  exercise date and the  employee's
holding  period in the Shares received will commence on the date of exercise. If
a nonqualified stock  option is  settled by  the Company  in cash,  Shares or  a
combination  thereof, the employee will recognize ordinary income at the time of
settlement equal to the  fair market value of  such cash, Shares or  combination
thereof and the Company shall be entitled to a corresponding deduction.
 
     No  awards were  granted to  any executive  officer, director,  nominee for
director or any associate of any such person during 1995 other than an award  of
3,800  stock options  and 3,800  SARs to  Robert S.  Lemle on  November 2, 1995.
During 1995, a total of 43,600 options, 43,600 SARs and 7,100 bonus award shares
were issued to employees of the Company and its affiliates (including Mr. Lemle)
under the  Prior  Stock  Plan.  On  May  1,  1996,  the  Compensation  Committee
authorized the grant, subject to stockholder approval of the Restated 1996 Stock
Plan,  of 500,855 options, 500,855 SARs and 90,850 Bonus Awards to 243 employees
pursuant to the Restated 1996 Stock  Plan; Mr. Quinn and all executive  officers
as  a group  receiving 16,000  and 69,000 options,  and 16,000  and 69,000 SARs,
respectively. No executive officer  received Bonus Awards  under this grant.  On
May  1, 1996, the  closing price of a  Share on the  American Stock Exchange was
$49.50.
 
                                       24
 


     The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting,
in person or by proxy, by  holders of the Class A  Common Stock and the Class  B
Common  Stock voting together  as a single  class, is required  to authorize and
approve the Restated 1996 Stock Plan. Abstentions from voting will have the same
effect as voting against the proposal.  Broker non-votes will have no effect  on
the outcome of the vote on this proposal.
 
     THE  BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF
THE RESTATED 1996 STOCK PLAN.
 
                     (3) AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF THE
                    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     The Board of Directors believes that  the Company's ability to attract  and
retain  capable  persons as  independent directors  will be  enhanced if  it can
provide its nonemployee directors with stock options, and that the Company  will
benefit  from  encouraging  a  sense  of  proprietorship  of  such  persons  and
stimulating the active interest of such persons in the development and financial
success of the Company. Accordingly, on May 10, 1996, the Board of Directors  of
the  Company  adopted,  subject  to  stockholder  approval,  the  Company's 1996
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan (the 'Director Stock Option Plan').  The
Director  Stock Option Plan and existing automatic grants thereunder are subject
to, and will become effective, upon  approval of this Proposal by the  requisite
vote of the stockholders at the Annual Meeting (the 'Effective Date'). A copy of
the  Director Stock Option Plan  is attached hereto as  Exhibit B. The following
description of the Director  Stock Option Plan is  subject to, and qualified  in
its entirety by reference to the Director Stock Option Plan.
 
     The  Director Stock Option Plan  provides for grants to  be made of options
('Options') to purchase a maximum of  sixty thousand (60,000) shares of Class  A
Common  Stock.  In  the event  of  any  stock dividend,  stock  split, spin-off,
reclassification, recapitalization, or other similar event resulting in dilution
of the  Class A  Common Stock,  then the  number of  Shares issuable  under  the
Director  Stock Option  Plan shall be  proportionately adjusted  to reflect such
transaction. All  options  granted under  the  Director Stock  Option  Plan  are
nonqualified stock options.
 
     Under  the Director Stock Option Plan, as of May 10, 1996 each of the three
present directors of the Company who were not current or former employees of the
Company or any subsidiary of the  Company (each, a 'Nonemployee Director')  were
granted,  subject to stockholder approval of  the Director Stock Option Plan, an
Option to purchase 7,500 Shares at an  exercise price of $50.625 per Share,  the
closing  price  of a  Share  on May  10, 1996.  The  Director Stock  Option Plan
provides that each individual who first becomes a Nonemployee Director after the
Effective Date will automatically be granted an Option to purchase 2,500  Shares
(subject  to adjustment as  described below) on  the date such  person becomes a
Nonemployee Director. On the  first business day after  the date of each  annual
meeting  of the  Company's stockholders, each  person who is  then a Nonemployee
Director shall  automatically  be granted  an  option to  purchase  500  Shares.
Options  granted pursuant to the Director Stock Option Plan will be nonqualified
stock options which do not qualify under Section 422 of the Code.
 
     The Director Stock Option Plan provides  that the per share exercise  price
of  each Option will  be equal to  the fair market  value of the  Class A Common
Stock on  the date  the Option  is granted.  In general,  fair market  value  is
determined  by reference  to the last  sale price  for shares of  Class A Common
Stock as reported on the American Stock Exchange on the date of the grant.
 
     Options granted under the Director Stock  Option Plan will be fully  vested
and  exercisable  on the  date of  grant.  Each Option  granted pursuant  to the
Director Stock Option Plan will terminate upon  the earlier to occur of (i)  the
expiration  of ten years following the date upon which the Option is granted and
(ii) the  expiration of  three years  from the  termination of  a  participant's
service  on the Company's Board of Directors,  provided that in the event that a
participant dies  while  an  Option  is  exercisable,  the  Option  will  remain
exercisable  by the  participant's estate  or beneficiary  only until  the first
anniversary of the participant's  date of death, and  whether or not such  first
anniversary occurs prior to or following the expiration of the ten or three year
periods referred to above.
 
                                       25
 


     The  obligations of the  Company with respect to  Options granted under the
Director Stock Option Plan are subject to all applicable laws.
 
     All grants  of  Options  under  the Director  Stock  Option  Plan  will  be
automatic  and will not be subject to the discretion of any person. The Director
Stock Option Plan will be administered by the Company's Board of Directors or by
a Committee designated by the Board of Directors.
 
     The Board of Directors may amend  the Director Stock Option Plan from  time
to  time, provided  that no  amendment which  increases the  aggregate number of
Shares that may  be issued  under the  Director Stock  Option Plan  may be  made
without  the approval of  the Company's stockholders,  and provided further that
certain provisions regarding eligibility and  the terms of the automatic  awards
granted  under the Director Stock Option Plan, may not be amended more than once
every six months, other than to comply with changes in the Internal Revenue Code
or the rules thereunder.
 
     A Nonemployee Director will  not realize any income,  and the Company  will
not be entitled to a deduction, at the time that a stock option is granted under
the  Director  Stock  Option  Plan. Upon  exercising  an  Option,  a Nonemployee
Director will realize  ordinary income, and  the Company will  be entitled to  a
corresponding  deduction, in an  amount equal to  the excess of  the fair market
value on the exercise date of the Shares subject to the Option over the exercise
price of the Option. The  Nonemployee Director will have  a basis in the  Shares
received  as a result of the exercise, for purposes of computing capital gain or
loss, equal to the fair  market value of those Shares  on the exercise date  and
the  employee's holding period in the Shares  received will commence on the date
of exercise.  If an  Option is  settled  by the  Company in  cash, Shares  or  a
combination  thereof, the employee will recognize ordinary income at the time of
settlement equal to the  fair market value of  such cash, Shares or  combination
thereof and the Company shall be entitled to a corresponding deduction.
 
     The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting,
in  person or by proxy, by  holders of the Class A  Common Stock and the Class B
Common Stock  voting  together as  a  single  class, is  required  to  authorize
approval  of the Director  Stock Option Plan. Abstentions  from voting will have
the same effect as  voting against the proposal.  Broker non-votes will have  no
effect on the outcome of this proposal.
 
     THE  BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF
THE 1996 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN.
 
                    (4) APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     The Board of Directors has appointed the  firm of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP  as
independent auditors for the fiscal year 1996. The stockholders are requested to
ratify and approve such appointment.
 
     It  is expected  that a  representative of  KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP  will be
present at the annual meeting of  stockholders. The representative will have  an
opportunity  to make a statement  and is expected to  be available to respond to
appropriate questions.
 
     The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the annual meeting,
in person or by proxy, by  holders of the Class A  Common Stock and the Class  B
Common  Stock  voting together  as a  single  class, is  required to  ratify and
approve appointment of  KPMG Peat Marwick  as the Company's  auditors for  1996.
Abstentions  from voting and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome
of the vote on this proposal.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A  VOTE FOR RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL  OF
THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP AS THE COMPANY'S AUDITORS FOR 1996.
 
                      COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
     Pursuant   to  regulations  promulgated  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission, the Company  is required to  identify, based solely  on a review  of
reports  filed under Section 16(a) of the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each
person who, at any time  during its fiscal year ended  December 31, 1995, was  a
director,  officer or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of the Company's
Class A Common
 
                                       26
 


Stock that failed  to file on  a timely basis  any such reports.  Based on  such
review,  the Company is aware of no such failure other than (i) a report on Form
3 filed by  Joseph Cece on  March 26, 1996  with respect to  his election as  an
executive  officer of the Company  on February 13, 1996,  (ii) reports on Form 3
filed by Thomas Dolan,  the DC Thomas Trust,  the Dolan Grandchildren Trust  and
the Dolan Spouse Trust on March 22, 1996 with respect to Thomas Dolan's election
as an executive officer of the Company on February 13, 1996 and (iii) reports on
Form  4 filed by Sheila Mahony, Barry O'Leary, Robert Lemle and Patrick Dolan on
April 26, 1996 with  respect to stock awards  granted to such individuals  under
the Company's Amended and Restated Employee Stock Plan.
 
                 PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     Proposals  of stockholders intended  to be presented  at the Company's 1997
annual meeting of stockholders must be received by the Company at its  executive
offices  shown on page 1 of this proxy statement on or prior to January 26, 1997
to be eligible  for inclusion  in the  Company's proxy  material to  be used  in
connection with the 1997 meeting.
 
     The  Company's Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  for the  Company's fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995 is enclosed herewith.
 
                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
                                          ROBERT S. LEMLE
                                          Executive Vice President,
                                            General Counsel and Secretary
 
Woodbury, New York
May 24, 1996
 
                                       27


                                                                       EXHIBIT A
 
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
              FIRST AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN
 
     1.  Purpose.  The  purpose  of  the  Cablevision  Systems  Corporation 1996
Employee Stock  Plan, is  to compensate  key employees  of the  Company and  its
Affiliates  who are  and have  been largely  responsible for  the management and
growth of the  business of the  Company and  its Affiliates and  to advance  the
interests of the Company by encouraging and enabling the acquisition of a larger
personal  proprietary  interest  in  the Company  by  key  employees  upon whose
judgment and keen interest the Company and its Affiliates are largely  dependent
for  the successful  conduct of  their operations.  It is  anticipated that such
compensation and the  acquisition of  such proprietary interest  in the  Company
will  stimulate the efforts of  such key employees on  behalf of the Company and
its Affiliates, and strengthen their desire  to remain with the Company and  its
Affiliates.  It is also  expected that such compensation  and the opportunity to
acquire such a proprietary interest will  enable the Company and its  Affiliates
to attract desirable personnel.
 
     2.  Definitions.  When  used in  this  Plan, unless  the  context otherwise
requires:
 
     (a) 'Affiliate' shall mean (i) any corporation controlling, controlled  by,
or  under  common control  with the  Company  or any  other Affiliate,  (ii) any
corporation in which the Company owns  at least five percent of the  outstanding
shares  of  all  classes  of  common  shares  of  such  corporation,  (iii)  any
unincorporated trade or  business controlling,  controlled by,  or under  common
control  with the  Company or any  other Affiliate, and  (iv) any unincorporated
trade or business in which the Company owns at least a five percent interest  in
the capital or profits of such trade or business.
 
     (b)  'Awards' shall mean options, Rights, Restricted Shares or Bonus Awards
which are granted or made under the Plan.
 
     (c) 'Board of Directors' shall mean the Board of Directors of the  Company,
as constituted at any time.
 
     (d) 'Bonus Awards' shall mean awards made pursuant to Section 11.
 
     (e)  'Committee' shall  mean the  Committee of  the Board  of Directors, as
described in Section 3.
 
     (f) 'Company'  shall  mean  Cablevision  Systems  Corporation,  a  Delaware
corporation.
 
     (g)  'Executive  Officer' shall  mean a  person  who is  an officer  of the
Company within the  meaning of  Rule 16b-1(f) promulgated  under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
 
     (h)  'Fair Market Value' on a specified  date shall mean the average of the
bid  and  asked   closing  prices  at   which  one  Share   is  traded  on   the
over-the-counter  market, as reported on  the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation  System, or  the closing price  for a  Share on  the
stock  exchange, if any,  on which such  Shares are primarily  traded, but if no
Shares were traded on such date, then on the last previous date on which a Share
was so traded, or, if none of the  above is applicable, the value of a Share  as
established  by  the Committee  for  such date  using  any reasonable  method of
valuation.
 
     (i) 'Internal Revenue Code' shall mean  the Internal Revenue Code of  1986,
as amended.
 
     (j) 'Options' shall mean the stock options issued pursuant to this Plan.
 
     (k)  'Performance Criteria' shall  mean a goal or  goals established by the
Committee and measured over a period or periods selected by the Committee,  such
goal(s)  to  constitute a  requirement  that must  be  met prior  to  either the
vesting, exercise or  payment of an  Award under  the Plan as  specified by  the
Committee.  Unless the Committee otherwise determines at the time of grant of an
award of  Restricted  Shares or  a  Bonus Award  to  an Executive  Officer,  the
Performance Criteria with respect to such award shall be related to at least one
of  the  following  criteria,  which  may  be  determined  by  reference  to the
performance of the Company or an  Affiliate, subdivision or other business  unit
of  either,  or  any  combination  of the  foregoing,  or  based  on comparative
performance relative  to other  companies; (i)  earnings per  share, (ii)  total
return  to  stockholders,  (iii)  return on  equity,  (iv)  operating  income or
 
                                      A-1
 


net income, (v) return on capital, (vi) costs, (vii) results relative to budget,
(viii) cash flow,  (ix) cash  flow margin, (x)  cash flow  per subscriber,  (xi)
revenues  (xii) revenues per subscriber, (xiii) subscriber growth, (xiv) results
relative to quantitative  customer service standards,  (xv) results relative  to
quantitative  customer satisfaction standards, or  (xvi) a specified increase in
the Fair Market Value of the Company's Class A common stock.
 
     (l) 'Plan' shall  mean the  Cablevision Systems  Corporation 1996  Employee
Stock Plan.
 
     (m)  'Restricted  Period'  shall  mean  the  period  of  time  during which
Restrictions shall apply to a Restricted  Share, as determined by the  Committee
pursuant to Section 10 hereof.
 
     (n)  'Restricted Shares' shall mean the  Shares granted pursuant to Section
10 hereof.
 
     (o) 'Restrictions' shall mean the  restrictions upon the sale,  assignment,
transfer,  pledge or other disposal or encumbrance  on a Restricted Share as set
forth in Section 10 hereof.
 
     (p) 'Rights' shall mean the stock appreciation rights issued to the grantee
of an Option pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan to receive from the Company  cash
or  Shares or a combination of  cash or Shares, based on  the excess of the Fair
Market Value of the Shares  at the time of exercise  over the exercise price  of
the Shares subject to the related option, subject to the terms and conditions of
the Plan.
 
     (q)  'Share' shall mean a share of Class A common stock of the Company, par
value $.01.
 
     (r) 'Subsidiary' shall  mean any  'subsidiary corporation,'  as defined  in
Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
     3.  Administration. The Plan shall be  administered by the Committee, which
shall consist of at least three members of the Board of Directors of the Company
who shall be  appointed by, and  shall serve at  the pleasure of,  the Board  of
Directors  of the Company. No  member of the Committee  shall (i) be eligible to
receive an Award under the  Plan while serving on the  Committee or at any  time
within  one year prior to  his appointment to the  Committee, or (ii) receive an
award of equity securities  under any other  plan of the Company  or any of  its
Affiliates  while  serving  on  the  Committee  or  at  any  time  prior  to his
appointment to  the Committee,  except  as permitted  by  Rule 16b-3  under  the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the 'Exchange Act') without the member ceasing
to be considered a disinterested person thereunder.
 
     The Committee shall have full authority, subject to the terms of the  Plan,
to select the persons to whom Awards shall be granted or made under the Plan, to
set  the date of any such Award and  any terms or conditions associated with any
such Award. The Committee also shall have the authority to establish such  rules
and  regulations;  not inconsistent  with the  provisions of  the Plan,  for the
proper  administration  of  the  Plan  and  to  make  such  determinations   and
interpretations  under and in connection with the  Plan as it deems necessary or
advisable. The  Plan,  and  all  such  rules,  regulations,  determinations  and
interpretations,   shall  be  binding  and  conclusive  upon  the  Company,  its
stockholders and all employees, and upon their respective legal representatives,
heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assigns and upon all other persons claiming
under or through any of them.
 
     4. Participants.  Except  as hereinafter  provided,  all officers  and  key
employees  of the Company  or an Affiliate  shall be eligible  to receive Awards
under the Plan, except  that Options that are  intended to qualify as  incentive
stock  options within the  meaning of Section  422 of the  Internal Revenue Code
shall be granted only to employees of the Company or a Subsidiary. In  addition,
Charles F. Dolan shall not be eligible to receive Awards under the Plan. Nothing
herein  contained shall be construed to prevent the making of one or more Awards
at the same or different times to the same employee.
 
     5. Shares. The  Committee may  make Awards  under this  Plan for  up to  an
aggregate  number of Shares equal to the  sum of (i) 1,500,000 Shares, which may
be either treasury Shares or authorized but unissued Shares, and (ii) the number
of  Restricted  Shares,  if  any,  purchased  from  employees  by  the  Company.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in no  event shall  any Participant  be granted
Awards for a number of Shares exceeding  600,000 in the aggregate over the  term
of  the Plan.  If an  Award shall  be paid  or settled  or shall  expire, lapse,
terminate or be cancelled for any reason  without the issuance of Shares, or  if
Restricted Shares shall revert back to the Company, then the Committee may grant
Awards  with  respect to  the  Shares subject  to any  such  prior Award  or the
Restricted Shares which have reverted
 
                                      A-2
 


back to the Company. Awards payable only in cash shall not reduce the  aggregate
remaining  number of Shares with  respect to which Awards  may be made under the
Plan.
 
     The maximum number  of Shares that  may be  issued under the  Plan and  the
number  of Shares with respect to which Awards  may be made shall be adjusted to
the extent necessary to accommodate the  adjustments provided for in Section  12
hereof  as well as those adjustments provided for in grants or awards made prior
to the effective date of the Plan.
 
     6. Options. Options granted under the Plan shall be either incentive  stock
options,  within the  meaning of  Section 422 of  the Internal  Revenue Code, or
non-qualified options, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
 
     (a) Terms and  Conditions. The form,  terms and conditions  of each  Option
shall  be determined by the Committee and shall be set forth in a certificate or
agreement (the 'Option Certificate') signed by the Option holder and an  officer
of  the Company. The Option Certificate shall state whether or not the Option is
an incentive stock option. The Committee may, in its sole discretion,  establish
one  or  more  conditions  to  the  exercise  of  an  Option  including, without
limitation, conditions the  satisfaction of  which are  measured by  performance
criteria  applicable to the recipient or the  Company, as the Committee may deem
appropriate, provided that, if such Option  is designated as an incentive  stock
option, then such condition or conditions shall not be inconsistent with Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
     (b)  Exercise Price for Options. The exercise price per Share of the Shares
to be purchased pursuant to  any Option shall be fixed  by the Committee at  the
time an Option is granted, but in no event shall it be less than the Fair Market
Value  of a Share on the day on which the Option is granted. Such exercise price
shall thereafter be subject to adjustment as required by the Option  certificate
relating to each Option.
 
     (c) Duration of Options. The duration of any Option granted under this Plan
shall  be for a period fixed by the  Committee but shall, except as described in
the next  sentence, in  no event  be more  than ten  years. Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  the  Option Certificate  issued  in connection  with  a nonqualified
Option granted under this Plan may provide that, in the event the Option  holder
dies  while the Option is exercisable, the Option will remain exercisable by the
holder's estate or beneficiary only until the first anniversary of the  holder's
date  of death,  and whether or  not such  first anniversary occurs  prior to or
following the expiration of ten years from the date the Option was granted.
 
     (d) Options  Granted  to  Ten  Percent Stockholders.  No  Option  which  is
intended  to qualify as  an incentive stock  option shall be  granted under this
Plan to  any employee  who, at  the  time the  Option is  granted, owns,  or  is
considered  as owning, within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue
Code, shares possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power
or value of all classes  of stock of the Company  or any Subsidiary, unless  the
exercise  price under  such Option is  at least  110 percent of  the Fair Market
Value of a Share  on the date such  Option is granted and  the duration of  such
option is no more than five years.
 
     (e)  Initial  Exercisability Limitation.  The  aggregate Fair  Market Value
(determined at the time that an Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to
incentive stock options  granted in  any calendar  year under  all stock  option
plans  of the Company or  any corporation which (at the  time of the granting of
such incentive stock option) was  a parent or Subsidiary  of the Company, or  of
any  predecessor corporation of any such  corporation, which are exercisable for
the first time by  an Option holder  during any calendar  year shall not  exceed
$100,000.
 
     (f)  Settlement  of an  Option.  When an  Option  is exercised  pursuant to
Section 8 hereof, the Committee, in its  sole discretion, may elect, in lieu  of
issuing  Shares pursuant  to the terms  of the  Option, to settle  the Option by
paying the Option holder an amount equal to the product obtained by  multiplying
(i)  the excess of the Fair Market Value of  one Share on the date the Option is
exercised over the exercise  price of the Option  (the 'Option Spread') by  (ii)
the  number of Shares with respect to  which the Option is exercised. The amount
payable to the Option holder in these circumstances shall be paid by the Company
either in cash  or in  Shares having  a Fair Market  Value equal  to the  Option
Spread,  or a combination thereof, as the  Committee shall determine at the time
the Option is exercised or at the time the Option is granted.
 
                                      A-3
 


     7. Rights. At the time an Option is granted, or anytime thereafter prior to
its expiration,  the  Committee,  in  its sole  discretion,  may  issue  to  the
recipient  of such  Option related  Rights with  respect to  the same  number of
Shares as are covered by the Option, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms
of Section 12 hereof. The duration of  any such Right shall be coextensive  with
the duration of the related Option.
 
     (a)  Conjunctive  and Alternative  Rights.  Such Rights  shall  entitle the
holder to receive cash from the Company:
 
          (i) in addition  to the  right to  exercise the  related Option  (such
     Rights being hereinafter referred to as 'Conjunctive Rights'); and/or
 
          (ii)  in lieu of the right to exercise the related Option (such Rights
     being hereinafter referred to as 'Alternative Rights');
 
as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time the Right is
granted. If the  Option holder is  granted Conjunctive Rights,  he may  exercise
such  Rights  only if,  and  to the  extent that,  the  related Option  has been
exercised or is exercisable. If the Option holder is granted Alternative Rights,
he may  exercise  such  Rights  only  to  the  extent  such  related  Option  is
exercisable  and the  exercise of  such Alternative  Rights shall  result in the
cancellation of the related Option  to the extent of  the number of Shares  with
respect to which such Alternative Rights have been exercised and the exercise of
the related Option shall result in the cancellation of the Alternative Rights to
the  extent of the number  of Shares with respect to  which such Option has been
exercised.
 
     (b) Terms  and Conditions.  Upon the  exercise of  any Rights,  the  Option
holder  shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount in cash equal to
the product obtained by multiplying (i) the  excess of the Fair Market Value  of
one  Share on the date  the Rights are exercised over  the exercise price of the
related Option (the 'Rights Spread') by  (ii) the number of Shares with  respect
to  which such Rights  are exercised. The  form, terms and  conditions of Rights
shall be  determined by  the Committee.  A certificate  of Rights  (the  'Rights
Certificate') signed by an officer of the Company shall be issued to each person
to whom Rights are granted.
 
     8.  Exercise of Options and Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, an
Option (and any related Rights), after  the grant thereof, shall be  exercisable
by  the holder at such  rate and times as  may be fixed by  the Committee at the
time the Option and the related Rights, if any, are granted; provided,  however,
that  any Rights issued  to the Option  holder shall be  exercisable only at the
times and in the amounts at which the related Option shall be exercisable.
 
     All or  any part  of any  remaining unexercised  Options (and  any  related
Rights)  granted to any person shall be  exercisable in full upon the occurrence
of such  special circumstances  or events  as,  in the  sole discretion  of  the
Committee, merits special consideration.
 
     An  Option shall be  exercised by the  delivery to any  person who has been
designated by the Company for  the purpose of receiving  the same, of a  written
notice  duly signed by the  Option holder thereof (or  the representative of the
estate or the  heirs of a  deceased Option  holder) to such  effect. Unless  the
Company  chooses to settle the  Option in cash, Shares  or a combination thereof
pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof, the holder  of the Option shall be required  to
deliver to the Company, within five days of the delivery of the notice described
above,  either cash, a check payable to the  order of the Company or Shares duly
endorsed over to the Company (which Shares shall be valued at their Fair  Market
Value  as of the date preceding the day  of such exercise) or any combination of
such methods of payment, which together amount to the full exercise price of the
Shares purchased pursuant  to the  exercise of the  Option. Notwithstanding  the
preceding  sentence, the Company and the holder of the Option may agree upon any
other reasonable manner of  providing for payment of  the exercise price of  the
Option.
 
     Any Rights may be exercised by the holder thereof (or the representative of
the  estate or the heirs of a deceased  Option holder), by delivery of a written
notice of exercise of such Rights,  together with the Rights Certificate to  any
person  who has been designated by the  Company for the purpose of receiving the
same. No Option  (or related  Rights) may  be granted  pursuant to  the Plan  or
exercised  at any time when  such Option or Rights,  or the granting or exercise
thereof, may  result  in the  violation  of any  law  or governmental  order  or
regulation.
 
                                      A-4
 


     Unless  the Committee  chooses to  settle an  Option in  cash, Shares  or a
combination thereof pursuant to  Section 6(f) hereof,  within a reasonable  time
after  exercise of  an Option  the Company  shall cause  to be  delivered to the
person entitled thereto (i) a certificate  for the Shares purchased pursuant  to
the  exercise of the Option and (ii) a  check for the cash payable, if any, upon
the exercise of the Rights. If the Option and/or related Rights shall have  been
exercised with respect to less than all of the Shares subject to the Option, the
Company  shall also cause to  be delivered to the  person entitled thereto a new
Option Certificate and Rights Certificate, if applicable, in replacement of  the
Option  Certificate and  the Rights Certificate  surrendered at the  time of the
exercise of the Option and Rights, indicating the number of Shares with  respect
to  which the Option  and related Rights  remain available for  exercise, or the
original Option Certificate and Rights Certificate, if any, shall be endorsed to
give effect to the partial exercise thereof.
 
     9. Termination of Options and Rights upon Termination of Employment. At the
time an Option and the related Rights, if any, are granted, the Committee  shall
determine  the period of time  during which the Option  holder may exercise such
Option and related Rights, if any, following his termination of employment  with
the  Company  and its  Affiliates; provided,  however, that  an Option  shall be
exercisable only to the extent such Option,  by its terms, is exercisable as  of
the  date the  Option holder's employment  is terminated, unless  such Option is
made fully exercisable by the Committee  pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and  such
exercise must be accomplished prior to the expiration of the term of such Option
and related Rights. The Committee may fix different periods of time during which
such  Option and related  Rights may be exercised  following the Option holder's
termination of  employment,  depending on  the  cause for  the  Option  holder's
termination  of employment. The  Committee shall decide  whether, and under what
conditions, the Options and related Rights may continue in force in the event of
an approved leave of absence.
 
     10. Restricted Shares. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant  to
employees  the right to receive such  number of Restricted Shares, as determined
by the Committee in its sole discretion.
 
     (a) Issuance. The employee  shall have forty-five  (45) business days  from
the  date of such grant  to pay to the  Company, in cash or  by check, an amount
equal to the par value of a Share multiplied by the number of Restricted  Shares
which  have  been granted  to  the employee  by  the Committee.  Subject  to the
provisions of Section 15 hereof, upon  the receipt of such payment, the  Company
shall  issue to the employee a  certificate representing such Restricted Shares.
The terms  and  conditions  of the  grant  of  such Restricted  Shares  and  the
Restrictions  applicable to  such Shares  shall be set  forth in  writing, in an
agreement signed by the employee and an officer of the Company (the  'Restricted
Shares  Agreement'). In  the event  the employee  fails to  make payment  to the
Company for such Restricted  Shares within ten (10)  business days of the  grant
thereof,  the grant of Restricted Shares shall lapse and the Committee may again
grant Awards with respect to such Shares.
 
     (b) Restrictions on Shares. In no  event shall a Restricted Share be  sold,
assigned,  transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of or encumbered until the
expiration of the Restricted Period which  relates to such Restricted Share.  As
of  the  date the  Restricted Shares  are  granted, the  Committee, in  its sole
discretion, shall specify the dates as of  which, and the number of Shares  with
respect  to which, Restrictions upon the  Restricted Shares shall cease. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Committee may  provide with respect to any grant  of
Restricted  Shares,  that the  termination  of Restrictions  on  such Restricted
Shares may be subject  to, among other things,  conditions, the satisfaction  of
which  is  measured  by  one  or more  Performance  Criteria  applicable  to the
recipient or the Company, an Affiliate, division or other business unit, as  the
Committee may deem appropriate.
 
     (c)  Forfeiture of Restricted  Shares. If the employment  of an employee by
the Company and its Affiliates ceases prior to the end of the Restricted  Period
for any one of the reasons specified by the Committee at the time the Restricted
Shares  are granted and set forth in the Restricted Shares Agreement, Restricted
Shares held by such employee which are subject to Restrictions shall revert back
and belong to the Company. In the event that any Restricted Shares should revert
back and belong to the Company  pursuant to this section, any stock  certificate
or  certificates representing such Restricted Shares  shall be cancelled and the
Restricted Shares shall  be returned to  the treasury of  the Company. Upon  the
reversion  of such Restricted Shares, the Company shall repay to the employee or
(in the case of death) to the representative of the employee's estate, the  full
amount paid to the Company by the
 
                                      A-5
 


employee   for  such  Restricted  Shares.  Notwithstanding  the  preceding,  the
Restrictions upon the Restricted Shares shall cease and upon the termination  of
the  employee's employment  with the Company  and its  Affiliates the Restricted
Shares shall not revert back and belong  to the Company, upon the occurrence  of
such  special circumstances  or events as  the Committee shall  determine in its
sole discretion, at or after grant, merit special consideration.
 
     (d) Right to Vote and Receive  Dividends on Restricted Shares. Each  holder
of  Restricted Shares shall, during the Restricted Period, be the beneficial and
record owner of such  Restricted Shares and shall  have full voting rights  with
respect  thereto. During the Restricted  Period, all dividends and distributions
paid upon any Restricted Share shall be retained by the Company for the  account
of  the holder of such Restricted  Share. Such dividends and distributions shall
revert back to the  Company if for  any reason the  Restricted Share upon  which
such dividends and distributions were paid reverts back to the Company. Upon the
expiration  of the  Restricted Period, all  dividends and  distributions made on
such Restricted Share and retained by the Company will be paid to the holder.
 
     11. Bonus Awards.
 
     (a) Grant and Terms of Awards. The Committee shall determine the  employees
that  shall receive Bonus Awards, the number of Shares to be so awarded, and the
terms and  conditions  of  such  Bonus Awards.  The  Committee  shall  determine
whether,  and under what conditions,  Bonus Awards shall remain  in force in the
event of the termination  of the awardee's employment  with the Company and  its
Affiliates.
 
     (b)  Time for Issuance of Bonus Awards. Each grantee of a Bonus Award under
the Plan shall receive  a letter (the  'Bonus Award Letter')  after he has  been
selected  to receive such Bonus Award, which letter shall state the terms of the
Bonus Award, including, without limitation, the  amount of the Bonus Award,  the
number  of Shares proposed  to be issued  to him, the  vesting schedule for such
Bonus Award and the date or dates and the conditions upon which such Bonus Award
shall be paid to the grantee. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee  may
provide  with respect to any  Bonus Award, that the  vesting of such Bonus Award
may be subject to, among other things, conditions, the satisfaction of which  is
measured  by one or more Performance Criteria applicable to the recipient or the
Company, an Affiliate,  division or other  business unit, as  the Committee  may
deem  appropriate.  The  time  of  issuance of  Shares  to  any  grantee  may be
accelerated by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee, in its  sole
discretion,  may  instruct the  Company to  pay  on the  date when  Shares would
otherwise be issued pursuant to  a Bonus Award, in lieu  of such Shares, a  cash
amount equal to the number of such Shares multiplied by the Fair Market Value of
a  Share on the date when Shares would  otherwise have been issued. If a grantee
is entitled to receive other stock, securities or other property as a result  of
adjustment,   pursuant  to  Section  12  hereof,  the  Committee,  in  its  sole
discretion, may  instruct the  Company to  pay,  in lieu  of such  other  stock,
securities  or other property,  cash equal to  the fair market  value thereof as
determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
     12. Certain Adjustments.
 
     (a) Dividends, Stock  Splits, Spin-offs, Conversions,  Etc. If, during  the
period  prior to complete exercise of any Option  or Right (as to such Option or
Right) or during the Restricted Period (as to Restricted Stock) or prior to  the
issuance  and delivery  of Shares pursuant  to a  Bonus Award (as  to such Bonus
Award) (such period being referred to herein as the 'Award Period'), there shall
be declared and paid a stock or  property dividend or any other distribution  by
way of dividend, stock split (including a reverse stock split), or spin-off with
respect  to the Shares, or if  the Class A common stock  of the Company shall be
converted, exchanged, reclassified or recapitalized,  or if the Shares shall  be
in any way substituted for in a merger in which the entity surviving such merger
or its parent is a public Company, then:
 
          (i)  in the case  of an Option or  Right, the Option  or Right, to the
     extent that it  has not been  exercised, shall entitle  the holder  thereof
     upon  the future exercise of the Option or Right to such number and kind of
     securities or cash or other property, subject to the terms of the Option or
     Right, to  which he  would have  been entitled  had he  actually owned  the
     Shares  subject to the  unexercised portion of  the Option or  Right at the
     time of the occurrence of such dividend, stock split, spin-off, conversion,
     exchange,  reclassification,  recapitalization  or  substitution,  and  the
 
                                      A-6
 


     aggregate  purchase price upon  the future exercise of  the Option or Right
     shall be the  same as if  the Shares  originally subject to  the Option  or
     Right  were being purchased or used to  determine the amount of the payment
     to which the holder is entitled thereunder;
 
          (ii) in the case of a  Restricted Share, the holder of the  Restricted
     Share shall receive, subject to the provisions of Section 10(c) hereof, the
     same  securities or other property as are  received by the other holders of
     the Company's  Shares pursuant  to such  dividend, stock  split,  spin-off,
     conversion,  exchange, reclassification,  recapitalization or substitution;
     and
 
          (iii) in the case of a Bonus Award, the Bonus Award shall entitle  the
     holder  thereof upon the future issuance and delivery of Shares pursuant to
     a Bonus  Award to  such number  and kind  of securities  or cash  or  other
     property,  subject to the terms of the  Bonus Award, to which he would have
     been entitled had he actually owned  the Shares subject to the Bonus  Award
     at  the time  of the  occurrence of  such dividend,  stock split, spin-off,
     conversion, exchange, reclassification, recapitalization or substitution.
 
     (b) Other Events Resulting in Dilution. If, during the Award Period,  there
occurs  any event  as to  which the  provisions against  the effect  of dilution
contained in the Plan are not strictly  applicable, but the failure to make  any
adjustment  would  not fairly  protect the  rights represented  by the  Award in
accordance with the essential intent and principles thereof, then, in each  such
case,  the  Company  shall  appoint  a  firm  of  independent  certified  public
accountants of recognized national standing,  which shall give its opinion  upon
the  adjustment, if  any, on  a basis consistent  with the  essential intent and
principles established in the Plan, which they believe is necessary to  preserve
without  dilution, the  rights represented  by the  Award. Upon  receipt of such
opinion, the Company will promptly mail a  copy thereof to the holder and  shall
make the adjustment described therein.
 
     (c)  Fractional Shares or  Securities. Any fractional  shares or securities
payable upon  the  exercise of  the  Option  or Right  or  to the  holder  of  a
Restricted  Share or  pursuant to  a Bonus  Award as  a result  of an adjustment
pursuant to this Section 12 shall, at the election of the Committee, be  payable
in  cash, Shares, or a combination thereof,  based upon the fair market value of
such shares or securities at the time of exercise.
 
     13. No Rights of a Stockholder. An Option holder, Rights holder or  grantee
of  a Bonus Award shall  not be deemed to  be the holder of,  or have any of the
rights of a stockholder with respect to, any Shares subject to such Option,  any
related Rights or the Bonus Award unless and until (i) the Option and/or related
Rights  shall have been  exercised pursuant to  the terms thereof  or the Shares
subject to the Bonus Award shall have vested, (ii) the Company shall have issued
and delivered Shares to the Option holder or grantee of a Bonus Award, and (iii)
said holder's name shall  have been entered  as a stockholder  of record on  the
books  of the Company.  Thereupon, said holder shall  have full voting, dividend
and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares.
 
     The Company will not be obligated to issue or deliver any Shares unless and
until all legal matters in connection  with the issuance and delivery of  Shares
have been approved by the Company's counsel and the Company's counsel determines
that  all applicable  federal, state  and other  laws and  regulations have been
complied with and  all listing  requirements for relevant  stock exchanges  have
been met.
 
     14.  No Right to  Continued Employment. Nothing contained  herein or in any
Options or Rights Certificate, Restricted Share Agreement or Bonus Award  Letter
shall be construed to confer on any employee any right to continue in the employ
of  the Company or any  Affiliate or derogate from the  right of the Company and
any Affiliate to retire, request the resignation of, or discharge such employee,
at any time, with or without cause.
 
     15. Issuance of Shares and compliance with the Securities Laws.
 
     (a) Certain  Assurances. Before  issuing  or delivering  any Shares  to  an
Option  holder, or at any time  prior to the end of  the Restricted Period as to
any Shares,  the  Company may:  (i)  require  the holder  to  give  satisfactory
assurances  that such Shares are  being purchased for investment  and not with a
view to resale or distribution, and will not be transferred in violation of  the
applicable securities laws; (ii) restrict the transferability of such Shares and
require a legend to be endorsed on the certificates representing the Shares; and
(iii)  condition  the issuance  and delivery  of such  Shares upon  the listing,
registration or qualification of such Shares upon a securities exchange or under
applicable securities
 
                                      A-7
 


laws. The Company may  also condition the issuance  and delivery of Shares  upon
compliance with all applicable federal, state and other laws and regulations, as
determined by the Company's counsel.
 
     (b) Registration Rights Incident to Awards. Prior to the issuance of Shares
pursuant  to an  Award under  the Plan,  the Company  will cause  an appropriate
registration statement covering the shares to be issued pursuant to the Plan  to
be  filed with the Securities and  Exchange Commission under the Securities Act,
if required, and, in any event, will cause a registration statement covering the
reoffer and resale of Shares by grantees  who may be deemed to be affiliates  of
the  Company to be so filed,  and shall use its best  efforts to cause each such
registration statement to become and remain  effective for a period of at  least
two  years  from the  date such  Shares offered  for resale  were issued  by the
Company.
 
     (c) Legended Stock. Each  stock certificate representing Restricted  Shares
shall  contain an appropriate legend referring  to the Plan and the Restrictions
upon  such  Restricted  Shares.  Simultaneously  with  delivery  of  each  stock
certificate  for Restricted Shares, the Company  may cause a stop transfer order
with respect to such  certificate to be  placed with the  transfer agent of  the
Shares.
 
     16.  Withholding.  If the  Company  or an  Affiliate  shall be  required to
withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state or local tax laws, rules or
regulations in respect of the payment of cash or the issuance of Shares pursuant
to the exercise of an Option or Rights, an award of Restricted Stock or a  Bonus
Award,  the Company or an Affiliate shall be entitled to deduct or withhold such
amounts from any  cash payments  to be  made to the  holder. In  any event,  the
holder shall make available to the Company or Affiliate, promptly when requested
by  the Company or such Affiliate, sufficient  funds to meet the requirements of
such withholding and  the Company  or Affiliate shall  be entitled  to take  and
authorize  such steps as it may deem advisable  in order to have such funds made
available to the Company or Affiliate out of any funds or property to become due
to the holder.
 
     The holder may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to  satisfy
the  requirements of such  tax withholding, in  whole or in  part, by having the
Company withhold from the Shares which  would otherwise be issued to the  holder
pursuant  to the exercise of an Option or Rights or a Bonus Award, Shares having
a Fair Market Value which is equal to the amount of tax required to be withheld.
The election must be irrevocable and must be made on or before the date on which
the amount  of tax  to be  withheld  is determined.  In addition,  elections  by
holders who are subject to the restrictions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act
either  (i) must be made at least six months before the date on which the amount
of tax to be  withheld is determined, or  (ii) (A) must be  made in the  'window
period'  beginning  on  the third  business  day  following the  release  of the
Company's quarterly or annual  earnings and ending on  the twelfth business  day
following such release, or be made outside of such 'window period' but will only
take effect in such window period, and (B) must not be made within six months of
the  grant or  award of the  Option, Right  or Bonus Award  (unless the holder's
death or disability occurs prior to six months from such grant or award).
 
     17. Non-transferability of  Awards. Unless the  Committee shall permit  (on
such terms and conditions as it shall establish) an Award to be transferred to a
member  of the Participant's immediate  family or to a  trust or similar vehicle
for the benefit of such  immediate family members (collectively, the  'Permitted
Transferees'),  no Award shall  be assignable or transferable  except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, and except to the extent required by  law,
no right or interest of any Participant shall be subject to any lien, obligation
or  liability of the Participant. All rights with respect to Awards granted to a
Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his lifetime only by such
Participant or, if applicable, the Permitted Transferees.
 
     18. Administration and Amendment of the Plan. The Board of Directors or the
Committee may discontinue the Plan at any  time and from time to time may  amend
or  revise the terms of the Plan, as permitted by applicable law, except that it
may not  revoke or  alter, in  any manner  unfavorable to  the recipient  of  an
outstanding  award under the  Plan, any award  made under the  Plan, without the
consent of the recipient of  that award, nor may it  amend the Plan without  the
approval of the stockholders of the Company if such approval is required by Rule
16b-3  under the Exchange Act for transactions  pursuant to the Plan to continue
to be exempt thereunder.
 
     19. Effective Date. This Plan shall  become effective upon its adoption  by
the  Board  of  Directors  or  the  Committee  and  shall  be  submitted  to the
stockholders of the Company for their approval. In the
 
                                      A-8
 


event that the  Plan is not  approved by  stockholders within 12  months of  its
adoption by the Board of Directors, the Plan and any awards granted hereunder on
or  after the date of  adoption by the Board of  Directors shall become null and
void, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan to the contrary.
 
     20. Assumption of Options. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may, with
the consent of the Option holder, elect to treat as an Option issued under  this
Plan (but not as an incentive stock Option, within the meaning of Section 422 of
the  Internal Revenue Code) an Option  to purchase Shares (the 'Assumed Option')
which has been granted by any person other than the Company to a person who,  as
of  the date such Assumed Option was granted,  was an employee of the Company or
an Affiliate. Thereafter, such Assumed Option shall be subject to the terms  and
conditions  of this Plan except that for  determining the exercise price of such
Assumed Option, when and to what extent such Assumed Option may be exercised and
the expiration date of such Assumed Option, the date as of which such Option was
granted by such third party shall be  treated as the date of grant for  purposes
of  the Plan. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent that there is any conflict
between the terms and conditions of this Plan and the Assumed Option, the  terms
and  conditions of this  Plan shall control.  The number of  Shares which may be
purchased upon the  exercise of  any Assumed Option  shall reduce,  by the  same
amount,  the number  of Shares  with respect  to which  Options, related Rights,
Restricted Shares and Bonus Awards remain to be granted under the Plan  pursuant
to Section 5 hereof. In exchange for assuming an Option granted by someone other
than  the Company,  the Company shall  receive such consideration,  if any, from
such third party which the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
 
     21. Interpretation. Notwithstanding anything to  the contrary in the  Plan,
if any award of Restricted Shares or any Bonus Award is intended, at the time of
grant,  to  be  'other  performance-based compensation'  within  the  meaning of
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, to the extent required to so qualify any  such
Award  hereunder the Committee shall not  be entitled to exercise any discretion
otherwise authorized under the Plan with respect to such Award if the ability to
exercise such discretion (as opposed to  the exercise of such discretion)  would
cause such Award to fail to qualify as 'other performance-based compensation.'
 
     22.  Final Issuance  Date. No  Awards shall be  made under  this Plan after
February 13, 2006.
 
                                      A-9


                                                                       EXHIBIT B
 
                        CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                  STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
 
     1.  Purpose.  The purposes  of  the Cablevision  Systems  Corporation Stock
Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors are to attract and retain individuals who
are not  employees of  the Company  as members  of the  Board of  Directors,  by
encouraging  them  to acquire  a proprietary  interest in  the Company  which is
parallel to that of the stockholders of the Company.
 
     2. Definitions.  The following  terms shall  have the  respective  meanings
assigned to them as used herein:
 
     (a)  'Board of Directors' shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company,
as constituted at any time.
 
     (b)  'Company'   means   Cablevision  Systems   Corporation,   a   Delaware
corporation.
 
     (c)  'Fair Market Value' on a specified  date shall mean the average of the
bid  and  asked   closing  prices  at   which  one  Share   is  traded  on   the
over-the-counter  market, as reported on  the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation  System, or  the closing price  for a  Share on  the
stock  exchange, if any,  on which such  shares are primarily  traded, but if no
Shares were traded on such date, then on the last previous date on which a Share
was so traded, or, if none of the  above is applicable, the value of a Share  as
established  by the Board of Directors for such date using any reasonable method
of valuation.
 
     (d) 'Non-Employee Directors' shall mean a member of the Board of  Directors
who is not a current or former employee of the Company or its subsidiaries.
 
     (e) 'Option' shall mean an option granted under the Plan.
 
     (f)  'Share' shall mean a share of Class A common stock of the Company, par
value $0.01.
 
     (g) 'Participant' shall mean a  Non-Employee Director who has been  granted
an Option.
 
     (h) 'Plan' shall mean the Cablevision Systems Corporation Stock Option Plan
for Non-Employee Directors.
 
     3. Plan Administration.
 
     3.1  Authority. The  Plan shall be  administered by the  Board of Directors
(unless the Board of  Directors appoints a committee  thereof to administer  the
Plan,  in  which  case  the  Plan may  be  administered  by  such  committee and
references herein  to the  'Board of  Directors' shall  be deemed  to mean  such
Committee unless the context otherwise requires) which shall have full power and
authority  to  interpret the  Plan, to  establish, amend  and rescind  rules and
regulations relating  to the  Plan,  to provide  for conditions  and  assurances
deemed  necessary or advisable  to protect the  interests of the  company and to
make all other determinations necessary  or advisable for the administration  of
the Plan.
 
     3.2  Decisions are Final and Conclusive.  The determination of the Board of
Directors (or the applicable committee thereof) as to any question arising under
the Plan,  including  questions of  construction  and interpretation,  shall  be
final,  binding  and  conclusive upon  all  person, including  the  Company, its
stockholders and persons having any interest in the Options.
 
     4. Eligibility. All  Non-Employee Director  are eligible for  the grant  of
Options.
 
     5. Shares Subject to the Plan.
 
     5.1  Number. The aggregate number of Shares  that may be subject to Options
granted under this  Plan shall not  exceed 60,000 which  may be either  treasury
Shares  or authorized  but unissued Shares.  If an Option  expires or terminates
without being exercised in  full, any Shares remaining  under such Option  shall
again  be available for  issuance under the  Plan. The maximum  number of Shares
which may be subject  to Options shall  be adjusted to  the extent necessary  to
accommodate the adjustments provided for in Section 5.2.
 
                                      B-1
 


     5.2  Adjustment in  Capitalization. If there  shall be declared  and paid a
stock or property dividend or any  other distribution by way of dividend,  stock
split (including a reverse stock split), or spin-off with respect to the Shares,
or  if the Class  A common stock  of the Company  shall be converted, exchanged,
reclassified or recapitalized, or if the Shares shall be in any way  substituted
for  in a merger  in which the entity  surviving such merger or  its parent is a
public company, then to  the extent that  an Option has  not been exercised  the
holder  thereof shall be entitled upon the future exercise of the Option to such
number and kind of securities or cash or other property, subject to the terms of
the Option, to  which he  would have  been entitled  had he  actually owned  the
Shares  subject to  the unexercised  portion of  the Option  at the  time of the
occurrence of  such  dividend,  stock  split,  spin-off,  conversion,  exchange,
reclassification,  recapitalization or substitution,  and the aggregate purchase
price upon the future exercise of the Option shall be the same as if the  Shares
originally  subject to the Option were being  purchased or used to determine the
amount of  the payment  to which  the holder  is entitled  thereunder. If  there
occurs  any event  as to  which the  provisions against  the effect  of dilution
contained in the Plan are not strictly  applicable, but the failure to make  any
adjustment  would not  fairly protect  the rights  represented by  the Option in
accordance with the essential intent and principles thereof, then, in each  such
case,  the  Company  shall  appoint  a  firm  of  independent  certified  public
accountants of recognized national standing,  which shall give its opinion  upon
the  adjustment, if  any, on  a basis consistent  with the  essential intent and
principles established in the Plan, which they believe is necessary to  preserve
without  dilution, the  rights represented by  the Option. Upon  receipt of such
opinion, the Company will promptly mail a  copy thereof to the holder and  shall
make  the  adjustment described  therein.  Any fractional  shares  or securities
payable upon the exercise of the Option as a result of an adjustment pursuant to
this Section shall be payable in cash, based upon the Fair Market Value of  such
shares or securities at the time of exercise.
 
     6. Terms and Conditions of Options.
 
     6.1  Grant of Options. Each Non-Employee  Director on the effective date of
the Plan is hereby granted as of  such date an Option to purchase 7,500  Shares.
Each  person who becomes a Non-Employee Director after the effective date of the
Plan shall automatically be granted an Option to purchase 2,500 Shares as of the
date such person becomes a Non-Employee Director.
 
     On the first  business day after  the date  of each annual  meeting of  the
Company's  stockholders  following  the date  of  the initial  grant  of Options
referred to in the preceding paragraph,  each person who is then a  Non-Employee
Director shall automatically be granted an Option to purchase 500 Shares.
 
     6.2  Exercise  Price. The  exercise price  per  Share of  the Shares  to be
purchased pursuant to each Option shall be  equal to the Fair Market Value of  a
Share on the day on which the Option is granted.
 
     6.3  Vesting. All Options granted under the  Plan shall be fully vested and
exercisable on the date of grant.
 
     6.4 Option Agreement. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a  written  agreement setting  forth  the terms  under  which the  Option  is
granted.
 
     6.5  Term of  Options. All  rights to exercise  an Option  shall expire ten
years from the day on which such Option is granted, provided, however, that upon
the termination of the service  of the Participant as a  member of the Board  of
Directors  for any reason, all rights to exercise an Option shall terminate upon
the first to occur of (i) the  third anniversary of the date of the  termination
of such Participant's service on the Board of Directors, and (ii) the expiration
of  ten years from the day on which such Option was granted. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that a Participant dies while an Option is  exercisable,
the  Option will remain  exercisable by the  Participant's estate or beneficiary
only until the first anniversary of the Participant's date of death, and whether
or not such first anniversary occurs prior to or following the expiration of ten
years from the date the Option was granted or the third anniversary of the  date
of the termination of such Participant's service on the Board of Directors.
 
     6.6   Nontransferability.  Options   may  only  be   exercised  during  the
Participant's lifetime  by the  Participant (or  the Participant's  guardian  or
legal  representative), and shall be transferable by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, and otherwise  only to the extent  that, as determined by  the
Board  of Directors, based on the advise of legal counsel, transferability would
not prevent the Option from complying with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the 'Act').
 
                                      B-2
 


     6.7 Other  Terms and  Conditions.  Options may  contain such  other  terms,
conditions and restrictions, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions
of the Plan, as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate.
 
     7. Exercise of Options.
 
     7.1  Written Notice. A Participant  who wishes to exercise  an Option, or a
portion of an Option, shall  give written notice thereof  to any person who  has
been  designated by the Company for the  purpose of receiving the same. The date
the Company receives such notice shall be considered as the date such Option was
exercised as to the Shares specified in such notice.
 
     7.2 Payment. A Participant who exercises an Option shall pay to the Company
at the date or exercise  and prior to the delivery  of the Shares for which  the
Option is being exercised the aggregate exercise price of all Shares pursuant to
such exercise of the Option. Payment shall be made by check payable to the order
of  the Company or Shares duly endorsed  over to the Company (which Shares shall
be valued at their Fair  Market Value as of the  date preceding the day of  such
exercise)  or any combination of such  methods of payment, which together amount
to the full exercise price of the  Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise  of
the  Option; provided,  however, that  a holder  may not  use any  Shares he has
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option.
 
     7.3 No Privilege of  Stockholder. A Participant shall  not have any of  the
rights  or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares
subject to an Option unless and until such Shares have been issued and have been
duly registered in the Participant's name.
 
     8. Duration. This  Plan shall remain  in effect until  May 10, 2006  unless
sooner  terminated by  the Board of  Directors. Options  theretofore granted may
extend beyond that date in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
 
     9. Amendment. The Board of Directors may amend the Plan from time to  time,
provided  that no amendment which increases  the aggregate number of Shares that
may be issued under the Plan may  be made without the approval of the  Company's
shareholders,  and provided further that the  provisions of Section 4, 6.1, 6.2,
6.3 and 6.5 may not  be amended more than once  every six months, other than  to
comply with changes in the Internal Revenue Code or the rules thereunder.
 
     10. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. This Plan, the grant and exercise
of  Options hereunder  and the  obligation of  the Company  to sell  and deliver
Shares pursuant to such Options shall  be subject to all applicable laws,  rules
and regulations, and to any required approvals by any governmental agencies.
 
     11.  Compliance with Rule 16b-3.  It is the Company's  intent that the Plan
comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 of the Act. If any provision of the  Plan
is  later found not to  be in compliance with such  Rule, the provision shall be
deemed null and void. All grants and  exercises of Options under the Plan  shall
be  executed in accordance  with the requirements  of Section 16  of the Act, as
amended and any regulations  promulgated thereunder. To the  extent that any  of
the provisions contained herein do not conform with Rule 16b-3 of the Act or any
amendments  thereto or any successor regulation, then the Board of Directors may
make such  modifications so  as to  conform  the Plan  and any  Options  granted
thereunder to the Rule's requirements.
 
     12.  Withholding. If the Company shall  be required to withhold any amounts
by reason of  any federal,  state or  local tax  laws, rules  or regulations  in
respect  of the issuance  of Shares pursuant  to the exercise  of an Option, the
Participant shall make available to the Company, promptly when requested by  the
Company,  sufficient funds to meet the  requirements of such withholding and the
Company shall  be entitled  to take  and authorize  such steps  as it  may  deem
advisable  in order to have such funds available to the Company out of any funds
or property to become due to the Participant.
 
     13. Governing Law. The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be  governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without
references to principles of conflict of laws.
 
     14.  Effective Date. The Plan  is effective as of  May 10, 1996, subject to
the approval of the stockholders of the Company.
 
                                      B-3



                                      APPENDIX 1
                                      PROXY CARD

                            CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION
 

          
C            SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
L            ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, JUNE 19, 1996
A            The undersigned hereby appoints WILLIAM J. BELL, MARC A. LUSTGARTEN, BARRY J. O'LEARY and ROBERT S. LEMLE and each
S            of  them, jointly and severally, proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all stock of CABLEVISION SYSTEMS
S            CORPORATION (the 'Company') which the undersigned is entitled to  vote at the Company's Annual Meeting to be  held
             at the Company's executive offices, One Media Crossways, Woodbury, New York 11797, on Wednesday, June 19, 1996, at
A            10:00  o'clock in the  morning, and at  any adjournment thereof, hereby  ratifying all that  said proxies or their
             substitutes may do by virtue hereof, and the undersigned authorizes and instructs said proxies to vote as follows:
P            Unless otherwise specified  in the spaces  provided, the undersigned's  vote is to  cast FOR the  election of  the
R            nominees  for directors listed in Proposal (1)  and FOR approval of Proposals (2),  (3) and (4) below, all as more
O            fully described in the accompanying Proxy Statement.
X            Receipt of the  Notice of  said annual  meeting and  of the  Proxy Statement  and Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  of
Y            CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION accompanying the same is hereby acknowledged.

 
                                                                      OVER




 
                                                           Please mark     [x]
                                                          your votes as
                                                           indicated in
                                                           this example
 
     FOR all nominees listed below                      WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
         (except as marked to                             to vote for all
         the contrary hereon).                         nominess listed below.
                 [ ]                                             [ ]
 
1. Election of the following nominees as Class A Directors:
   Charles D. Ferris, Richard H. Hochman, Victor Oristano and Vincent Tese.
   (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE'S WRITE THAT
   NOMINEE'S NAME ON THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.)
 
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2. Proposal to authorize and approve Cablevision Systems Corporation's First
   Amended and Restated 1996 Employee Stock Plan.
 
                        FOR         AGAINST         ABSTAIN
                        [ ]           [ ]             [ ]

3. Proposal to authorize and approve Cablevision Systems Corporation's 1996
   Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.
 
                        FOR         AGAINST         ABSTAIN
                        [ ]           [ ]             [ ]

4. Proposal to ratify and approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, as
   auditors for the fiscal year 1996.
 
                        FOR         AGAINST         ABSTAIN
                        [ ]           [ ]             [ ]

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business
as may properly come before the meeting.
 
SIGNATURES ____________________________________________DATE ____________________
 
Your signature should appear the same as your name appears hereon. If signing as
attorney, executor, trustee or guardian, please indicate the capacity in which
signing. When signing as joint tenants, all parties to the joint tenancy must
sign. When the proxy is given by the corporation, it should be signed by an
authorized officer and the corporate seal affixed. PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN
THIS PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED