EQUITY AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

EQUITY AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation Expense (Income) for Continuing Operations

The following table presents the share-based compensation expense (income), including expenses related to AMC Networks and Madison Square Garden share-based awards held by Company employees, for continuing operations recognized by the Company as selling, general and administrative expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011			2010

Stock options (including performance based options)	$	30,172	$	3,931		$	4,877
Restricted shares		31,392		40,946			43,557
Share-based compensation related to equity classified awards		61,564		44,877			48,434

Stock appreciation rights		59		(341	)		1,855
Total share-based compensation	$	61,623	$	44,536		$	50,289

Assumptions Used to Calculate the Fair Value of Stock Option Awards

The following assumptions were used to calculate the fair value of stock option awards granted in 2012:

Risk-free interest rate		1.14	%

Expected life (in years)		5.75

Dividend yield		3.52	%

Volatility		43.20	%

Grant date fair value	$	4.06

Activity for Stock Options

The following table summarizes activity relating to Company employees who held Cablevision stock options for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Shares Under Option						Weighted Average		Weighted Average
	Time Vesting Options			Performance Based Vesting Options			Exercise Price Per Share		Remaining Contractual Term (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value(a)
Balance, December 31, 2011		5,440,662			403,200		$	8.27		3.37	$	35,607
Granted		-			12,783,000			13.93
Exercised		(2,636,649	)		(74,400	)		6.58
Forfeited/Expired		(14,671	)		(792,800	)		13.95

Balance, December 31, 2012		2,789,342			12,319,000		$	13.05		7.88	$	29,143

Options exercisable at December 31, 2012		2,589,342			362,700		$	9.16		2.72	$	17,067

Options expected to vest in the future		200,000			11,656,316		$	14.00		9.13	$	11,773

(a)

The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between (i) the exercise price of the underlying award and (ii) the quoted price of CNYG Class A common stock on December 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011, as indicated, and December 31, 2012 in the case of the options exercisable and options expected to vest in the future.

The following table summarizes activity relating to AMC Networks and Madison Square Garden employees who held Cablevision stock options for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Shares Under Option						Weighted Average		Weighted Average
	Time Vesting Options			Performance Based Vesting Options			Exercise Price Per Share		Remaining Contractual Term (in years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value(a)
Balance, December 31, 2011		753,908			32,400		$	7.97		3.10	$	4,933
Exercised		(92,206	)		(12,400	)		8.46
Forfeited		(6,100	)		-			14.98

Balance, December 31, 2012		655,602			20,000		$	7.82		2.21	$	4,814

Options exercisable at December 31, 2012		655,602			20,000		$	7.82		2.21	$	4,814

(a)	The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between (i) the exercise price of the underlying award and (ii) the quoted price of CNYG Class A common stock on December 31, 2012 or December 31, 2011, as indicated, and December 31, 2012 in the case of the options exercisable.

Activity for Restricted Shares

The following table summarizes activity relating to Company employees who held Cablevision restricted shares for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Number of Restricted Shares			Number of Performance Restricted Shares		Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share at Date of Grant

Unvested award balance, December 31, 2011		4,768,482			540,700	$	13.89
Granted		2,344,530			756,400		14.49	(a)
Vested		(2,598,817	)		-		6.28
Awards forfeited		(503,520	)		-		18.17
Unvested award balance, December 31, 2012		4,010,675			1,297,100		18.06	(a)

(a)

Does not include the fair value per share of the performance based restricted shares granted in 2012 as the performance criteria had not yet been established as of December 31, 2012.

The following table summarizes activity relating to AMC Networks and Madison Square Garden employees who held Cablevision restricted shares for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Number of Restricted Shares			Number of Performance Restricted Shares		Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share at Date of Grant

Unvested award balance, December 31, 2011		2,086,450			-	$	9.37
Vested		(1,529,590	)		-		6.33
Awards forfeited		(37,710	)		-		17.71
Unvested award balance, December 31, 2012		519,150			-		17.70

CSC HOLDINGS LLC 10-K