Time Warner Cable is offering live, out-of-home TV for the first time on its TWC TV app for Apple mobile devices, according to Bloomberg. Content is only available to subscribers who own Apple tablets or smartphones that run Time Warner's TWC TV iOS app.
Starting this morning, Time Warner Cable now offers up to 11 live national networks—as well as some local channels, including NY1—for the iPad, iPad mini, iPhone and iPod Touch. In addition to live TV streaming, Time Warner has expanded its app to include select video-on-demand offerings from BBC America, BET, Comedy Central, MTV, Nick, Univision and others. However, Variety noted that of the offerings, only Fox News Channel is a top-tier cabler.
Time Warner is following in the footsteps of Comcast and DirecTV by providing TV content via apps. While subscribers used to have to live in an area serviced by Time Warner Cable, people can now tune in regardless of location. This is part of a cable-industry shift toward a concept known as “TV Everywhere,” where subscribers can watch television in any location with a wireless connection, Bloomberg reported.
Many of the largest programmers, including Walt Disney Co. and Turner, have not made agreements with Time Warner Cable regarding content streaming. The New York-based cable provider has already had legal issues with Viacom over the app.