Time Warner Cable Bows To Pressure, Changes iPad App Channels

In March, Time Warner Cable announced an app for the iPad that would enable consumers to play back live TV as well as play DVR'd television. The app has been popular with users but as you might imagine, the management and legal teams at various networks aren't quite as thrilled about the app. As a result, Time Warner Cable recently announced it would cut certain networks from its lineup. In a statement released yesterday, Time Warner Cable explained some channels would be pulled:

We believe we have every right to carry the Fox Cable Networks, Viacom and Discovery programming on the iPad app. But, for the time being, we have decided to focus our iPad efforts on those enlightened programmers who understand the benefit and importance of allowing our subscribers – and their viewers – to watch their programming on any screen in their homes.

In the meantime, we will pursue all of our legal rights against the programmers who don’t share our vision. The enthusiasm of our customers and the programming partners who have embraced the app, rather than those who are solely focused on finding additional ways to reach into wallets of their own viewers, has convinced us more than ever that we are on the right path.

We will continue to fight to ensure that our customers have access to the content they pay for, no matter which screen in their home they choose to view it on.

Although this is certainly not the news we wanted to hear, we can't say we're too surprised. However, today some good news came from the cable provider—it will add 17 national channels and three local channels to the TWCableTV app for the iPad. You find a full list of the new channels on Time Warner's site. Although the new additions may not be quite as good as the ones that were taken away, we give Time Warner Cable credit for bouncing back and giving consumers as many options as they can.