NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Cablevision Systems (CVC) Saturday launched new software that allows its cable television subscribers to watch TV on their iPads.
In a news release, Cablevision said the software, which allows viewing in customers' homes, is free to its existing Optimum cable subscribers. The software provides access to about 300 live channels and video on demand. "This application allows the iPad to function as a television, delivering the full richness and diversity of our cable television service to a display device in the home," said Tom Rutledge, Cablevision's chief operating officer. "It gives our customers the additional flexibility and convenience of watching television throughout the home, in places where set-top boxes might not be ideal or even practical, like the kitchen, bathroom or work room." The company said it uses its secure, proprietary television network -- not the Internet -- to deliver programming to customers' iPads. It plans to roll out similar applications for other tablet devices. Competitor Time Warner Cable ( TWC) launched similar software in mid-March. It was later was forced to pull some channels from its iPad app, however, after some networks contested having their programming available on the device. Cablevision shares closed Friday up 5 cents at $34.66.
