Under Pressure From Media Companies, Time Warner Cable Drops Some Channels From iPad App

WASHINGTON -- Time Warner Cable Inc. will drop a dozen cable channels from its iPad app after three big programmers complained that the company does not have the rights to distribute their content on the popular tablet computer.

Time Warner Cable's decision comes after News Corp.'s Fox Cable Networks, Viacom Inc. and Discovery Communications Inc. asked the cable company to pull their programming from its iPad app – arguing that the app was violating their programming contracts.

The media companies want to extract more money from cable companies to distribute their programming on devices other than just television sets. But Time Warner maintains that it already has the rights to do that under its existing contracts.

Time Warner launched its app for Apple Inc.'s iPad, which streams live television, earlier this month.

The channels being dropped are: Animal Planet, Black Entertainment Television, Country Music Television, Comedy Central, Discovery Channel, FX, MTV, National Geographic, Nickelodeon, Spike, TLC and VH1. That leaves the app with just 20 channels, although Time Warner said it will add more overnight.

"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," Time Warner Cable said in a statement.

The company added that it 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." Alexander Dudley, a company spokesman, would not elaborate.

Time Warner Cable's iPad app is free to download, but it only works for the company's existing customers who subscribe to both video and Internet service. And even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router.

Fox, Viacom and Discovery had no comment Thursday.

Comments

[Dunkleberger Karl]

04:10 AM on 04/02/2011

Another reason I wll Not buy one!

[PalletJack]

09:28 AM on 04/03/2011

Fascinating. Please keep us updated.

[tweedy54]

11:14 PM on 04/03/2011

Hilarious!...lol!! F&F!

[LonosCurse]

10:22 AM on 04/01/2011

What if you buy one of those televisions with built-in wi-fi, are they coming after those next?

[Mister Grumpy]

02:13 AM on 04/02/2011

Yes....... and you can put money on that............

[elias anderson]

08:45 AM on 04/01/2011

Wow, that’s tough luck if you’re a Time Warner Cable subscriber. Not only are you tethered to your house if you want to use the Live streaming option, your number of channels have just been cut. As a DISH customer/employee I guess I’ve been a little spoiled by the TV Everywhere app, which allows me complete access to ALL my channels, but allows me to watch live OR recorded events anywhere in the world I can get a 3G Connection. Shazam.

[pita143]

04:45 PM on 04/01/2011

Do you have a clue what you are talking about? I am a TW subscriber and I downloaded the App for free. I am able to use my IPad (which I won) in any location that has WiFi. I can sit there and watch TV on my IPad. The channels that are leaving are kind of stupid, because the IPad app also shows the commercials that are on TV, that means the Stations that want to be removed from the APP will lose the ability to charge their advertisers more, since more people will see the commercials.

TW has also said that they will replace the small number of stations that are being removed. The only thing I dislike is that National Geographic and Animal Planet are being taken off, but its their loss.

[The Right is Wrong]

06:55 PM on 04/01/2011

Right, and what makes you think that if TWC (Time Warner Cable, not affiliated with Time Warner Inc) has to remove channels that Dish's TV Everywhere may be next.

TWC just wants their subscribers to view any content, anywhere, anytime on any device.

[ltague]

07:57 PM on 04/01/2011

Do you have a TV in your bathroom hooked up to cable? The IPad app through Warner is PRECISELY for that kind of viewing. As for DISH cable: a 60 year old woman friend of mine called Dish Cable when her TV picture got very fuzzy for a few hours, she called them & they told her to go turn the dish outside. She told them it was on her roof & they asked her "don't you have a ladder?"! Warner will send out a technician anytime before 6 or 7PM if they have an opening the same day or schedule someone to come out the next day with a 2 hour window that you get to choose (no charge). They also will attempt to fix it at their end while you're on the phone with them (they take calls WELL into the evening) & many times THAT works!

[ASHTON CRUZ]

12:32 AM on 04/01/2011

I H8 Time Warne Cable. Greedy sticky fingered monsters. My cable bill for my two homes is $300 bucks $300.00!!!!!!!!!!! And D dont even get to watch my dvr in every room (that would raise my bill to $375+. oh and I dont have any of the premium channels either at either home.

No customer loyalty, no customer appreciation, nothing. I have never been late with any of my payments, been a loyal customer for over 15 years and what does that get me from them?? Rate increases!! Yay?. If it wasnt for the fact that I need their high speed internet connection I would drop them like hot donkey doo doo. If anyone out there has any suggestions for me as to a super reliable high speed internet provider as good or better than Time Warner's Road Runner please please let me know. Thanks!

[whomod]

04:48 AM on 04/01/2011

I'm looking for one as well.

Every day almost like clockwork, I lose my cable connection. Sometimes all it takes is to unplug and reconnect the modem but sometimes even that does no good. I've complained about it several times already to no avail. Not only do I receive no credit when I've lost service for up to 24 hours bu they seem to feel no pangs of guilt jacking up their rates.

As far as cable TV is concerned. Don't need it. All I ever watched on it was MSNBC anyways and you can get that for free on their website. For live TV there are lots of internet alternatives as well from worldwide media including the BBC and Al jazeera.

but if you just can't live without cable TV, then I heartily recommend DirecTV. I'd still have it if my complex didn't prohibit the dish and if it was in my budget right now.

So yeah. Time Warner does indeed bite.

[Byrnethebridges]

12:18 PM on 04/01/2011

I had the same trouble with my internet connection dropping out, until I replaced McAfee with another product. Now my connection is stable and fast again.

[ASHTON CRUZ]

01:14 PM on 04/01/2011

Thank Whomod, I was thinking of Direct TV as well, I just really need to find a reliable highspeed internet provider first. Direct TV doesnt offer DSL just partners with some and I have no idea which one is good.

[grammasher]

09:21 AM on 04/01/2011

Wow!You're having trouble affording cable in your TWO homes. I'm thinking if I could afford two homes, I could also afford $300 per month. If I couldn't, I might consider cutting back on something. Ya know we all have to tighten our belts.

I know people who have dropped their cable entirely just so they could stay in their ONE home. I'm afraid I'm not very sympathetic.

[ASHTON CRUZ]

11:36 AM on 04/01/2011

Wow you are so helpful!!!!

[planetjeffy]

11:36 PM on 03/31/2011

another dagger in the heart of cable

[mathme]

11:14 PM on 03/31/2011

Their email works the same way, too. I use an email application on my laptop and it only works when I'm at home (or on another TW network). It was really annoying, their customer service is the worst I've ever dealt with, the connection speed was 1/4-1/5 of what I was paying for, they wouldn't help me and kept closing my tickets before anything was resolved, so, yeah. Guess who's not a TW customer any more? Me. That's who. They're the worst.

[lesleypalmer]

12:10 AM on 04/01/2011

I wish I could leave.

[mathme]

08:42 AM on 04/01/2011

I'm sorry :( I was lucky enough to have a DSL service close by. I actually get the speeds that I signed up for (faster than my TW service would have been even if it worked for less money).

[johnb123]

10:54 PM on 03/31/2011

I cancelled most of my cable, get most of what I want online anyway. Save $60 a month. :)

[punk]

11:56 PM on 03/31/2011

Me too.

[Mister Grumpy]

02:18 AM on 04/02/2011

It's obvious that your ISP doesn't monitor your usage yet................ because when they do.......... you can expect to pay extra $ for hogging the band width (or so they will say)

Comcast has been limiting downloads for nearly a year now.......... and if you stream allot......... they will send you a nastygram saying you either cut back or they reserve the right to sever your cord...........

[jason9045]

10:40 PM on 03/31/2011

Silly me, thinking that when I paid for cable at my address, it meant I could watch all of those channels anywhere at my address.

[UnknownSolider]

10:13 PM on 03/31/2011

This is silly, you can only watch the channels while in your house connected to Wi-Fi............ what's the difference?

[pita143]

04:49 PM on 04/01/2011

no you can watch them anywhere there is WiFi. I was watching CNN today in the library via the TW App and my IPad.

[hellotiki]

10:10 PM on 03/31/2011

Time Warner = 300 channels of mostly pure crap.

[The Right is Wrong]

07:02 PM on 04/01/2011

And what different crap is on Dish?

Both cable and satellite providers get the same content. Some systems have more flexibility than others for viewing content.

[hellotiki]

08:08 PM on 04/01/2011

Choices on Dish are abysmal as well. Just like the list of candidates for the 2012 election.
Quality is a rare and precious commodity.

[johnb123]

09:54 PM on 03/31/2011

"it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router."
 
Then it's useless. Why would anyone watch shows on an iPad, when you have them on your TV or computer.

[FiveSecondRule]

10:09 PM on 03/31/2011

Because it's hard to bring my 50" plasma into the bathroom or out onto the patio or the stoop.

[UnknownSolider]

10:12 PM on 03/31/2011

then just stay in the house and watch

[johnb123]

10:31 PM on 03/31/2011

Put the 50" on rollers. :) 

[veisalgia]

10:27 PM on 03/31/2011

I use it quite often. I have velcro strategically placed around the house and on the ipad case. Whatever I am watching now follows me around the house. Watching the news while shaving is also pretty cool.

[johnb123]

10:31 PM on 03/31/2011

Glad it has some use for people. I like my big screens. :)

[ResearchtheFacts]

09:52 PM on 03/31/2011

And the migration--the move away, starts.