MSO is fighting for its right to stream live TV feeds to subs who need their video fix while they're on the go
Thanks to rights issues and the limitations of existing programming contracts, TV Everywhere has so far been relegated to everywhere inside the home when it comes to the accessibility of an MSO's live TV lineup. Streaming live TV outside the home? Stay tuned.
Cablevision Systems Corp. (NYSE: CVC) COO Tom Rutledge says the MSO is in the process of eliminating that barrier for as many channels as possible as it tries to seal up the rights to stream live TV outside the home to iPads and other IP-connected devices. Some channels are already on board or talks to obtain those rights are at least underway, he said Tuesday on the MSO's second-quarter earnings call. (See Cablevision Profits But Loses More Vid Subs .)
"We are in active discussion with a variety of programmers," Rutledge said regarding out-of-home streaming rights. "Those devices are portable, and we are acquiring the rights to have an out-of-home service -- and we have acquired some of those rights."
He said Cablevision, which is coming under increasing pressure from Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) FiOS, intends to package together what it can based on the rights it's able to obtain. As for a debut for an out-of-home live TV app, Rutledge would only say subs would get it "in the relatively near future." Cablevision, by the way, has already gotten some static from some programmers about the MSO's in-home iPad app. (See Cablevision, Viacom Fight Over iPad App.)
In the meantime, Cablevision today launched a version of its Optimum app that runs on the iPhone and iPod Touch, following an initial version tailored for the Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad that the MSO introduced in April. It's also working on apps to run on Android products, as well as PCs and Macs. (See Cablevision Launches iPad App With 280+ Channels .)
Other nuggets from today's call:
Cablevision will launched its network DVR service in Nassau County, N.Y., this fall, and Suffolk County, N.Y., early next year. It's already up in the Bronx and Brooklyn, N.Y., and in the MSO's Connecticut systems.
The MSO intends to allow DVR Plus customers the option to get access to more network storage capacity. Cablevision execs didn't talk about anticipated pricing, but the current version of the service provides 160GB of storage for $10.95 per month. (See Cablevision's Network DVR Debuts in the Bronx .)
The MSO is testing an "enhanced" set-top user interface, which includes a new search capability and a VoD movie recommendation engine, with 50,000 customers.
Optimum Lightpath , Cablevision's Metro Ethernet services arm that targets large business customers, was a bright spot in the quarter as it posted a 9 percent increase in revenues.
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like