Cox joins Time Warner, Cablevision and Xfinity in rolling out a companion iPad app (iTunes) for its customers. The free Cox TV Connect app provides a program guide along with live streaming for “more than 35 popular channels.” However, it doesn’t provide a TV remote (that’s Cox’s Mobile Connect app) or on-demand playback (that’s available online.)
Like other services, Cox requires that cable subscribers watch video via Cox’s internet service, which limits the playback experience at the subscriber’s home. Up to 5 iPads can connect at the same time.
You may remember the initial legal backlash when cable companies first launched live-streaming apps. Viacom sued Cablevision, claiming it should be compensated for additional distribution. Cablevision maintained live iPad streaming is just an extension of in-home TV viewing — another TV screen — and “within our existing cable television licensing agreements with programmers.” The two settled the case without revealing the terms of their agreement.
Xfinity, meanwhile, is readying a live streaming service for its iPad app, due to launch soon.