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As we noted yesterday, Time Warner Cable's popular live TV application for the iPad has faced opposition from a number of content providers who believe that the implementation is a violation of their agreements with the cable company. Time Warner Cable has rolled out a dedicated site to garner support from customers and keep them informed on the situation.
As noted on that site and in an email to customers, Time Warner Cable has at least temporarily pulled a number of channels from application as it seeks to focus on content providers actually interested in embracing the new technology while also pursing a resolution to the disputes using any means necessary.
And, while most TV network owners agree with us that this is a great convenience for our customers and their viewers, a few networks disagree. As a result, for the time being, we have decided to focus our iPad efforts on other 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.
Unfortunately, that means that channels from network groups Discovery Communications, Fox Cable, and Viacom will be removed from your iPad lineup, effective immediately.
- Discovery channels: Animal Planet, Discovery, TLC
- Fox channels: FX, National Geographic
- Viacom channels: BET, CMT, Comedy, MTV, Nickelodeon, Spike, VH1
In the email sent last night, Time Warner promised that it would be adding new channels as early as that evening to compensate for the removals, and the company appears to have done so today. Unfortunately, however, the list of new channels appearing on our device is generally of lower quality than those channels that have been removed.
New channels: CNBC World, C-SPAN, C-SPAN 2, C-SPAN 3, Chiller, Disney XD, G4, Home Shopping Network, Jewelry Television, QVC, Sleuth, Soap Net, Style, Golf Channel, and WE tv.
Time Warner has promised to continue working to expand the list of channels available through its iPad application.
Update: Time Warner has now also added ESPNews and the Independent Film Channel, along with a trio of Time Warner local news channels available to subscribers in the New York City (NY1 and NY Noticias) and Austin, Texas (YNN Austin) markets.
