• by Wayne Friedman , April 1, 2011

Cease-and-desist orders from three major TV companies have forced Time Warner Cable to remove many channels off its highly controversial live TV iPad app. 

Fox, Discovery and Viacom all claim that Time Warner does not have the right to allow its subscribers to watch TV shows on their iPad screens. Time Warner has claimed its right to do so because it believes it owns viewership in people's homes for its cable-wired Time Warner subscribers.

Time Warner Cable launched its live TV iPad app on March 16 with 32 channels. Some 12 have been removed this week.

TV networks say its contacts with Time Warner Cable are for traditional TV/cable and do not include live transmission on portable devices. Time Warner has said consumers can only watch on portable devices in their homes.

Scripps Networks also complained that its Food Network channel was on Time Warner's iPad app and that it should be removed.

Time Warner was the first cable company to offer a live iPad app. Cablevision Systems Corp. says it is nearing the launch of a live TV iPad app as well.

TV networks have also fought other live TV digital efforts recently -- from FilmOn and ivi TV. Both have stopped their live transmissions through their Internet sites because of TV networks' legal proceedings. Those companies claim protection under copyright rules.