• by Wayne Friedman , April 4, 2011

Amid broadcast and cable network troubles over the Time Warner Cable iPad app, Cablevision Systems has started its own iPad app.

The Long Island, N.Y.-based cable operator says the iPad app allows its cable television customers to see live TV just as they do on their cable system. Cablevision says the iPad app will provide access to some 300 channels and video-on-demand programming.

Cablevision says its "Optimum App" will be free to existing Optimum cable television customers.

In its release, Cablevision did not disclose exactly which channels would be airing, but appears to be putting itself in the same position as Time Warner Cable when it comes to including broadcast networks: "Cablevision has the right to distribute programming over its cable system to iPads configured in this way under its existing distribution agreements with programming providers."

After some threats by major broadcast and cable networks last week, and days after releasing its iPad app, Time Warner Cable removed several channels. Fox, Discovery and Viacom all claim that Time Warner Cable does not have the right to let its subscribers watch TV shows on their iPad screens. TWC launched its application live TV iPad app on March 16 with 32 channels.

In regard to its iPad app, Tom Rutledge, COO of Cablevision Systems, stated: "It gives our customers the additional flexibility and convenience of watching television throughout the home, in places where set-top boxes might not be ideal or even practical, like the kitchen, bathroom or workroom."

He added: "This is the future of advanced digital cable televisions served with virtual set-top boxes, and just one of many digital displays we are going to be serving through a variety of applications."

Cablevision says it will be adding other apps for non-iPad tablet devices in the future.