Following in the footsteps of Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) in the U.S., Dutch telecom KPN is planning to launch an iPad app that will allow users to watch about 20 of its channels live in their homes.
The rollout is scheduled for September to some of the service provider's 416,000 IPTV customers.
A flyer distributed by KPN says users will be able to watch TV "on the toilet or in the bath, in the attic or outside in your hammock." KPN is working to position itself as having the most advanced TV service in the country.
Both Time Warner Cable and Cablevision launched apps on the Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) device that allowed users to watch live TV in their homes this year, and both companies promptly were sued by content-provider Viacom (NYSE: VIA). TWC and Viacom entered into a "standstill" arrangement on existing and potential litigation in June. Cablevision and Viacom settled their differences earlier this month.
At issue was whether pay-TV operators had the right to stream to mobile devices like the iPad. The operators contended the device was simply another screen and, since it was only being used in the home by subscribers, it was a moot point. Neither side has detailed the terms of their agreement.
Cablevision makes all of its 300-plus channels and an array of VOD content available on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. TWC's offering is less broad reaching, but still has proven very popular with its customers.
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