Sports Technology & Communications News from Around the World

Time Warner (News - Alert) Cable has added multiple regional sports networks to its TWCTV app for iPhone (News - Alert), iPad and Android smartphones. The new offerings will be accessible through TWCTV.com, accessible through both Mac and PC desktop and laptop computers in New York City, Dallas and Charlotte, NC.

“We're very pleased that we've been able to solve the technical issues surrounding blackouts in these three markets,” said Mike Angus, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video for Time Warner Cable. “We're also working hard with our industry partners to implement a broader technical solution that will enable us to deliver more sports programming on TWC TV in additional markets.”

All three markets will receive ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and TBS as well as MLB (News - Alert) Network, MBA TV and NHL Network. Dallas will receive Fox Sports Southwest, while Charlotte will receive Fox Sports Carolinas and SportsSouth. The New York market will receive YES, SNY, MSG and MSG-plus.

Subscribers who have Time Warner video at the Standard level or higher can have access to the content on their digital devices at no additional charge. Customers will need to have a broadband connection using either Road Runner or a TWC-managed service. Another option for connection is a TWC video-only cable modem.

To download the app, customers can go to the App Store or to Google (News - Alert) Play. Once they launch the program and log into it, customers can scroll through the channel lineup to select their preferred programming. In addition, customers will be able to log into www.twctv.com and watch content using their username and password.

Access to live streaming programming from sports broadcasters is usually limited by restrictions from cable providers and sometimes by ISPs. During March Madness, for example, NCAA basketball fans streamed more than 18 million hours of content. However, TWCTV’s offering is one of the first on the market that offers streaming of local sports content to mobile devices.