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TWCable TV

It's an app that signifies the beginning of cable companies literally thinking outside the box: the cable box that is.

Time Warner Cable, NY1's parent company, has become the first cable or satellite TV provider to offer its customers the ability to watch live cable TV on their iPads through an app. That app, called "TWCable TV," offers digital TV and Road Runner or EarthLink High Speed Internet customers just over 30 channels -- just scroll through the on-screen TV guide, tap on what you want, and it becomes another screen in your home to alleviate fights over who gets to watch what.

"What we need to continue to focus on is what the customers want, which is: they pay us for the content," says Alex Dudley of Time Warner Cable. "They don't want to be limited as to where and when and on what device they can watch that content they want to watch it anywhere they want, any time they want, on any device they want and that's really what we strive to accomplish. This is a small step in that direction albeit a fairly important one."

But there are some limitations. The app can only be used in your home while connected to your Road Runner or EarthLink WiFi network.

"Your login identifies you as being within your home WiFi network and that's where the app will work," says Dudley. "It is a rights issue. We have the right to issue the programming to as many outlets within the home as you choose, but we don't have the right to distribute that over the Internet to a remote location."

Developers say in addition to bringing more channels on board they plan to add remote DVR scheduling and the ability use your iPad as a remote for your cable box in the near future.

"TWCable TV" is a free download for the iPad only. Again though, you do need to be a Time Warner Cable TV and Internet subscriber for it to work.