Cablevision To Offer TV For iPads, PCs, SmartphonesCablevision To Offer TV For iPads, PCs, Smartphones

Any Internet-enabled device in homes served by Cablevision Systems Corp. will be able to access the cable firm's video services, the company said as it released its second quarter earnings this week. That means iPad, PCs and smartphones could display Cablevision video programs.

In a conference call, Tom Rutledge, Cablevision chief operating officer, said: "We will provide our full service -- everything we offer in the home on any device that can display TV or that can act as a TV in the home."

The company said revenue increased to $1.8 billion -- an increase of 5.8% over last year's like quarter. Profits, however, dropped to $60.9 million from $87 million in the previous year's second quarter. The company said it added 27,000 Internet customers during the latest quarter.

Cablevision has been in an intense competitive battle in the New York City area with Verizon Communications, Comcast and Time Warner. Cablevision has attempted to differentiate itself by introducing forward-looking technologies.

For instance, it pioneered the use of Wi-Fi spread around its coverage area for its subscribers. Earlier this year, Cablevision announced its PC to TV Media Relay service that will send images and data from PC screens to TV screens in real time. "With our PC to TV Media Relay service," said Rutledge in announcing the service, "we are putting an end to the need for families to huddle around their laptops or PCs to watch content together."

The firm's program to deploy remote storage digital video recorders is on track, said Rutledge, referring to Cablevision's plan to give its subscribers free DVR use without a dedicated DVR box.