Disney's ESPN Embraces iPad Streaming

ESPN recently released its “TV Everywhere” app which allows subscribers of Time Warner cable, Verizon FiOS TV and Bright House Networks to watch ESPN live via iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The free app, “WatchESPN” is available now for all 3 devices, with an iPad-specific app coming in a few weeks. They’ll also launch apps for other mobile devices later in the year.

Disney’s strategy with ESPN differs markedly from some of the other video producers, who have fought Time Warner’s move to allow in-house streaming to mobile devices. The big difference, of course, is that this will allow streaming from anywhere that the subscriber has mobile Internet access, not just inside the home, as Time Warner’s app is designed to do. Another key is that Disney is attempting to control the process via its own app, rather than through a Time Warner-branded app.