CBS App For iPad And iPhone Delivers Full Episodes In HD
CBS finally released an app that delivers most of its daytime, primetime, and late night programing to iOS devices in HD.
The new CBS app includes full streaming episodes, personalized show list, live social feeds, photo galleries, cast pages, and the CBS primetime broadcast schedule.
Fans of CSI can rejoice. Fans of The Big Bang Theory … not so much. The Big Bang Theory isn’t going to be available on the app most likely to preserve the value of the show in syndication.
In addition to CSI, America’s highest rated network lists NCIS, The Good Wife, How I Met Your Mother, The Young and The Restless, The Late Show with David Letterman, Survivor, and Elementary as some of the shows available through the app.
Daytime and Late night shows will be served through the app 24-hours after broadcast. Most primetime shows, though, will only be available eight days after airing on TV.
Although disappointing for viewers who would like to see primetime shows the following day. By delaying availability, CBS is making a strategic choice to not allow the app to cannibalize primetime ratings.
Live social feeds give primetime views an incentive to open the app as a second screen while watching a favorite show on TV. Stars will participate in live chats on the app, while the show is on the air.
“We have been methodically and strategically finding new ways to satiate the appetite for our content on new platforms, while tapping into the tremendous revenue provided by doing so,” said Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation. “Our announcement today achieves both of these objectives, while protecting our very healthy current ecosystem. In addition, by making our shows available on all the leading mobile devices out there, we are confident we will bring a whole new set of viewers to the CBS Television Network and build upon our standing as the #1 network in the business.”
In a quick look at the app, the video quality is superb. I was disappointed, though, that it does not include AirPlay support.
Apps are in the works to bring the same streaming programing to Android and Windows 8 devices.
Video can be streamed on the new CBS app via 3G, 4G, LTE, and WiFi, subject to data charges and limitations. The app for iPhone and iPad can be downloaded free from the iTunes App Store.
