Skip to main content

iPad Video: Netflix, ABC, CBS…and Maybe More On The Way

The iPad hasn’t even reached consumers’ hands yet, and already online video services and broadcast networks seem to be scrambling to make sure they’re present and highly visible on the nascent platform. According to reports in The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) and elsewhere, broadcast networks ABC and CBS will be streaming programming to the iPad: CBS will apparently be relying on HTML5-served video that will enable fans to tune into shows like Survivor using the iPad’s built-in Safari Web browser, while ABC will apparently be rolling out it’s own iPad application that will enable users to browse and stream episodes from shows like Lost and Desperate Housewives.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although all reports are sketchy on details of ABC and CBS’s efforts, both services are apparently eyeing an ad-supported distribution model—which may not make Apple entirely happy, since it’s selling much of the same programming through iTunes at $0.99 an episodes. (However, purchased programs don’t require Internet access to view, and subscribers can keep them as long as they want, unlike online streamed programming that is often only available for a limited time can be pulled down at any moment.)

Recommended Videos

Reports and screenshots from AppShopper (which is pulling iPad applications screenshots directly from Apple’s App Store database) have video rental service Netflix also preparing an iPad app to launch concurrently with the iPad itself. Netflix subscribers will apparently be able to mange their queues and view streaming content directly on the iPad.
stream online content to the iPad. No pricing information is available, but Netflix traditionally makes access software available to its subscribers at no additional charge.

Online video sharing sites like YouTube, Vimeo, Brightcove, and even Flickr are also preparing to push video to the Flash-free iPad using video presentation capabilities available in the forthcoming HTML 5 standard.

A big question mark in the iPad’s immediate video future is Hulu, the joint venture between Fox, NBC, and ABC that for the last couple of years has been a major player in providing ad-supported American television content via the Internet. Hulu hasn’t publicly commented one way or another on the iPad, but the enterprise has been considering switching to a paid subscription model. Although Hulu has been talking about an iPhone applications since mid-2009, The New York Times has reported that Hulu is working on its own application for the iPad.

Despite all this apparent interest from streaming video providers, it remains to be seen whether the iPad will succeed as a video-viewing platform where mobile phones, portable media players, netbooks, and even notebook computers have failed to gain significant traction. Streaming video services have been available for most of those platforms for some time and have yet to blossom into a major industry—although an ever growing number of American consumers watch TV and surf the Internet at the same time, they haven’t overwhelmingly given up the big screen in the living room for portable devices.

Geoff Duncan
Former Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
There’s finally a WhatsApp app on iPad, and it’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for
Plus, we show you how to get the WhatsApp app on your iPad
The official WhatsApp app running on an iPad Air

iPad-owning WhatsApp fans rejoice, the popular messaging app used by over two billion people worldwide has arrived properly on Apple's famed tablet. Yes, you can download WhatsApp from the App Store on your iPad right now.

For years iPad owners - even those with the best iPads around - have been left to struggling with the WhatsApp Web browser system for communicating with pals on their tablet, but now Meta - which owns WhatsApp - has released a dedicated app.

Read more
Best Buy just slashed the price of the Apple iPad Pro M4 by $200
Home Screen of the M4 iPad Pro.

Whenever you see a discount for the latest model of an Apple device, you have to take advantage of the offer right away as it likely won't last long. That's the case with the 13-inch Apple iPad Pro M4, which is on sale from Best Buy. Its 256GB model, usually sold for $1,299, is down to $1,099 for savings of $200, but stocks are probably already flying off the shelves. If you've been looking for tablet deals featuring Apple's premium iPad, you won't want to miss this bargain, so hurry!

https://bestbuy.7tiv.net/nXA05a

Read more
How a $30 accessory made my iPad Air perfect for travel and streaming
Rolling Square Edge Pro Core attached to iPad Air 2025.

I have an iPad Mini and a 13-inch iPad Air (2025), which reside in a folio case and a Magic Keyboard, respectively. While the iPad Mini is my favorite, most portable tablet, the Magic Keyboard + iPad Air combo makes the bigger device too heavy for tasks like video consumption and using it as a second screen, which covers more than 50% of my use case. I could swap the Magic Keyboard for a folio case to save weight, but that limits me to a single viewing angle and I lose a physical keyboard.

That’s why I added the $30 Rolling Square Edge Pro Core to my iPad Air. It has made my big tablet more portable and user-friendly without forcing me to sacrifice flexibility. My use case differs from the one advertised, but here’s how I use two of these simple accessories to get more out of my 13-inch iPad Air.

Read more