Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) launched a unique app for Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch that allows its subscribers to watch live high-school sports from its MSG Varsity channel on the mobile devices.
The app has the potential to give Cablevision subscribers that have children who play on high-school sports teams the ability to watch live video from basketball games, football games and other events produced by MSG Varsity on an iPad or iPhone. It's a good example of how Cablevision is using hyperlocal content to help differentiate itself from rival Verizon (NYSE: VZ).
While Verizon announced a deal last month with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to televise 36 regular-season high-school games on its FiOS1 channel--including basketball, football, lacrosse and soccer games--Cablevision offers more local sports and news content through its MSG Varsity and News 12 channels.
The MSG Varsity App, which is available for free in Apple's iTunes store, lets subscribers customize their mobile device by creating pages for the teams, schools, sports and activities that they want to follow. It also lets subscribers share links to articles, photos and videos via Facebook and Twitter, and it can also be used to send text alerts when teams score.
In order to watch live video streams from MSG Varsity, Cablevision said users must subscribe to both its iO: Interactive Optimum digital cable service and its Optimum Online cable modem service.
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