This summer, Time Warner Cable will launch TWC TV — an app for Samsung Smart TVs that will enable customers to watch pay TV programming without a box.
Owners of 2012 Samsung Smart TVs will have first crack at downloading the free app; those who bought this year’s models can download it thereafter.
Users will have access to 5,000 video on demand titles from about 100 networks, as well as content from standard channels.
Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt told analysts at The Cable Show in Washington, DC, that the arrangement with Samsung came about because its Smart TV has “enough intelligence” to replace the functions of a cable box. “The technology is actually pretty easy.
“And I think that’s going to kind of reinvigorate the industry,” he said.