It seems that iPhone and iPod Touch users are starting to get versions of streaming video apps that were originally on the iPad. The recent release of the BBC iPlayer for the iPhone and iPod Touch and now Citytv offers Canadians access to live programming on their iPhones and iPod Touch devices.
Available for download in the iTunes app store, the Citytv app can stream live video via 3G and WiFi as well as recent episodes of popular shows like Community, Parks and Recreation, New Girl, Modern Family and How i Met Your Mother among many others.
“As far as local, Canadian-produced shows being available daily, no one has really done that on iPhone for free,” said Andrea Gagliardi, senior director and general manager, broadcast for Rogers Digital Media.
Gagliardi said the new video app, which complements a similar app Citytv introduced last year for the iPad tablet, gives advertisers the ability to reach consumers on a greater variety of platforms.
“It’s essentially the same experience as far as ads that run. There’s still pre-roll and mid-roll,” said Gagliardi. “Advertisers can now extend their reach from online to tablet to mobile.”
So far, Citytv is the first Canadian broadcaster to port their iPad app to the smaller iOS devices. We see this as a trend that is bound to continue.