Former cable CEO thinks pay-tv will let customers transfer programs from DVR to devices

Have you ever wanted to transfer a TV show or movie from your DVR to your smartphone or tablet for viewing on the go?

Current cable and satellite providers do not allow customers to transfer media like such off of a DVR, but an interview posted on FierceCable today with former Insight Communications CEO Michael Willner provides insight of how that will soon change.

When asked about DVR to smartphone and tablet transfers, Willner responded, "I think there is a serious push on the part of the cable world to move rapidly into advanced mobile video, and I wouldn't be surprised if you start hearing more about it later this year."

Which might prove to be difficult for providers since content rights might not allow for such transfers.

Willner seems so confident that the pay-tv industry will shift to advanced video services such as the above mentioned, that he and former Insight co-founder Sidney Knafel bought a controlling stake in IP video software maker Penthera Partners. Willner describes the service's offerings, "The fundamental product is an engine that can move large quantities of data in either direction, either up to or down from a storage facility, i.e. the cloud."

For a number of years now, consumers have had the option of transferring television content to devices via Slingbox, which transmits programming over a user's home network connected to the internet to a Slingbox enabled smartphone device. But image quality relies heavily on the speed and quality of the internet connection, and initial setup of the device requires a bit of technical knowledge.

From Willner's comments in the interview, it appears that the pay-tv industry is taking aim at companies like Netflix who offer their content to customers with computers, smartphones and tablet devices. Will such options make pay-tv more competitive?