Verizon Communications has announced its plans to bring its FiOS TV service to tablet devices like Apple’s iPad.

The company says it expects to launch the app next year, allowing FiOS TV subscribers to tune into live TV directly from the device.

Verizon demonstrated the technology to reporters at an event today and said it is in talks with content providers to extend its programming agreements to cover tablet computers.

Earlier this month there were rumors that Verizon was working with Motorola on a tablet device specifically for FiOS TV subscribers. Given the comparatively small FiOS TV subscriber base (3.2 million, compared to Comcast’s 23.5 million), a software strategy makes a lot more sense.

It isn’t clear if the software will interface with a set-top box, a la apps from Sling Media and eyeTV, or if it will stream content from a special web portal.

Verizon already has an array of online on-demand offerings for its FiOS TV subscribers, including HBO Go and support for some of Time Warner’s cable networks like TNT and TBS.

In addition to live TV streaming, Verizon also showcased an updated version of its Media Manager application that will let users upload and stream video from the cloud to their PCs, TVs or mobile devices.

Verizon isn’t the only cable provider eying the iPad as the next delivery device. Earlier this month, Cablevision reported that it has plans to bring broadcast and VOD streaming to the iPad and other devices. Comcast, which has its own Xfinity TV Everywhere web-based initiative, also showed off a prototype of an iPad remote control application earlier this spring.

Would you like to watch live TV on your iPad? Would the ability to do so make you more likely to purchase one?