LAS VEGAS -- Aereo is going nationwide, despite an ongoing legal challenge from broadcasters. Aereo’s expansion will start with 22 cities in 2013--Boston, Miami, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Detroit, Denver, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa, Fla; Cleveland, Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Salt Lake City, Birmingham, Ala., Providence, R.I., and Madison, Wis. The start-up also announced that it closed on a $38 million Series B funding round led by existing investors IAC, the onlinle enterprise led by Barry Diller, and Highland Capital Partners.The announcements were made Tuesday by Aereo CEO and founder, Chet Kanojia, at the Citi Global Internet, Media & Telecommunications Conference in Las Vegas.
Aereo uses antenna arrays to retransmit broadcast television signals to mobile consimer Internet devices. Broadcasters claimed copyright violation in federal court because Aereo did not seek retransmission consent. The company claims it shouldn't have to because its service does not constitute a “public performance, ” the legal foundation for retrans consent. Subscribers essentially rent dime-sized antennas in the array to access live TV or cloud-stored recordings of broadcast content. Aereo beta-launched in New York in March, where it now offers service for $1 a day; $8 a month or $80 a year. It also offers a free trial of one hour a day.
Aereo is currently supported on iPad, iPhone, Chrome, Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Safari, Opera, AppleTV and Roku. Access to Aereo in the expansion markets will be available initially via invitation. The additional 22 markets will cover a potential market of 97 million people, Aereo said.
Also see...
George Winslow’s coverage at B&C.
October 29, 2012:CEA Friends Aereo
The Consumer Electronics Association has filed an amicus brief for Aereo, the New York startup that’s retransmitting broadcast TV signals without permission. Several broadcasters in that city are suing the service over copyright violation.
September 9, 2012:Cablevision Friends Broadcasters in Aereo Case
Cablevision is urging a federal court to reverse a July ruling that allowed Aereo to continue retransmitting broadcast TV signals without permission.
August 6, 2012:Report: Aereo Legality Could Hinge on Patents
Aereo’s copyright infringement case may rest on its patents, according to ReadWriteWeb. The publication quotes an IP expert saying that patents typically have “no relevance” in copyright cases, but that Aereo is an exception.
August 2, 2012:Aereo Dangs the Torpedoes, Offers Free Trial, $1-a-day Pass
Aereo today offered up a free trial for New Yorkers who want to try the subscription service that retransmits broadcast signals to mobile devices. A new feature allows Big Apple denizens to try Aereo for free “for a continuous one-hour period each day,” and for a $1 a day for those who want to try it out a little longer.
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