Better late than never. Although originally slated for a May 29th release, Aereo, the cloud DVR service that connects users to tiny antennae that transmit all things broadcast TV, made its way to the Google Play store for Android devices on Thursday.
Aereo subscribers will be able to download the updated Android application from the Google Play store and stream content from their mobile device directly to the Google Chromecast. Similar to applications like Netflix and YouTube, the cast icon will appear within the Aereo application if a Chromecast is detected on the home’s wireless network. The service is currently only Chromecast-ready on Android devices, but is also available for viewing on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch devices, as well as Mac and PCs. Of course, users can also cast to Chromecast from computers via the Chrome browser extension.
Speaking about the combination of Aereo and Google Chromecast, Aereo CEO Chet Kanojia said “The way people watch and experience television is changing and Google is a pioneer in providing consumers with more choice and flexibility in how they access and experience that media…Consumers deserve more options and alternatives in how they watch television and our team is committed to providing consumers with the best experience possible using Aereo’s innovative cloud technology.”
Of course, the length of time that new feature will be available to Chromecast users will be highly dependent on the Supreme Court’s ruling about the legality of Aereo’s service. Locked in a battle with the major broadcast networks, Aereo is arguing that the company shouldn’t have to pay retransmission fees since the signals are being picked up using an antenna for free. Alternatively, the networks are taking the opposite position and could ultimately develop their own competing service if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Aereo.
At the moment, Aereo is currently available in multiple U.S. cities that include New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas and Miami. The service starts at $8-per-month and allows users to stream local television content through the Web, as well as record up to 60 hours of programming with the $12 premium package.
Updated 6/06/2014 by Ryan Waniata: Aereo rolled out for Chromecast on Android devices on 6/05/2014, one week later than scheduled
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