Skip to main content

Even Big Bird wants to shut down Aereo

After months of skirting a litany of injunctions filed by local and national broadcasters, it looks like the final judgement as to whether Aereo can continue its services may be decided by the Supreme Court after all. The company, which has created a huge stir in the entertainment industry by broadcasting network content over the Internet without paying re-transmission fees, has endured an onslaught of lawsuits that finally came to a head Friday, as Aereo was named in a petition to the highest court in the US. The lawsuit was filed by some of the biggest players in the industry including Fox, CBS, Disney, Univision, NBC Universal, and even cardigan sweater-supporting, non-profit PBS. (That ‘P’ still stands for PUBLIC, right?)

If you’re late to the Aereo party, the company operates by renting tiny antennae to its customers, who pay a fee starting at $8 a month for the ability to watch network TV broadcasts over the Internet at their leisure. However, since its founding in February 2012, Aereo has been in hot water with broadcasters, which claim the service’s laissez-faire approach creates “irreparable damage” to their content by threatening licensing deals with companies like Hulu and iTunes, as well as satellite and cable companies, all of which pay billions of dollars in yearly fees for the right to air their content.

Recommended Videos

Reported by Deadline, Friday’s petition claims that satellite and cable companies are already using Aereo’s model “…as a roadmap to re-engineering their own delivery systems,” looking for new ways to circumvent re-transmission fees, which would seriously threaten that billion dollar revenue stream. The broadcasters also pointed out in the petition that Aereo has spawned copycat companies like FilmOn, potentially spawning a multitude of alternatives that would threaten the current model.

The fact that PBS has entered the fray with its extremely for-profit counterparts on several occasions, including the Supreme Court battle royal, underscores just how dangerous Aereo’s service is perceived to be to the livelihood of traditional television. And Bloomberg news even pointed to take-my-ball-and-go-home quotes from chief executives at Fox, CBS, and NBC, all of  whom have threatened an exodus from over-air broadcasting altogether if Aereo is allowed to continue.

For its part, Aereo continues to maintain that it has done nothing wrong, repeating its claims that its practices amount to nothing more than a legal private performance, providing antenna based content which is protected by the law in the same way as broadcasts to standard antennae.

Whether or not the Supreme Court will take up the suit remains to be seen, but with so many industry big wigs signing on, as well as a growing list of conflicting court decisions from coast to coast, it seems the court may have no choice.

Ryan Waniata
Former Home Theater & Entertainment Editor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
You Asked: Your biggest Switch 2 questions, answered
You Asked Ep. 94: Best TV For Switch 2

On today’s episode of You Asked: What’s the best TV for your shiny new Switch 2 and how does the screen compare to the OLED model we loved? We break down the top TV picks, answer your biggest Switch 2 questions, and share early hands-on impressions from launch week.

Best TV for the Switch 2?

Read more
Save $200 on Amazon’s “best yet” Fire TV and matching soundbar
A 50-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni Series with a Fire TV soundbar.

Getting a TV can actually be a stressor if you're not the type that likes to tinker with things. Since the vast majority of TVs today don't produce great sound, you'll have to go through the hassle of choosing a soundbar. But that's not all! You also have to connect your soundbar to your TV, which isn't always trivial.

That's why we like this deal that saves you $200 on a QLED TV and gives you a matching soundbar that you know will work with it and be easy to assemble. Normally the 50-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni and Fire TV Soundbar bundle would cost $600, but right now you can get it for an impressively affordable $400. Tap the button below to see the deal. Then, keep reading below to get our take on this bundle's components.

Read more
This new “ultraportable” outdoor speaker is on sale for under $60
Ultimate Ears Miniroll.

It's undeniably the season for outdoor Bluetooth speakers. Unfortunately, they can get quite expensive, with the Beats Pill (our top pick) at $150 and the premium JBL Xtreme 4 all the way up at $380. However, a good alternative is to get an Ultimate Ears Miniroll speaker. It's normally priced around $80, but right now you can get one for just $59, saving you $21. If you order it soon enough, you'll even be able to get it ahead of Father's Day, making it great as either a gift or a way to elevate your sound for the event. Tap the button below to see it or keep reading for our take.

Why you should buy the Ultimate Ears Miniroll speaker

Read more