Skip to main content

U.S. Court of Appeals hands Aereo legal victory over network TV

Aereo on iPadIn a somewhat stunning legal decision, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York gave web streaming company, Aereo, a legal victory today over 17 TV networks that have been looking to the court to shut the controversial service down. Currently available in New York City and surrounding areas within range of NYC broadcast TV antennas,  Aereo’s service allows users to stream live or recorded OTA (over the air) television broadcasts via the web. 

The $12 a month service acts as a personal, cloud-based DVR, recording any OTA broadcasts that can be picked up in the New York City area. No hardware is required other than a computer, Roku box, or iOS device and Internet access. To sign up for Aereo, you must visit its website and request an invite, which usually takes a few days to receive. 

Recently, Aereo expanded its reach into three new states and launched an ad campaign, despite its legal entanglements. Today, a story published in the Wall Street Journal indicates the maverick company is already in talks with DirecTV, Dish Network, and AT&T about expanding its service into other markets. 

“Today’s decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals again validates that Aereo’s technology falls squarely within the law and that’s a great thing for consumers who want more choice and flexibility in how, when and where they can watch television,” said Chet Kanojia, Aereo CEO and Founder. “Today’s ruling to uphold Judge Nathan’s decision sends a powerful message that consumer access to free-to-air broadcast television is still meaningful in this country and that the promise and commitment made by the broadcasters to program in the public interest in exchange for the public’s spectrum, remains an important part of our American fabric.”

Kanojia continued, “We may be a small start-up, but we’ve always believed in standing up and fighting for our consumers. We are grateful for the court’s thoughtful analysis and decision and we look forward to continuing to build a successful business that puts consumers first.”

Editors' Recommendations

Ian White
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ian has been a full-time A/V journalist since 1999, covering the world of high-end audio, video, music, and film for Digital…
How to use Plex Media Server to watch all of your media
Plex used to watch media on a laptop.

What if we told you there was a way to house and access all of your favorite streaming content and personal media files under one easy-to-use platform? Sure, we’ve had platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive for years, but while these applications are pretty great for the latter (storing media), you can't get a Netflix movie playing with Google Drive. The all-in-one entertainment hub we’re alluding to is the content-hosting and streaming umbrella called Plex.

Plex haș been around for more than a decade, but what exactly can you do with Plex? Is it free? Is it difficult to use? Does it support multiple users? And perhaps most importantly, how do you get your movie and TV show downloads uploaded and streamable from anywhere in the world?

Read more
The living room tripod is now officially a thing you need
An iPhone on a Peak Design travel tripod.

A carbon fiber Peak Design Travel Tripod is overkill for living room video calls — but it also is very cool. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Now that you can choose between using FaceTime or Zoom on an Apple TV — and that really isn't as much of a lesser of two evils scenario as it sounds — it's time to consider one more accessory to stash inside your living room closet for those special occasions: a proper tripod for your phone.

Read more
The weirdest and wildest AV gear of 2023
The Dyson Zone air-purifying ANC headphones on a model.

This year has been full of some pretty excellent and innovative tech products, and that includes audio/video and home theater gear -- from blisteringly bright TVs to headphones with Wi-Fi and earbud charging cases with LED screens to new-and-improved products from all the big shots like Apple, Sony, Amazon, and more.

But I'm here for the weird stuff. The interesting stuff. The stuff that made our eyes widen and our eyebrows do funny things. And throughout 2023, there have been a few good ones, including a fire-breathing $3,900 surround sound setup, a turntable you might want to eat with a side of fries, and a James Bond-worthy TV in a suitcase. Here, then, is some of the weirdest AV gear of 2023.

Read more