Kevin Bostic
Broadcast television-to-digital streaming service Aereo will not launch on time in Chicago due to issues with its beta site, meaning customers in the area, including iOS device owners, will have to wait a bit longer to sign up.
"Earlier this month," the company wrote on its site, "we embarked on our beta test in Chicago and encountered issues with our beta site. As a result, we have delayed our launch in Chicago."
Aereo's post did not specifically detail the issues delaying the launch of its Chicago service. Instead, the firm asks for prospective customers' patience "until we've found the right solution."
Founded in February of 2012, Aereo uses an array of micro-antennas to pipe content to a browser accessible Web portal and DVR system, with media available on personal devices like the iPad and iPhone. A subscription is required to use the service and streaming is currently limited to the Apple TV via AirPlay and certain Roku set-too boxes.
The company is almost more famous for its legal struggles than for its continually expanding service, however. While Aereo has expanded to Miami and Houston, and plans to be in 20 more cities by the end of 2013, it has also become the target of litigation from television broadcasters that allege the firm illegally retransmits protected content.
In April of this year, a New York federal appeals court denied a motion by broadcasters to shut down Aereo's television streaming service in that city. The court found the broadcasters' arguments insufficient for an injunction, but one dissenting judge decried Aereo's "Rube Goldberg-like contrivance... to avoid the reach of the Copyright Act."
Despite that ruling in Aereo's favor, the company's future remains uncertain as it embroiled in legal battles in multiple U.S. markets.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
10 Comments
How is this related to Apple?
quote: Despite that ruling in Aereo's favor, the company's future remains uncertain as it has suffered court losses in other U.S. markets. I did an extensive internet search and could not find a single court loss for Aereo. Who IS Kevin Bostic? An ostrich?
How is this related to Apple?
This article has a photo of an iPhone, words "iOS", "iPhone" and "iPad", each mentioned once.
I've been beta testing it in Dallas (now open for full release)- it's awesome. Really like this service and the quality is solid. If they released it as a standalone Apple TV app instead of having to airplay- it might be enough for me to finally cut cable.... Except id miss the baseball playoffs on TBS. Sports- particularly baseball (rangers have a 20 yr exclusive on FSSW)- is the only thing that keeps me handcuffed.
How is this related to Apple?
Do you realize that Apple iPad and iPhones are a major target market for Aereo? Check out the Aereo web page to better understand the service's live local TV broadcast capabilities, using your device to stream the broadcast from the Internet, either through a local network or wireless data. Want to attend your youngster's Sunday soccer game at the same time the Bears are playing? Want to watch the Bears without paying to stream NFL Live? This is the alternative.