Aereo Suspends Video Streaming Service After US Supreme Court Ruling

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 30 June 2014 09:18 IST
Aereo, the video streaming service that has sought to provide an alternative to traditional TV broadcasters, said on Saturday it was suspending services after being dealt a blow by the U.S. Supreme Court this week.

"On Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision in favor of Aereo, dealing a massive setback to consumers, " Aereo chief executive Chet Kanojia said in a letter to customers.

"As a result of that decision, our case has been returned to the lower Court. We have decided to pause our operations temporarily as we consult with the court and map out our next steps. You will be able to access your cloud-based antenna and DVR only until 11:30 a.m. ET today," Kanojia said, adding that consumers would be refunded their last paid month.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court said Aereo, a service backed by media mogul Barry Diller, violated copyright law by using tiny antennas to broadcast TV content online to paying subscribers.

Advertisement

(Also see: What the US Supreme Court Ruling Means for Aereo)

The decision was a victory for traditional broadcasters such as CBS Corp, Comcast Corp's NBC, Walt Disney Co's ABC, and Twenty-First Century Fox Inc's Fox.

Advertisement

Started in 2012 and backed by Diller's IAC/InterActiveCorp, Aereo typically charges about $8 to $12 a month, and lets users stream live broadcasts on mobile devices. Aereo does not pay the broadcasters. The service has operated in 11 U.S. cities, and does not provide subscriber data.

On Wednesday, Kanojia called the court decision "a massive setback" for American consumers, but stopped short of saying it means the end of the service.

Advertisement

In his letter on Saturday, he said the company believes that "the spectrum that the broadcasters use to transmit over the air programming belongs to the American public."

"We believe you should have a right to access that live programming whether your antenna sits on the roof of your home, on top of your television, or in the cloud."

Advertisement

Writing for the majority in Wednesday's court decision, Justice Stephen Breyer said Aereo is "not simply an equipment provider," but rather bears an "overwhelming likeness" to cable TV companies whose ability to retransmit broadcasts was limited under a 1976 copyright law.

The decision overturned an April 2013 ruling by the federal appeals court in New York, which had denied the broadcasters' request to shut down Aereo while litigation moved forward.

Diller, 72, is known for pushing the boundaries of traditional media. He helped start the Fox network in 1986, defying naysayers who saw no room for a fourth U.S. broadcast network.

© Thomson Reuters 2014

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: Aereo, Home Entertainment, Internet
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OnePlus Pad 2 With Dimensity 9400+ SoC to Launch Alongside OnePlus 15
  2. Vivo Confirms OriginOS 6 Update Schedule in India: See Release Timeline
  3. Red Magic 11 Pro Series With Liquid Cooling Launched at This Price
  4. Motorola G67 Power 5G Visits Geekbench With This Snapdragon Chipset
  5. OnePlus Ace 6 Design, Colourways Teased Ahead of China Launch
  6. Kantara: A Legend Chapter-1 Lands on Amazon Prime Video Soon
  7. iQOO Neo 11 Design Teased Again Ahead of Launch in China
  8. Redmi K90 Pro Max Design Teased; Will Debut With Bose-Tuned Speakers
  1. Vast Space to Launch Haven-1, the World’s First Private Space Station in 2026
  2. Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Soars to 424PPM, Marking Biggest Yearly Jump Ever
  3. Black Hole Tears Star Apart, Sends Out Powerful Flares Six Months Later
  4. Shakthi Thirumagan OTT Release: When, Where to Watch Vijay Antony-Starrer Action Thriller Online?
  5. Former Assassin's Creed Boss Says He Was Asked to 'Step Aside' by Ubisoft
  6. Arshad Warsi's Bhagwat Chapter 1: Raakshas OTT Release: Everything You Need to Know About This Thriller
  7. Vivo Confirms OriginOS 6 Update Rollout Schedule in India: Check Full Release Timeline
  8. Huawei Nova Flip S Launched With 4,400mAh Battery, 2.14-Inch Cover Screen: Price, Features
  9. The Fantastic Four: First Steps Reportedly Set for OTT Debut Soon: All You Need to Know
  10. Huawei Nova 14 Vitality Edition Launched With 5,500mAh Battery, 50-Megapixel Selfie Camera: Price, Specifications
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.