FilmOn plans US roll-out
July 16, 2012
By Colin Mann
Buoyed by the July 11 ruling by Federal Judge Alison Nathan that New York-based Aereo can continue with its service which takes live TV programming and sends it to mobile devices, HD streaming service FilmOn.com is now reinstating its live major Network streams in the state of New York with principally the same application of mini antennas as Aereo uses.
FilmOn is in the process of settling its own dispute with the networks, which include ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, etc. The network content is geo-restricted to the state of New York’s Designated Market Area. The other 160 HD channels are largely available worldwide on FilmOn.com which, according to FilmOn.com founder Alki David, “dwarfs Aereo’s pitiful local TV offering”.
David says that FilmOn is “uniquely positioned in every major US market and will soon begin rolling out similar major Network services nationwide”.
Unlike the Barry Diller-backed Aereo, FilmOn pays retransmission fees on behalf of all of its paying subscribers, saying that it is “only right” to pay content producers their fair dues.
“This is a significant move in the right direction. Television is meant to be for the consumer and the consumer deserves to have it anywhere and everywhere, whenever the consumer wants,” says David.