Nets Want Court To Reconsider Pro-Aereo Ruling

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A coalition of TV networks are asking a federal appeals court in New York to reconsider a ruling that allowed online video company Aereo to continue rolling out its cord-cutting service.

The pro-Aereo ruling, issued earlier this month by a three-judge panel, “threatens the over-the-air broadcasting industry,” the TV networks say in new court papers, according to media-post.com. The broadcasters are asking the entire 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the case.

Aereo allows people to view live streams of over-the-air TV shows on iPhones, iPads and other devices. The service also allows people to “record” over-the-air shows for later viewing.

The TV networks are suing Aereo for copyright infringement. The networks say that Aereo is operating like a cable television company, and is illegally transmitting TV shows without a license. The TV broadcasters say that the transmissions are a “public performance,” which requires a license.

Two weeks ago, a panel of the 2nd Circuit ruled 2-1 that Aereo's transmissions are not public performances. That ruling upheld a trial judge's decision denying the TV networks' request for an injunction banning Aereo from operating.

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Meanwhile, Aereo placed a full-page ad in Tuesday’s NYTimes to state its case publicly: