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Big broadcasters sue non-profit that streams TV channels for free
Source: Reuters
TECHNOLOGY NEWS JULY 31, 2019 / 2:47 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Big broadcasters sue non-profit that streams TV channels for free
Helen Coster
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - The four major U.S. television networks on Wednesday sued a non-profit group backed by AT&T Inc that streams TV channels over the internet for free without permission.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. district court in New York by CBS Corp, Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal Media, Fox Corporation’s Fox Television Stations and Walt Disney Co’s ABC against Sports Fans Coalition NY (SFCNY) and its founder, David Goodfriend, a former executive at satellite TV provider Dish.
Major broadcasters traditionally charge cable and satellite pay television providers like AT&T and Dish a fee to distribute their content. But by giving viewers that content for free, the free service, Locast, is threatening these fees.
The lawsuit comes as disputes over renewing carriage deals have led to channels being pulled off the air.
“Locast has been operating for more than a year and a half, and no broadcaster has filed until now,” said David Hosp, an attorney at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, representing Goodfriend. Hosp said the group’s non-profit status and the fact that it was not charging for the service put it on “sound legal footing.”
-snip-
Big broadcasters sue non-profit that streams TV channels for free
Helen Coster
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - The four major U.S. television networks on Wednesday sued a non-profit group backed by AT&T Inc that streams TV channels over the internet for free without permission.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. district court in New York by CBS Corp, Comcast Corp’s NBCUniversal Media, Fox Corporation’s Fox Television Stations and Walt Disney Co’s ABC against Sports Fans Coalition NY (SFCNY) and its founder, David Goodfriend, a former executive at satellite TV provider Dish.
Major broadcasters traditionally charge cable and satellite pay television providers like AT&T and Dish a fee to distribute their content. But by giving viewers that content for free, the free service, Locast, is threatening these fees.
The lawsuit comes as disputes over renewing carriage deals have led to channels being pulled off the air.
“Locast has been operating for more than a year and a half, and no broadcaster has filed until now,” said David Hosp, an attorney at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, representing Goodfriend. Hosp said the group’s non-profit status and the fact that it was not charging for the service put it on “sound legal footing.”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-broadcasters-lawsuit/big-broadcasters-sue-non-profit-that-streams-tv-channels-for-free-idUSKCN1UQ2FT
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