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The streaming service that delivers over-the-air TV broadcasts went live today, though ABC, CBS, NBC, and other networks sued to try to stop the launch.

One of Aereo's tiny antennas.

New Yorkers can watch live broadcast TV via the Web, starting today.

Aereo, the company that streams over-the-air television broadcasts, has made its debut, and that means the many broadcasters that sued the service for copyright violations were unsuccessful at holding up the launch.

The victory may be short lived, however. I'm hearing there's a court proceeding scheduled for May 28 regarding the broadcasters' preliminary injunction request. If granted, Aereo would be forced to shut down while the case plays out in court.

Two weeks ago, most of the top broadcast stations in New York participated in at least one of the two lawsuits filed against Aereo. They asked the court for a preliminary injunction to stop the launch. In their complaints, the broadcasters--including ABC, CBS (parent company of CNET), NBC, Fox, and PBS--allege that Aereo, which charges users $12 per month, violates copyright law by using their broadcasts in an "unauthorized Internet delivery service that is receiving, converting and retransmitting broadcast signals to its subscribers for a fee."

We've seen a string of companies try to use legal loopholes to distribute movies, music, and TV shows over the Web without paying licensing fees. Services such as Zediva and ivi.TV were similar to Aereo and the courts didn't buy their arguments. Both were forced to shut down.

The broadcasters assert that Aereo, or anyone else who wishes to retransmit their signals, must negotiate a license.

Aereo says that over-the-air signals belong to the public. Consumers have the right to watch these signals without charge. The company asserts that all it does is rent each customer a dime-sized antenna that is housed at its facilities and is then controlled by the user via the Internet.

But Barry Diller, who helped create Fox and was chief of Paramount Pictures, is an investor in Aereo. Speaking at the South by Southwest conference in Texas on Monday, Diller said he expects the service to roll out to a minimum of 75 cities within a year.

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Web TV service Aereo lives--no injunctions in sight

LG's near zero bezel TV line gets a nod at the Red Dot Design Awards.

Mar 14 2012, 3:55am CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

The LG LM9600 Cinema 3D Smart HDTV debuted at the CES 2012 and has a stunning design. The near-zero bezel (1mm) is the eye catcher on this 2012 TV set. LG announced that the LG LM9600 and LG 8600 won a Red Dot Design Award along with several other LG products.

An almost invisible bezel is for me much more important than thinness of the display when choosing a new television set. LG is working since the last couple of years to make the bezel almost disappear.

Besides stunning looks the LG LM9600 is also packed with cutting edge technology including full-array local dimming LED backlight, Magic Motion remote with voice control, passive 3D and of course LG Smart TV functions.

A release date and a price of the LG LM9600 TV line-up has not been revealed yet. Shop LG TVs on Amazon.

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Stunning LG LM9600 3D TV wins Red Dot Design Award

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A measure that allows existing gambling operations in Iowa to offer Internet poker passed the Senate on Tuesday night.

Supporters said residents already gamble online and the proposed bill would create oversight through new regulations. It also would bring in additional state tax revenue.

The Senate approved the measure on a 29 to 20 vote.

It would allow the state's casinos and racetracks to offer Internet poker. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission would be in charge of the Internet gambling.

Projections show that legalizing Internet poker could generate between $3 million and $13 million in state tax revenue. The commission, which regulates gambling in the state, has issued a study outlining how Iowa could structure Internet poker.

The measure now goes to the House.

If approved by the House and signed by Gov. Terry Branstad, Iowa would become one of the first states to establish such a system.

Amendments that would have diverted the new revenue to the state's roads and another that would have banned smoking on casino floors did not pass.

Sen. Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls said the bill was a thoughtful solution that addresses the problem of unregulated online gambling.

"We want to protect Iowa consumers and we want to protect the investment Iowa has made up to this point." Danielson said.

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Iowa Senate approves Internet poker measure

RALEIGH, N.C., March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bulk TV & Internet, a leading provider of DIRECTV services for commercial properties nationwide announces the addition of Vice President of Sales, James H. Jessel to their management team.

Jessel has over 20 years of experience selling and marketing to the hospitality sector. Prior to joining Bulk TV & Internet, Jessel was at the helm of DIRECTV's Commercial Division from 1998-2007 increasing subscriber activations and revenue within the segment culminating in exponential growth both regionally and nationally.

"I am extremely excited to be joining the Bulk TV & Internet team," says Jessel. "Our organization is the fastest growing in our industry because of our effective marketing focus on the lodging, institutional and commercial segments. We are laser focused and skilled at managing a large volume of varied business segments and customers, while still catering to the specific needs of each property or facility."

Jessel's understanding of the industry and prior growth performance within the commercial market makes him the perfect match for Bulk TV & Internet's rapidly growing business. With Jessel's expertise, Bulk TV & Internet expects to maintain the exponential growth that has pushed them to the forefront of commercial satellite providers, while continuing to strategically expand their sales footprint on a local, regional and national basis.

Bulk TV's growth has been recognized by INC 500 List of Fastest Growing Companies, Triangle Business Journal's Fast 50 and they have been named DIRECTV's Free-to-Guest Provider of the Year for the past four years.

Jessel is married to wife Kirsten and has two children, Julia (14) and Zachary (11). Originally from Toronto, Canada, he holds degrees in Political Science and History from the University of California, San Diego.

About Bulk TV & Internet Bulk TV & Internet is a leading provider of DIRECTV services designed to meet the unique needs of hospitality, long-term care, healthcare and multi-dwelling unit properties as well as small businesses, bars and restaurants. Bulk TV & Internet provides service to more than 200,000 units nationwide including free-to-guest television programming, digital satellite TV systems, high-speed Internet access and managed data network services. For more information, please visit http://www.bulktv.com.

Originally posted here:
New Vice President of Sales Joins the Bulk TV & Internet Team

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday he wants "Internet giants" to pay tax in France, shortly before he was due to meet the founder of the micro-blogging site Twitter.

"It is unacceptable that they have a turnover of several billion euros in France without paying tax," he told Le Point magazine, adding that the French government should consider taxing online advertising revenues.

French lawmakers last year rejected plans for a proposed tax on online advertising revenues, fearing the project would hurt small local companies more than global internet giants like Google, Facebook or Twitter.

A spokesman for Google hit back, arguing that "the internet offers a wonderful opportunity to generate growth and jobs in France."

Google cited a report from management consultant McKinsey that said internet companies contributed 60 billion euros ($78 billion) to the French economy in 2009, or 3.2 percent of output, and could create 450,000 jobs by 2015.

"This positive contribution would have a better chance of coming about in an environment that is supportive of the web in France and of investment in the sector. Public policy should support this," the spokesman argued.

The president's comment came as Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey was in Paris to meet with French presidential candidates, including Sarkozy.

Earlier Dorsey had met the front-running Socialist candidate Francois Hollande and with centrist Francois Bayrou, and he was due to meet Sarkozy later in the day.

Hollande's campaign team said the candidate and Dorsey discussed the development of innovative companies in France and the Internet sector.

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Sarkozy wants Internet giants to pay tax in France