David vs. Goliath: Seattle startup takes on TV giants

September 24, 2010 @ 5:15 am (Updated: 1:37 pm - 3/28/11 )

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By ALEX SILVERMAN
KIRO Radio
Listen to Alex's report

Todd Weaver says history has a tendency to repeat itself.

"When cable came out, they were sued by broadcasters," he said. So Weaver wasn't going to sit back and let that happen when his internet cable company, ivi, launched last week.

It costs subscribers just $5 a month for local over-the-air channels from Seattle and New York City, with other markets to come; you can watch the Seahawks on Sundays or the evening news on KING 5 from anywhere in the world on your PC or Mac. The service is planning on adding cable channels on an a la carte basis. "We are very much the pioneers, the first to market, with an online cable system offering," Weaver said.

The trouble, Weaver said, didn't even wait a week. The company has received several cease and desist letters from broadcasters, including NBC Universal, Major League Baseball, and local station owner Fisher Communications, accusing ivi of copyright infringement.

But Weaver and his 18-person staff weren't going to sit around waiting to be sued. So, earlier this week, ivi sued the broadcasters, asking a judge to declare what the company is doing legal. Weaver says ivi is rebroadcasting content in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act. In its court filing, ivi cites Section 111 of the Act, which provides that the "secondary transmission of an over-the-air primary transmission is not an infringement of copyrights." Tuesday, the National Association of Broadcasters fired back. "It is blatantly illegal to steal broadcasters' copyrighted works and signals," NAB president Dennis Wharton said in a statement. The legal battle is expected to take some time. In any case, Weaver claims the broadcasters should keep an open mind. "The benefit is exactly the thing they have always wanted: more eyeballs," he said.

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Comments (8)


  • Add A Comment

  • RnD_Fan wrote...
    $5 per month vs. ChannelSurfing.net (FREE)
    September 24, 2010 7:01 am
    Me thinks Free is a better deal!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sandman wrote...
    IT'S ABOUT TIME !
    September 24, 2010 9:23 am
    It's about time someone took on the darn (bad words not allowed) cable companies ! They get you signed up for years then you turn around and find they are offering deals for half what you signed up for. Anyone know the web site to get more info about ivi ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mees wrote...
    watching seahawks
    September 24, 2010 10:23 am
    yes I was wanting to be able to watch my seahawks lose online from alaska. I don't mind 5$ I'll check out channelsurfing.net. It looks kinda cheap. Like the pops up
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DickeyDoo wrote...
    Love the thought...
    September 24, 2010 6:22 pm
    of someone doing it! IVI just did it and they are going to do it again! I side with ivi! Viva ivi, Vivaivi!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    He's got brass ones...
    September 25, 2010 6:56 am
    Nothing would do my heart better than to watch Comcast squirm and twist in the wind.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Grampsofmany wrote...
    Web site
    September 25, 2010 11:34 am
    http://www.ivi.tv/ Took about a minute to find. 30 Days free trial, then $4.99 a month.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cruizer68 wrote...
    pay for what you want?
    September 25, 2010 9:35 pm
    Gee what a novel idea...wished the cable giants would of done this 20 years ago. Don't watch 75% of the channels that I already get..besides cable rates have tripled since the late 80's. $5 a month..I just might check it out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jake5000 wrote...
    another choice
    October 6, 2010 4:11 pm
    Checkout www.wisecast.tv for another take on "free" cable. Not much on network controlled product, a lot of different stuff that might get past the media giants.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }