JJ Colao

If Aereo Loses In The Supreme Court, Can It Rise Again?

Does Chet Kanojia have a plan B for Aereo if it loses at the Supreme Court? Yes. A defeated Aereo can rise again on the strength of its technology. While Kanojia is shy on details, it’s clear he isn’t giving up. Here’s how Aereo might rise again:
It could regroup by selling its own cloud service to small cable operators that represent 7.5 million subscribers and can’t afford to develop their own technology. Comcast has already rolled out a similar service via its XI operating system, letting customers schedule recording from their phones and computers.
It might exploit its transcoding technology, say company insiders. This converts thousands of broadcast video streams into digital formats for a fraction of the cost of rival methods. As folks spend more time watching video online, Aereo could help provide more content options.
“It could shift ownership of its over-the-air antenna to users, then charge maintenance and upkeep to sustain recurring revenue,” says Jim Boyle, managing director of Sqad, a media forecaster. Even Diller has entertained the notion that Aereo could become a cable provider, striking licensing deals with content providers.