Aereo, the popular streaming service that delivers broadcast television channels via the Internet, has announced its plans to expand into the Midwest US despite the numerous lawsuits facing its future from big broadcast companies trying to shut it down. Fortunately, Aereo is forging ahead and will be coming to several counties within Illinois and Indiana later this year.
When it expands into this new region, it will pick up several local channels and make them (along with a bit of DVR space) available to subscribers over an internet connection to computers and mobile devices. Channels will include ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and FOX.
On September 13, Aereo will be available to residents of the following Illinois counties:
- Cook
- Dekalb
- Grundy
- Kane
- Kankakee
- Kendall
- La Salle
- Lake
- McHenry
- Will
Additionally, the service will be available to these counties in Indiana:
- Jasper
- La Porte
- Lake
- Newton
- Porter
Conveniently (though mere coincidence), I recently moved from the middle of the state to one of the upcoming counties, and I’m looking forward to finally be able to test the service out.
Have you tried Aereo yet? Is it helping with your cord cutting endeavors or merely a supplement to an existing cable subscription?
F$&% YES!!!! I’m in Lake
F$&% YES!!!! I’m in Lake County (Round Lake, IL to be precise) and had filled out their online form to express interest a few months back. So damn happy that they’re bringing service out here and will sign up as soon as they let me. I cut the cord with Comcast 4 years ago and have been unable to tune anything in over the air. I look forward to getting to watch PBS and Simpsons re-runs once again! Oh, and Svengoolie. 🙂
$8+ tax A month is pretty
$8+ tax A month is pretty much a ripoff for what is essentially begging the neighbor with the high gain outdoor yagi antenna to add a splitter so you can use it to also watch tv.
For that money, you can save money in the long run by getting a high gain outdoor amplified antenna, and getting those distant local channels that way.
If they wanted the service to not be a ripoff they would make it free with ads on the website, and ad free (with the exception of the broadcast tv commercials) for $1-2 a month.
They are not producing or paying for special access to content like netflix, they are just capturing free content and rebroadcasting it while charging netflix prices.