Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Meet the Napster of Television - ivi, Inc.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ivi, Inc. has raised $1 million in venture funding with a self-proclaimed "legal strategy" to rebroadcast television online without the permission of broadcasters or content-owners. If right, the company would be able to offer a service that would essentially be the Napster of television.

The company offers users a free 30-day trial and then makes them pay $4.99 a month, and an extra $0.99 a month for DVR functionality. ivi, Inc. has filed a complaint with the networks that they're retransmission of their signals is legal.

CEO Todd Weaver says his 18-employee company won't harm the TV business as it provides viewership data to Nielsen so that broadcasters can factor this in when they sell advertisements.

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