How Long Will Aereo’s High Last?

Earlier this week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit‘s split decision to deny pleas from TV networks for a preliminary injunction to bar start-up Aereo (on copyright infringement grounds) from streaming broadcast programming in New York City (CTDaily, 04/01/13) is allowing Aereo to feel the love, but for how long? According to Jeffrey Silva, senior policy director/Telecommunications, Media and Technology at Medley Global Advisors LLC, because the appeals judgment wasn’t unanimous, a review by the U.S. Supreme Court is more likely. “At this stage, we tend to harbor doubts whether Aereo’s business model could withstand strict judicial scrutiny from the conservative-bent high court,” he adds. As such, “Aereo could find its legal glory short-lived and promising business prospects ephemeral,” Silva concludes.