FilmOn

FilmOn is an Internet-based television provider owned by FilmOn.TV Networks Inc. FilmOn.TV Networks is owned by Alki David, who founded the company in 2006.[1]

FilmOn
Type of site
Television, Video-on-demand
Available inEnglish, Spanish
OwnerFilmOn.TV Inc, Alki David
URLwww.filmon.com
CommercialYes
Launched
  • January 2009 (UK)
  • September 2010 (USA)
Current statusLive

Programming

FilmOn is a subscription-based Internet-based television service allowing remote computer viewing of local TV worldwide. It licenses more than 600 additional channels plus 90,000 video-on-demand titles. Its library includes the CineBx and Allied Film libraries. It also allows users to create their own live and VOD channels. The channel lineup varies depending on what country it is being viewed in.[2]

In 2010 FilmOn launched a streaming internet TV service for mobile devices. Filmon.com claimed it was going to launch an additional over-the-air distribution model using FilmOn AIR, a portable tuner that was supposed to send over-the-air HD channels to mobile devices and computers.[3] In May 2012, FilmOn launched its Facebook app.

Other additions include Shockmasters, a channel devoted to Alfred Hitchcock movies and television shows;[4] Bloodzillathon, a channel devoted to Japanese kaiju monster movies;[5] and Voice of America TV, the first global streaming access to the U.S. Government's broadcaster since the laws changed in 2013 to allow transmission of VOA signals in the U.S.[6]

On 1 May 2017, all channels were set to "Paid" - both SD and HD quality - which restricts viewing time to 2 minutes. Previously, SD quality channels were mostly free.

FilmOn and Alki David have been involved in several legal issues over programming including the carriage of major U.S. broadcast channels, such as CBS (and its sister network, The CW), NBC, ABC and FOX (and its sister network, MyNetworkTV), among others. This resulted in requiring FilmOn to drop these channels in 2011.[7] In 2012, the channels were all returned after appeals were lodged in Federal Court and FilmOn launched its FilmOn Air X antenna farm.[8] On September 5, 2013, Judge Rosemary Collyer of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a nationwide injunction blocking FilmOn from offering its antenna/DVR service.[9] However, the ruling did not apply in the Second Circuit (which includes the states of New York, Vermont, and Connecticut) due to an earlier case brought by Aereo one of FilmOn's competitors.[10]

In July 2015, George H. Wu, Judge for the Central District of California ruled that FilmOn could qualify for a compulsory license for television content.[11] However, as of late April 2016, the legal issue remained unsettled. Although it had granted judgment in FilmOn's favor, the Central District of California court maintained its preliminary injunction barring the company's streaming services pending the outcome of the appeal. Following a 2014 contempt of court ruling by the Second Circuit, FilmOn was also barred from transmitting broadcast television in that district and thus remained barred nationwide.[12] The 2014 Second Circuit ruling found FilmOn in contempt of a 2012 injunction for continuing to deliver live TV streaming services after the U.S. Supreme Court deemed Aereo's service to be in violation of broadcast copyrights in American Broadcasting Cos. v. Aereo, Inc. (2014).[13][14]

References
  1. Laughlin, Andrew (February 11, 2013). "FilmOn to disrupt TV with new streaming channels". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  2. Filmon website
  3. "FilmOn Air portable tuner brings over-the-air HD channels to mobile devices and computers". The Verge. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
  4. http://www.tvmix.com/new-alfred-hitchcock-obsessed-channel-shockmasters-will-stream-non-stop-horror-and-suspense/123
  5. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/filmon-networks-launches-bloodzillathon-giant-180429652.html
  6. http://advanced-television.com/2014/07/07/filmon-spreads-voice-of-america/
  7. Meet Alki David: The Billionaire Hollywood Bad Boy Being Sued by Every TV Network. Retrieved March 3, 2013
  8. FilmOn Air Service Brings Streaming TV To PC And Mobile Devices. Retrieved August 3, 2013
  9. Federal judge issues nationwide injunction against Aereo competitor FilmOn. Retrieved Sept 15, 2013
  10. Sottek, T.C. (1 April 2013). "Aereo wins major court battle against TV networks - A remarkably tech-savvy decision". The Verge. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  11. Donahue, Bill (16 July 2015)."FilmOn Wins Big Ruling On Compulsory Copyright License". Law360. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  12. Bloom, Jason P. and Chiarizio. Matthew (28 April 2016). "Section 111 Compulsory License for Internet Streaming Still Up in the Air", Lexology. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  13. Campbell, Patrick S. (1 August 2014). "Court holds FilmOn in contempt of injunction barring live TV streaming service". Lexology. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  14. Loeb & Loeb LLP (22 February 2016 ). "CBS Broadcasting Inc. v. FilmOn.com, Inc.". Lexology. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
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