Doesn't surprise me.
Locast Death Watch
Locast loses legal protections that keep its local TV streaming service alive
Only a matter of time now.
Only a matter of time now.
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The summary judgement just means the case will go to trial likely followed by appeals as needed by either side. Locast isn't done yet, but there's no question this decision is not good for them...
If there are 3 million donors, that's $15 million a month and that would seem to significantly exceed "non-profit" conditions.
This puts a definite glitch in my "cutting the cord" strategy of using DirecTV Stream as my primary source of content, supplemented by Locast for the locals I don't get, CW and PBS. I need to figure something out before I wind up going back to DirecTV Sat and get locked in for 2 more years. I'm playing with the idea of putting an antenna in my attic and using the existing cabling to hook it to the TV. Maybe that's a weekend project. We'll see. Won't do anything drastic until the whole thing is settled one way or the other.
I got an outdoor antenna that I mounted to my old Dish mount and use the coax that was for Dish. Works fine. Got an Amazon Recast and also a AirTV Anwhere OTA DVR. Works real well and the AirTV integrates with the Sling TV app.This puts a definite glitch in my "cutting the cord" strategy of using DirecTV Stream as my primary source of content, supplemented by Locast for the locals I don't get, CW and PBS. I need to figure something out before I wind up going back to DirecTV Sat and get locked in for 2 more years. I'm playing with the idea of putting an antenna in my attic and using the existing cabling to hook it to the TV. Maybe that's a weekend project. We'll see. Won't do anything drastic until the whole thing is settled one way or the other.
Have you tried the Local BTV app?This puts a definite glitch in my "cutting the cord" strategy of using DirecTV Stream as my primary source of content, supplemented by Locast for the locals I don't get, CW and PBS. I need to figure something out before I wind up going back to DirecTV Sat and get locked in for 2 more years. I'm playing with the idea of putting an antenna in my attic and using the existing cabling to hook it to the TV. Maybe that's a weekend project. We'll see. Won't do anything drastic until the whole thing is settled one way or the other.
I assume you are in NJ by your userhandle, and BTV services both New York and Philly and has PBS stations. (It is a recent addition as a of year or so ago, as initially it lacked PBS stations). The parent company negotiated with the stations for transmission, unlike Locast. It's spotty with CW and MyNetwork, and doesn't have the Weigel owned networks (MeTV, Decades, etc.) but it has agreements for Cozi, getTV and Antenna TV broadcasts from the local markets. And a few digitnets like NewsNet, a low budget news network, and California Music Channel, even though neither are transmitted over the air in Philly.
When I checked it more lately, it also now permits recording on Cozi (from my NBC affiliate WCAU). Originally, Cozi was the only network where there was a message that recording via its cloud DVR wasn't permitting.
Eventually, BTV plans on charging, but right now, it's all free, and has a cloud DVR as well.
LocalBTV - Free Local TV
That's interesting, never heard of it, but, still missing all our network locals including the one main one missing from DirecTV Stream, WPIX (our local CW).Have you tried the Local BTV app?
I assume you are in NJ by your userhandle, and BTV services both New York and Philly and has PBS stations. (It is a recent addition as a of year or so ago, as initially it lacked PBS stations). The parent company negotiated with the stations for transmission, unlike Locast. It's spotty with CW and MyNetwork, and doesn't have the Weigel owned networks (MeTV, Decades, etc.) but it has agreements for Cozi, getTV and Antenna TV broadcasts from the local markets. And a few digitnets like NewsNet, a low budget news network, and California Music Channel, even though neither are transmitted over the air in Philly.
When I checked it more lately, it also now permits recording on Cozi (from my NBC affiliate WCAU). Originally, Cozi was the only network where there was a message that recording via its cloud DVR wasn't permitting.
Eventually, BTV plans on charging, but right now, it's all free, and has a cloud DVR as well.
LocalBTV - Free Local TV
Televes Dat Boss is one of the highly recommended antennas if you are in a "iffy" location.I'm playing with the idea of putting an antenna in my attic and using the existing cabling to hook it to the TV.
Check out the bank account of Joel Osteen. I dont think the amount in the account matters to being a non-profit. Its how the money gets spent.If there are 3 million donors, that's $15 million a month and that would seem to significantly exceed "non-profit" conditions.
Many failing commercial companies are non-profit, but the difference between "for profit" and "not for profit" is what matters. Locast claims they are "not for profit".If there are 3 million donors, that's $15 million a month and that would seem to significantly exceed "non-profit" conditions.
Time to get a SiliconDust HDHomeRun Flex 4K.... maybe. When I moved to my Texas home, I had two rooms hooked up with an antenna backup, but alas, not my home office.
And exactly how little would it take be "non-profit" in your opinion? The non-profit Red Cross has a ~$3 billion annual budget. 501(c)(3) non-profits are allowed to show a net profit as long as that profit is not distributed to private individuals or shareholders. Non-profits are allowed to pay reasonable compensation to employees for services rendered. In Locast's case the net profit is used primarily to expand the service to new areas.If there are 3 million donors, that's $15 million a month and that would seem to significantly exceed "non-profit" conditions.
Myths About Nonprofits
Inurement Private Benefit Charitable Organizations | Internal Revenue Service
The whole Locast thing is perplexing to me. I understand why Broadcasters were against this type of product back 5 to 10 years but today, it could help them. People are turning off Cable and SAT. And the amount of consumers that are savvy enough to put up a good antenna isn't that high.
With Locast, I can watch all my locals, in my local area. If I go buy a $100-$200 portable TV and pull up the big telescoping antenna, i can do that in 50% of my home market. So why are broadcasters against letting me stream it on my 6" mobile phone? They have zero interest in OTA ATSC portable TV's hardware sales.
When I am out of my home market, Locast won't show me my locals. (OK so there are some hacks to do that but the general consumer won't know that. No different than VPN to your home TV box).
I studied the industry years ago. I understand carriage rules but if I can buy a portable TV and do this, why in the world are broadcasters forcing me to do that and not letting me watch it on my mobile phone when I am in my home market? If I can't, I then switch to Netflix, Hulu, and others and not one of them has a local TV plan with my monthly fees. They lose my eyeballs and eyeballs=ratings. They force me to the competitive services. No CBS, I am not paying for Paramount+ either!
With Locast, I can watch all my locals, in my local area. If I go buy a $100-$200 portable TV and pull up the big telescoping antenna, i can do that in 50% of my home market. So why are broadcasters against letting me stream it on my 6" mobile phone? They have zero interest in OTA ATSC portable TV's hardware sales.
When I am out of my home market, Locast won't show me my locals. (OK so there are some hacks to do that but the general consumer won't know that. No different than VPN to your home TV box).
I studied the industry years ago. I understand carriage rules but if I can buy a portable TV and do this, why in the world are broadcasters forcing me to do that and not letting me watch it on my mobile phone when I am in my home market? If I can't, I then switch to Netflix, Hulu, and others and not one of them has a local TV plan with my monthly fees. They lose my eyeballs and eyeballs=ratings. They force me to the competitive services. No CBS, I am not paying for Paramount+ either!
According to the judge that is part of the problem.And exactly how little would it take be "non-profit" in your opinion? The non-profit Red Cross has a ~$3 billion annual budget. 501(c)(3) non-profits are allowed to show a net profit as long as that profit is not distributed to private individuals or shareholders. Non-profits are allowed to pay reasonable compensation to employees for services rendered. In Locast's case the net profit is used primarily to expand the service to new areas
The court found that Locast's policy of expanding into new markets runs contrary to the aim of a non-profit, where cash should be used to cover running costs only. Judge Louis Stanton said that the cash raised from Locast's $5-per-month (don't call it a) subscription was being used to bankroll further expansion and earned "far more money from user charges than was necessary."
To try to keep people from leaving the Cable and Sat plans and keep those carriage fees coming in. Without cable and sat carriage fees those local affiliates are going to lose a lot of money. Not that I feel sorry for them.The whole Locast thing is perplexing to me. I understand why Broadcasters were against this type of product back 5 to 10 years but today, it could help them. People are turning off Cable and SAT.
The judge's opinion is bogus IMO, I know of no law or even any policy that claims that a non-profit can't grow into new markets.According to the judge that is part of the problem.
I'm sure there will be plenty of appeals to see if it is bogus or not. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know.
What is important is that the money gets spent on something other than lawyers. Building a war chest is often frowned upon.I dont think the amount in the account matters to being a non-profit. Its how the money gets spent.
If you don't think other non-profits maintain legal funds and lawyers on retainer, as well as paying lobbyists to push for or against pertinent legislation, think again. As long as they're not distributing profits to private individuals/shareholders, it's pretty much permitted under the existing IRS 501(c)(3) rules.What is important is that the money gets spent on something other than lawyers. Building a war chest is often frowned upon.
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