FilmOn founder Alki David has unveiled a new service “that allows the public to legally watch any free-to-air satellite TV channel … without the need for a contract or a set-top box.”.
The service allows viewers to connect directly to a broadcaster’s satellite and digital over-the-air feeds via their PC or smartphone. People can then watch the channel of their choice live and for free, including channels from mainstream broadcasters in the UK such as ITV, BBC, and Channel 4.
FilmOn is using satellite reception in Switzerland, a country where reception and distribution of any receivable free-to-air signal is allowed. This offers local platforms including Swisscom IPTv and UPC Cablecom to receive and distribute channels including the domestic BBC channels and Channel 4. Now FilmOn also seems to jump on this opportunity and claims staying within all rules and regulations.
FilmOn CEO David said in a statement: “Viewers then receive content via their own unique satellite dish or micro antenna which is assigned to them when they connect to any one of our many European, American, Middle Eastern and soon-to-be-launched Asian antenna farms.”
“This is a game-changer because it gives consumers a great new way to access content which is already freely available to them in their geographical area.”
David added: “FilmOn has updated its technology to ensure it is fully compliant with a recent European Court of Justice ruling that prohibits the retransmission of certain TV channels.”
Rather than offer a retransmission, FilmOn through its Swiss-based subsidiary (FilmOn X) lets viewers control their own unique dish or micro digital antenna in order to tune into the broadcaster’s own transmission to view it in its original format.
Users can also purchase these antennas which are delivered to their home and can be connected to their device by WiFi.
However, FilmOn said it “will respect a broadcaster’s control over where their content is available by ensuring the service respects international boundaries where they are already in force.”