ivi TVAdds L.A. Stations to Internet Service

ivi TV announced today that it has expanded its online TV service to include live station broadcasts from Los Angeles.

The markets now included in ivi TV’s offering are New York City, Seattle and Los Angeles, in addition to international content including Spanish news and variety programming from Intereconomia Business TV, sports programming from Sport Italia, Orange Sport and English language news from China on CCTV9, among others. The basic “ivi Air” package contains all the major broadcast channels for $4.99/mo.

ivi TV’s “virtual set-top box” is a downloadable app that requires no hardware or software upgrades and works on even the most basic laptops, desktops and an increasing number of mobile devices.

ivi TV offers a 30-day free trial to watch live major broadcast channels online, including programming, news, live sports from ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, The CW, PBS, and others from a growing number of local affiliates, all available immediately via ivi TV’s downloadable app.

“ivi TV continues to make good on its promise to give consumers more content and control over their entertainment experience,” said Todd Weaver, ivi TV’s CEO and founder. “Exactly like both the cable and satellite television industries before it, ivi TV is embroiled in the same battle with broadcasters over bogus copyright claims, all the while ivi TV continues to innovate its way into the hearts and minds of consumers who seek to change the status quo.”

ivi TV has drawn the ire and legal fire from the broadcast networks and other program copyright holders for streaming the signals of TV stations and packaging them as a pay TV service.

ivi says that it “restricts its U.S. broadcast service to the United States, fully encrypts and protects all the content it delivers and charges a fee to subscribers for its service. ivi TV also pays the compulsory license fee to the U.S. Copyright Office, which in turn distributes payment to broadcasters, just like 16,000 other cable companies, including AT&T’s U-Verse and Verizon’s FIOS TV. ivi TV operates within the clearly defined and strict provisions of the copyright law providing a compelling service that consumers can feel good about using.”