ABC Adding Local Live Streaming Via iOS App

Broadcast television's slow but seemingly inexorable move from over-the-air to Internet distribution received another major boost this week with the announcement from ABC of a new "live" feature that will be added to its mobile app.

Starting on Tuesday, viewers in New York and Philadelphia will have the ability to watch ABC's full programming line-up live through the network's Watch ABC iOS app.

"This announcement represents a defining moment in technology and distribution, as well as for our advertising and affiliate partners, as we ensure that our high-quality content is available to viewers on a variety of devices," Anne Sweeney, president of Disney/ABC Television Group, said in a statement. "Our mission with this special preview is to gather key learnings about the service and the consumers who utilize it."

However, free open mobile access will only work during a trial period lasting until July 1, after which users will need to be authenticated via their local cable or satellite providers. Restricting access to ABC's live mobile functionality to pay-television viewers may seem odd, especially since ABC's signal is free over the air to anyone with an antenna, but the move is likely inspired by the emergence of services like Aereo.

Aereo, which is backed by IAC Chairman Barry Diller, manufactures tiny HDTV antennas and then stores the content they capture on remote servers. Aereo currently serves a single market - New York City - and provides access to NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, the CW, and other local channels. Users can record shows, and don't need to purchase or install any equipment.

In March 2012, Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Television, Univision, PBS, two local New York TV stations, ABC, Disney, CBS, NBCUniversal, Universal Network Television, and Telemundo sued Aereo for copyright infringement. In essence, the TV stations believe Aereo will cost them money. But they also voiced concern about unfair competition and piracy.

In July, a New York judge ruled that Aereo could continue operating while the court battle played out. Earlier this month, the appeals court upheld the lower court ruling, paving the way for Aereo to expand to other markets, including Boston this month.

In response, several networks - like CBS and News Corp. - have threatened to pull their networks off the air and convert them to paid stations.

But no matter how the Aereo situation shakes out, ABC's move to take control of its live streaming future could serve as the first in a series of traditional networks finally embracing live distribution of their programming to mobile devices. ABC also plans to roll out its Watch ABC live streaming feature to other markets this summer including Los Angeles, Chicago, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, San Francisco and Fresno, California, and Houston.

For now, the functionality will be limited to iOS devices, but the network promises that the live feature will also soon be available for Samsung Galaxy devices and the Kindle Fire.

For more, check out Aereo: Everything You Need to Know.