There are a lot of options for watching TV on the go, but none of them are very comprehensive. You can download your favorite shows, but you need to pay for each one. You can stream your favorite shows, but not all are available. You can use a place-shifting device like a Slingbox, but that requires hardware and usually takes over your cable or satellite tuner while you're watching.
NimbleTV will try to address all of those issues with its software service for watching TV online.
NimbleTV acts like a place-shifting service, accessing all available channels and streaming them online. It's similar to Aereo because it takes live content and lets you access it from a computer or mobile device. However, while Aereo is limited to broadcast content, and has been involved in a legal battle concerning whether it can stream broadcast television, NimbleTV will attempt to sidestep those problems by linking the service to cable subscriptions. Instead of just paying NimbleTV for the service like with Aereo, you have to pay for a cable subscription first, then an additional charge to NimbleTV for the place-shifting and DVR service. In return, you can access any channel available from your cable provider on your computer or mobile device, and have access to unlimited DVR storage in NimbleTV's cloud servers.
According to the New York Times, NimbleTV will launch a pilot program in New York City this summer, which will let users buy satellite service. Beta testing begins today, with NimbleTV paying for 26 channels itself and not requiring a subscription package for testers. NimbleTV is backed by the Tribune Company, owner of 23 TV stations, as well as Greycroft Partners and Tribeca Venture Partners, two venture capital firms.
Like Aereo, the testing of NimbleTV could invite lawsuits from television distributors and networks, despite its incorporation of service subscriptions. Place-shifting and transferring television content onto other devices has been disputed between content providers, manufacturers, and users ever since the technology first emerged, and the future of streaming TV depends on how these services and similar products are affirmed or limited in the courts.
For more information about watching TV content on your PC, read PCMag's guide to the best ways to stream your media.
