Have you heard of FilmOn? Backed by the UK financier Alki David, it is a free streaming service that allows users access to live streams of several TV stations in Los Angeles delivered to their iPad through the browser. For a little price, the service can get better. So, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, among others, are all available to users who are ready to shell out $9.95 per month for a basic package. And those with the premium package ($24.95 per month) can watch movie channels on a pay-per-view basis. The XXX station does not have free access.

David is understood to have issued a statement saying, “FilmOn is currently in negotiations with all major cable providers and plans to provide complete syndicated cable television services throughout the U.S. in 2011.”

Other cable channel feeds currently available include audio-only feeds from:

• Sky News
• BBC News
• CNN International
• Dubai Sport

For users who want to avail of the service but do not own an iPad can do so but will have a limited selection of four major broadcast networks. Users have the option of viewing the streams either on their browsers or on a FilmOn-recommended player available to download.

So, are the TV networks going to bear the brunt of this free streaming service lying down? We hear networks in US have filed a law suit against FilmOn and another similar service Ivi TV that streams broadcasts from network affiliates in New York and Seattle. The two service providers, however, feel they have not overstepped their rights and feel an interpretation of FCC rules allows secondary transmission of broadcast signals. The networks, however, are not in the mood to relent. Watch this space for more.

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