Back to the Future: TV Antenna Makes Comeback, Gets Some Static

Rabbit ears are hopping back into the picture.

Several startups are breathing new life into an old technology that relies on antennas to grab over-the-air TV signals. “Rabbit ears, broadcast television: It is a forgotten technology,” Boxee Chief Executive Officer Avner Ronen said in a recent interview. “It is back to the future a little bit.” His company, which makes set-top-box software that delivers on-demand TV, introduced an accessory in January that connects to a small high-definition antenna to access over-the-air broadcast networks (or users can plug in a cable). The Boxee Live TV device is billed as a replacement for cable service. Boxee isn’t alone. Mobile Content Venture (MCV), which is made up of broadcast groups including Fox and NBC, plans to launch a service this year called Dyle that offers live, local TV on the go. The service requires a compatible mobile device, the Dyle app and an antenna. When it debuts this year, MCV says the service will be available from more than 90 stations in 35 markets, and reach more than half the U.S. population.