CBS Threatens To Cut Off Broadcast Signal If Aereo Wins

CBS Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves said the No. 1 rated broadcaster could offer its content directly to consumers over the Internet and cut off its traditional broadcast signal if the Aereo video streaming service is deemed legal.

Major broadcasters are challenging Aereo's use of their television broadcast signals without paying for them. The case will be argued in front of the US Supreme Court in April.

"If Aereo should work, if they should win, which we don't think will happen, we can go OTT with CBS," Moonves said. OTT is short for "over the top," which is industry parlance for offering television over the Internet outside of a pay TV subscription. "If the government wants to give them permission to steal our signal, then we will come up with some other way to get them our content and still get paid for it," he said.

[March 11]