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Aereo Can Be a 'Real Lever For Content Distributors' On Retransmission Fees

According to Motley Fool, if Aereo wins in the U.S. Supreme Court, a victory won't just change the contours of copyright law but make the firm "a real lever for content distributors" to affect the market for retransmission fees for cable and satellite companies to carry broadcasters' content. "CBS would be the hardest hit because it commands the largest share of viewers," Gary Bourgeault writes.

On the other hand, broadcasters CBS and Fox are threatening a "reverse lever" by potentially changing to a cable model if the justices authorize the Aereo model of retransmitting broadcast TV programming over the Internet through individualized antennas, Borgeault also writes. That would mean Aereo would be cut out of the free broadcast content.