Big Four Networks Sue Locast

There's nothing illegal about contributors benefiting from their donations to non-profits. Pharmaceutical companies regularly donating to various illness based charities expecting it will increase the sale of their products is just one example. The networks are going to have a hard time proving that Locast exists to benefit the sat and cable providers in negotiating retrans agreements unless they can come up with a paper trail to back that up. That Locast happens to benefit the sat and cable providers along with ordinary viewers is not going to cut it. They'll also have a tough time proving any other benefit to the sat and cable providers, especially in Dish's case where the company takes a subscription price hit when the sat locals are dropped in favor of using Locast. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see the sat and cable companies either directly or indirectly contribute heavily to a Locast defense fund.

Ok, I did say I don't see where that is prohibited, and I still say who knows what a Judge would say. In any case this is small to the rest of my post of why I think the networks have a chance to win in court.
 
If I give $100 to Charity, and in return I get tickets worth $60, I’d better not claim more than $40 for a tax deduction.

BTW, I was shifted to the standard deduction this year, as it was more advantageous than my usual itemized. That happen to anyone else?


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Absolutely, standard deduction worked well...
 
I still paid more than prior year. Even increased withholding did not help enough. Getting close to paying off mortgage has it’s good and bad points. Once done, even with higher taxes, available cash will increase.




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Atsc 3.0 is just a smokescreen to take away free OTA

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If I give $100 to Charity, and in return I get tickets worth $60, I’d better not claim more than $40 for a tax deduction.

BTW, I was shifted to the standard deduction this year, as it was more advantageous than my usual itemized. That happen to anyone else?

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.
Locast is a 501(c)(4) non-profit and donations do not qualify as tax deductions. Very few 501(c)(4) do...
 
Ok, I did say I don't see where that is prohibited, and I still say who knows what a Judge would say. In any case this is small to the rest of my post of why I think the networks have a chance to win in court.

As far as limiting Locast's coverage goes, as long as they're using industry standard geofencing techniques that shouldn't be much of an issue in court. That technically knowledgeable folks can circumvent geofencing is no more relevant than folks with multi-element tower mounted OTA antennas receiving TV signals beyond their stated coverage area. As I've said other times, at our previous home we received TV signals from four different DMA's...
 
Might it be the Networks don't like the idea that geo spoofers can watch games blacked out in the spoofers proper area?

While set top boxes like Roku wouldn't allow it easily, computers and especially those with phone skills can do it.

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Might it be the Networks don't like the idea that geo spoofers can watch games blacked out in the spoofers proper area?

While set top boxes like Roku wouldn't allow it easily, computers and especially those with phone skills can do it.

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Local broadcasters arent blacking out games.

IMO, the sticking points will be:
A) Is Locast making money off the locals? Just because they've said they're a non profit doesnt mean they're not making money.
B) Is Locast modifying the signal they're receiving without permission?

I dont dont have the app, and havent séen it, so I'm not making any claims as to what they're doing. Just saying what I think the sticking points would be based on this thread
 
Might it be the Networks don't like the idea that geo spoofers can watch games blacked out in the spoofers proper area?

While set top boxes like Roku wouldn't allow it easily, computers and especially those with phone skills can do it.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk
Local broadcasters arent blacking out games.

IMO, the sticking points will be:
A) Is Locast making money off the locals? Just because they've said they're a non profit doesnt mean they're not making money.
B) Is Locast modifying the signal they're receiving without permission?

I dont dont have the app, and havent séen it, so I'm not making any claims as to what they're doing. Just saying what I think the sticking points would be based on this thread
 
Might it be the Networks don't like the idea that geo spoofers can watch games blacked out in the spoofers proper area?

While set top boxes like Roku wouldn't allow it easily, computers and especially those with phone skills can do it.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using Tapatalk

No "skills" needed, the apps are readily available. I doubt that the networks are concerned about a small number of geospoofers though. Is geospoofing in this case really any different than putting up a large, tall OTA antenna to get out of market stations that are out of reach for most folks? There's nothing illegal in either case...
 
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The case will center on if Locast is making money outside of the legal ways in which nonprofits are allowed to make money. Making money does not necessarily mean making profits. Girl Scout cookies and fundraisers all manner like auctions, property bequeathed to nonprofit organizations, Etc. The list of money-making possibilities for nonprofits goes on and on. The broadcasters know the only hope they have is to somehow prove that Locast is not truly a qualifying nonprofit entity. That's the only way they can kill Locast because just about any other violation will result in Locast simply be being required by the court to behave accordingly, but can still be up and running, unless the broadcasters can prove significant damages that Locast has no hope of paying.

Here is the thing: I don't really know who is behind and funding Locast. It really could be an individual or some entity who is misusing the nonprofit status to make money or profit. One thing about the Discovery phase is that it's likely to unveil whoever is really behind Locast.
 
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If I give $100 to Charity, and in return I get tickets worth $60, I’d better not claim more than $40 for a tax deduction.

BTW, I was shifted to the standard deduction this year, as it was more advantageous than my usual itemized. That happen to anyone else?


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys App. For now.

TurboTax has recommended standard deduction the past several years. Mortgage interest was too low. Federal returns this year doubled
 
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