One of the biggest problems cord cutters face is accessing local channels. Over the air antennas can bring in local signals, but they can be hit or miss depending on your location. This issue alone is enough incentive for many to reluctantly hold on to their cable subscriptions. Bamboom is a new startup that may solve this problem. Bamboom will offer
a service that will stream and record local broadcasts, including sports, to internet connected devices.
Bamboom’s technology is quite intriguing. Here’s how it works. Bamboom has developed “really, really tiny” over the air HD antennas that are housed by the hundreds of thousands in a “secure location in your city.” These antennas are “connected to the Cloud by a really big fiber connection and accessible by you from any connected device you choose.” Each user is assigned one of the antennas, and according to Bamboom, “It’s exclusively yours; no one else can use it.” The antenna picks up over the air signals and streams live broadcasts to users. Bamboom also allows its members to record broadcasts to dedicated cloud storage space that can be streamed at any time. Bamboom also integrates a Netflix, Facebook, and Twitter into the user interface.
This model sounds awfully familiar. Remember Zediva, the on-demand streaming movie service? Zediva is trying to bypass DVD distribution restrictions, by setting up a bank of on-site DVD players, renting users the player and the DVD, then streaming new releases to its customers. Needless to say the lawsuits hit the fan. More than likely, Bamboom is going to run into the same problem. However, if Bamboom survives the legal challenges, it could be the missing piece to the cord cutting puzzle.
Related Link: Bamboom takes over-the-air TV over the top – LA Times
