Seems like it's lights out for Locast - at least for now.  This was a non-profit streaming service that offered web-based re-broadcasting of local over-the-air channels. This was a great service because I refuse to rent a cable box to access local channels (in the before times I was able to plug in the cable directly to my TV and watch the local channels, not any longer...), and digital antenna coverage (the "bunny ears") is spotty at times. Having a streaming app that was essentially free (with a little nag about a $5 donation) was great for those few times I wanted to see what was on local TV...

This morning the first email that went out was:

As you probably know, the federal district court in the Southern District of New York issued a ruling in the case brought against Locast by the big media companies.  The court concluded that by interrupting programming to ask users for donations, and by suspending those interruptions based on whether a user makes contributions, Locast actually was charging a fee, not merely seeking a voluntary contribution.  The court then concluded that revenues Locast collects in this manner exceed the cost of operating the service because funds are used to add new markets, rendering Locast ineligible to use the copyright exemption for non-profits (17 U.S.C. 111(a)(5)).

Although we disagree with this interpretation and are exploring our legal options to contest it, out of respect for the court's order,

Locast is suspending immediately all programming interruptions to request donations. 

This means that anyone located in a market we serve who signs up for Locast will get the service without interruption, regardless of whether or not they donate.

Of course, it is up to you whether or not to contribute to Locast.  But if you currently contribute, we humbly request that you continue to do so.  And if you don't contribute, we hope that you will do so if you can afford it. 

Then followed (pretty quickly) by:

As a non-profit, Locast was designed from the very beginning to operate in accordance with the strict letter of the law, but in response to the court’s recent rulings, with which we respectfully disagree, we are hereby suspending operations, effective immediately.  

I guess the legal team advised them to shut down for now. I hope they keep fighting this in the courts...