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Tech company Aereo moves out of LIC base, heads to Manhattan

Aereo move-out
Photo via Twitter/@Aereo

Technology startup Aereo is leaving its Long Island City headquarters for a bigger space in Manhattan, the company announced Friday.

“Moving day! We’ve outgrown our space in #LIC. Heading across the river to new digs. We love ‘ya #Queens!” Aereo posted on its Twitter account Dec. 20, along with a photo of its packed up office.

Launched last February, Aereo enables customers to view live and recorded broadcast TV on Internet-connected devices.

The company, sued by major broadcasters for copyright infringement, is undergoing a legal battle that may go to the US Supreme Court.

“We are unwavering in our belief that Aereo’s technology falls squarely within the law and we look forward to continuing to delight our customers,” Founder and CEO Chet Kanojia said in a statement last Thursday.

The company’s Twitter account said more updates on the expansion are coming soon.

The growing online TV service company was based out of 37-18 Northern Boulevard in Long Island City and has another headquarters in Boston. It also maintains an office and operations facility in Brooklyn, an Aereo spokesperson said.

The company, which employs more than 100 people, is expanding its national presence and launched in Baltimore this week.

A leader in the Queens technology community said the move might have been caused by the lack of affordable commercial office space in Long Island City.

“That’s something we need for the tech community to grow here,” said Jukay Hsu, founder of Coalition for Queens. “They’re an extremely innovative and fast-growing tech company. I know they were looking for more space. Unfortunately, they couldn’t find it here in Long Island City.”

Coalition for Queens is a nonprofit, looking to transform the borough into a leading hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

“I’m very sad to see them to go. They’re a great company, really forward thinking. We would have loved to keep them here in Queens,” Hsu said.

 

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