Reshaping Copyright Law's Contours Isn't Aereo's Only Problem. There's the Electric Bill Too.

The unseen part of the digital economy is how much power it takes for Google and Amazon and Facebook and Netflix to be available to us all the time, whenever we want. Aereo, one of the streaming services retransmitting broadcast TV over the Internet, also faces a huge electrical bill. The Wall Street Journal estimates that 90,000-135,000 subscribers in New York City could cost Aereo $2 million a year. The Journal further reports: "Power is 'one of the biggest challenges' the company faces, [CEO Chet] Kanojia said, adding that one option he is considering is getting off the grid and generating power using fuel cells."

Broadcasters are challenging Aereo's streaming service in the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing it is infringing their copyrights in their programming.