ABC’s livestreaming TV app comes to Kindle Fire

Following its initial launch on iOS, broadcast television network ABC is bringing its livestreaming app “Watch ABC” to Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD, the company announced today.

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The app itself will bring live TV to the Kindle Fire as it’s broadcast on regular television. It also offers on-demand content from ABC, Disney channel, and ESPN. The actual live feed will be based on the location you’re accessing the content from when you pull up the app; those outside of that coverage area won’t be able to watch. You’ll also need to be a cable or satellite TV subscriber to access the app, meaning you’ll need to authenticate using a login from your TV service provider.

The move is part of an effort by ABC and parent company Disney to thwart upcoming startup Aereo before it gains critical mass in more major cities, as VentureBeat previously reported. Aereo uses tiny antennas to livestream broadcast content to iPads, desktops, Smart TVs, and other connected devices — all without having to pay a licensing fee. So far, federal courts say Aereo’s practices are legal, which understandably makes ABC want to find a solution that cuts them out of the mix.

While the Watch ABC app is available on Kindle Fire, you won’t be able to download it for other Android-based devices. However, the company did say that it’s planning to release a version of the app that will run on Samsung Galaxy devices this summer.