Watching live television on an iPad currently has limited options. With a cable subscription, for example, users can stream Disney and ESPN shows. Alternatively, New York City viewers can opt for Aereo (but the networks are suing to shut it down). Enter Dyle, which just launched for Apple’s iOS devices. Dyle, with support from NBC, Fox and other top broadcast groups, has released a free TV app for iOS devices that uses broadcast signals to beam licensed programming to viewers.

“Dyle doesn’t require Wi-Fi or wireless service, because it’s beamed over the same airwaves the TV stations (still) use to send signals to TV sets,” writes Peter Kafka for AllThingsD. “That means you can watch all you want, without worrying about data caps or charges.” However, the app requires a $100 adapter and doesn’t offer much content beyond what’s shown on NBC and Fox stations in Dyle’s 35 cities.

“Dyle doesn’t offer any DVR functions, which means you have to watch in real time or not at all. And you can’t fast-forward through commercials,” notes Kafka. “One of live TV’s biggest selling points is sports. But a rights blackout means you can’t watch NFL games on Dyle.” The service also does not broadcast in HD, so it looks okay on an iPhone, but grainy when blown-up for an iPad screen.

“You can imagine a future where Dyle would make more sense: It would offer TV from all the broadcasters, and the hardware it needs would get built directly into the gadgets themselves; it would also offer features like recording capabilities,” suggests Kafka. “And at that point the Dyle guys could play around with different business models: They could charge a monthly fee for service. Or bundle it for ‘free’ with a cable TV subscription.”