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HBO On Broadband
600 titles, with several restrictions

HBO hasn't exactly warmed to the broadband-driven living room revolution. They've been accused of poisoning copies of their TV shows available for download via BitTorrent. They've petitioned the FCC to make DVR recording of subscription video-on demand illegal. They've hinted at possibly suing Slingbox for allowing the re-transmission of their content. All this while failing to offer their own legitimate broadband solution.

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Tomorrow that will change, although initially in limited markets. There's a few caveats however: you must already be an HBO subscriber, you must get broadband service from your cable provider, and the service is only initially being launched in Milwaukee or Green Bay in cooperation with Time Warner Cable. HBO on broadband will provide 600 titles every month, though HBO has not stated when they plan to expand the service to additional areas.

We first heard about the project back in 2006, but its 2007 launch was delayed due to unspecified technical problems.
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

inteller

Member

must already be an HBO subscriber

Strike 1 2 and 3 you're out!

YOU FAILED IT!
Jonbo298
join:2004-01-12
Council Bluffs, IA

Jonbo298

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

Yep, flawed logic on this one. Companies like HBO who are stuck in the 80's will die a slow death at this rate. Internet is here to stay. It's not going anywhere. Adapt, or be run over.

OSUGoose
join:2007-12-27
Columbus, OH

OSUGoose

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

that and you must have cable internet. man how much did TWC pay HBO on that one.
ashworth7
join:2001-10-06
Pittsburgh, PA

ashworth7

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

Time Warner owns HBO (I think)....don't have cable internet, but do have HBO and cable TV....oh well, maybe next time.
wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Miami, FL

wierdo to inteller

Member

to inteller
So you think that HBO shouldn't charge for their content, when they've successfully demonstrated that enough people find enough value in it to pay the price they ask?

I do think that it's silly that they have no means for satellite subscribers to access the service, and that they require that you use the cable company's Internet service, if you're using cable.

I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with access control. After all, HBO subscribers don't get let in on some secret handshake.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

said by wierdo:

So you think that HBO shouldn't charge for their content, when they've successfully demonstrated that enough people find enough value in it to pay the price they ask?

I do think that it's silly that they have no means for satellite subscribers to access the service, and that they require that you use the cable company's Internet service, if you're using cable.

I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with access control. After all, HBO subscribers don't get let in on some secret handshake.
And what are Cox customers supposed to do? Cox is looking at implementing caps and Comcast has super secret caps on their service. A few movies and some Netflix here and there and there goes your bill straight up.
wierdo
join:2001-02-16
Miami, FL

wierdo

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

said by moonpuppy:

And what are Cox customers supposed to do? Cox is looking at implementing caps
I'll believe it when I see it. They have had "caps" for years, but they've never been enforced except against the most egregious of bandwidth hogs. (I know a few people who probably deserved it but were never hassled)
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: must already be an HBO subscriber

»Verizon, Industry Comment On Time Warner Cable Plans [97] comments

Looks like other people have figured it out.

phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Winter Park, FL

phattieg to wierdo

Member

to wierdo
Well, if they didn't use the Cable providers internet, then how would HBO know you were a customer? If I was providing a premium service, I wouldn't just "take your word for it". The arrangement is there so they can pull the content the minute you say "I'm done with HBO". If you had a national "come to us with anyones service", then you'd have lots of people getting free HBO because nobody would tell the vendor the bill is no longer being paid...
boober321
join:2003-07-15
Milwaukee, WI

boober321 to inteller

Member

to inteller
The only reason I have HBO is for Real Time with Bill Mahr. If they outlaw or take away my ability to record the show and watch it later, I'd just drop them completely. Screw HBO!

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to inteller

Premium Member

to inteller
I cancelled HBO when they nixed lucky louie.
theres just not enough content on HBO worth watching, let alone pay $14 a month extra for!
Scoot_NJ
join:2007-09-25
Budd Lake, NJ

Scoot_NJ

Member

HBO has ALWAYS been anti-newtech

I remember the battles in the 80's to be able to subscribe to HBO via big satellite dishes.

Not all that unusual..HBO is Time-Warner.

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI

Nightfall

MVM

Re: HBO has ALWAYS been anti-newtech

said by Scoot_NJ:

I remember the battles in the 80's to be able to subscribe to HBO via big satellite dishes.

Not all that unusual..HBO is Time-Warner.
Name me one company that has been open to this kind of technology. I can't think of one in the TV programming business.
Scoot_NJ
join:2007-09-25
Budd Lake, NJ

Scoot_NJ

Member

Re: HBO has ALWAYS been anti-newtech

Once the VideoCipher II came into play, TONS of programers were interested in selling subscriptions. The much lamented Sunday Ticket due to it's only being available via DirecTV currently got it's start on C-Band Sat. The NFL embraced us with open arms!!!

At one point, C-Band subscriptions made the market a virtual cable system with more subscribers than any single cable operator.
jtel
join:2005-06-28
Bristol, RI

jtel to Nightfall

Member

to Nightfall
said by Nightfall:

Name me one company that has been open to this kind of technology. I can't think of one in the TV programming business.
Vongo. Vongo is owned by Starz. I thought Starz was owned by a cable co consortium.

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

A trial here, a trial there, we'll make more money somewhere

So, in TX, they will be testing the new "over 5Gb - charge by the GB" internet plans, justified by the "network abusers" downloading too much. And elsewhere they'll be giving users the new option to download up to 600 HBO movies a month.

Nothing like charging more to cure a problem you created.

wolverine_99
Premium Member
join:2004-12-07
Mckinney, TX

wolverine_99

Premium Member

Re: A trial here, a trial there, we'll make more money somewhere

In the future, they will get to double dip. 1) for being a HBO subscriber and 2) for going over your monthly download cap. How convenient. Does HBO have anything worthwhile? Besides Entourage & Curb Your Enthusiasm, is it really worth the extra money for the "new" release movies? I can think of better things to do with my time and money.

badtrip
Premium Member
join:2004-03-20

badtrip

Premium Member

Re: A trial here, a trial there, we'll make more money somewhere

said by wolverine_99:

Besides Entourage & Curb Your Enthusiasm, is it really worth the extra money for the "new" release movies?
Entourage isn't as good as it used to be but Curb is getting better (last season was good). Flight of the Conchords is why I'm keeping my HBO subscription.

However, I think it's crazy that Time Warner is doing this considering they are implementing 40GB DL caps at the same time. They must really want to see this fail...

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

Re: A trial here, a trial there, we'll make more money somewhere

Have you seen any hard facts from TW about the 40Gb cap? The only thing I've seen is a speculation based on canadian telco plan, where it ranged from 5Gb up depending on the connection speed.

rkrocha
join:2000-09-23
Garland, TX

rkrocha

Member

Re: A trial here, a trial there, we'll make more money somewhere

Didnt you know that anything DL'd from Time Warner doesnt count against the caps?
axus
join:2001-06-18
Washington, DC

axus

Member

HBO on broadband

heh, how can someone complain about them poisoning torrents... they are allowed to make derivative works and share them.

They should stick to their current formula, of attracting premium dollars from people who define themselves by the quality of television they watch. Those people aren't going to use their broadband service, except for a few that spend a lot of time on business trips.

NBC has a pretty good player, anyone can watch it.. I wish they had more commercials though, and not the same one 5 times.
Pictor Guy
join:2004-06-21
Sammamish, WA

Pictor Guy

Member

Time Warner Culture

Dick Parsons and his minions are so lost that they have become the company that time forgot. We'll see if Bewkes is any better but I wouldn't count on it. The corporate culture is one of 1980's based subscriptions or advertising and they don't know how to think beyond that old dying model. Maybe they should take a queue from companies like Apple and how they applied a halo effect into their strategy but that's not likely.
Rick5
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06

Rick5

Premium Member

Re: Time Warner Culture

said by Pictor Guy:

Dick Parsons and his minions are so lost that they have become the company that time forgot.
You appear to be a bit lost yourself.

Dick Parsons resigned his CEO position last year.

»cbs3.com/business/dick.p ··· 576.html

sansri88
digital is here
Premium Member
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY

1 recommendation

sansri88

Premium Member

Re: Time Warner Culture

Hehe, if you happened to look at his next sentence, it said "We'll see if Bewkes is any better..."
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Make the DVR illegal....

....and watch cable companies lose a ton of money. I know many people that time shift HBO stuff. If they could no longer do this, why even have a DVR? Why pay $12/month for something that can record everything?

This will not end well.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

dadkins

MVM

Poisoned?

If there was anything that I really wanted, it can be obtained without the worry of poisoning.

HBO On Broadband.
Must be a subscriber - this may apply for either transport.

Must have HBO on Cable - LOL! Why would I want it on Broadband then? Comcast has Channel 1 VOD. Anything they got, anytime I want it.

When/if this does expand, sure aint going to go over too well in Comcast-land.

What about all the Sat people? Screw them?

BinaryXtreme6
join:2004-04-20
Sparks, NV

1 recommendation

BinaryXtreme6

Member

Re: Poisoned?

Milwaukee or Green Bay? Ummmm, ok, that just, oh that's right, it's HBO!
amungus
Premium Member
join:2004-11-26
America

amungus

Premium Member

backwards

Sounds like a convoluted step backwards.

Here's how online video should work...

-unlimited viewing, which Netflix finally did.
-access from anywhere that has a fast enough connection
-no drm, because it's a waste of time for both parties and excludes Mac and/or Linux thereby reducing potential viewers
-charge a flat rate if you must. who cares what ISP you have.

This is just silly. So, I have HBO and Cox internet service, but I'll be darned if I couldn't go to a friend's house, a hotel, wherever - who DOESN'T have either Cox, or HBO, and still be able to use this... Where's the incentive to even care about this???

I must say, I'm rather impressed with the quality of video from Netflix. It buffers on occasion, but if/when they increase their streaming selection, it is going to flat out rock.

Heck, I might even cancel HBO at that point.
88615298 (banned)
join:2004-07-28
West Tenness

88615298 (banned)

Member

Give customers what they want

People are willing to give companies like these their money if they would only listen. The NFL is the same way.

See baseball and hockey will allow me to watch their games on my computer. Maybe I don't have a TV or I'm just not willing to fork over $170 for Extra innings or Center Ice. So they charge mess less because of the lesser quality but they stil make money from me.

Charter charges like $13 for HBO. Sorry I'm never going to pay that. Charge me $5 for HBO broadband and offer me the same stuff I can get on cable maybe I'll pay that. It's better have a customer than not.
jtel
join:2005-06-28
Bristol, RI

jtel

Member

Ironic

How ironic that TimeWarner is testing pay per gb plans while at the same time pushing bandwidth intensive services like this.

rkrocha
join:2000-09-23
Garland, TX

1 edit

rkrocha

Member

Re: Ironic

The irony is that Time Warner has lead you to believe it is ironic. Understand that anything that is 'sponsored by' or 'brought to you by' or 'owned by' Time Warner isnt going to count against your cap.

EDIT: Ok, sorry to confuse. This is my prediction. It only makes sense that TW would reward you for DL'ing their content versus the other guys. Hence, no penalty against the cap.
jtel
join:2005-06-28
Bristol, RI

jtel

Member

Re: Ironic

said by rkrocha:

Understand that anything that is 'sponsored by' or 'brought to you by' or 'owned by' Time Warner isnt going to count against your cap.
Where does it say that? The caps are just now being tested.
mikenolan7
Premium Member
join:2005-06-07
Torrance, CA

mikenolan7

Premium Member

Slingbox

What I keep wondering is what kind of teflon is Slingbox wearing? Lots of threats to sue them, yet their product, that does exactly what these guys hate, becomes more and more popular.

NOVA_Guy
ObamaCare Kills Americans
Premium Member
join:2002-03-05

NOVA_Guy

Premium Member

Re: Slingbox

That's because Slingbox isn't doing anything illegal, and HBO and the cable companies know it. There is nothing wrong with time shifting programs (been doing it for years-- first with a VCR, now with DVRs). There is also nothing wrong with place shifting programs.

Let's face it: a Slingbox will only provide you with the ability to stream content that you've already paid for as a subscriber. There is no theft of service happening there. Slingboxes are little more than convenient, high tech versions of taking VCR tapes or video CDs with recorded content from your home to your friend's home and watching them on their TV. (This is not intended to belittle the Slingbox product-- they have an excellent line of tech toys they're selling.)
mikenolan7
Premium Member
join:2005-06-07
Torrance, CA

mikenolan7

Premium Member

Re: Slingbox

So it goes pretty much like this for these big companies: if you are another company, and have actual lawyers and money and can defend yourself we'll just rattle the sabres. If you are a single mom or a college student, open up with the Howitzers.
sphinxguy18
Premium Member
join:2008-01-13
Dallas, TX

sphinxguy18

Premium Member

HBO On Boradband

Well who ever gets it in their area needs to post on what the results are and how everything is working out. Oh and my opinion on the Slingbox Lawsuit, good luck HBO. If your sueing SlingBox, why not Sony on their LocationFree box? It's basically the same exact thing except it's from Sony. I have the LocationFree box from Sony and I use it all the time when I have to work nights @ work. HBO is trying to be like Verizon and sue everyone for stupid things!