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HBO Wont Share Content With Netflix
'There is value in exclusivity,' says HBO's Kessler
HBO hasn't exactly warmed to the broadband-driven Internet video revolution. Over the years they've been accused of poisoning copies of their TV shows available for download via BitTorrent, petitioned the FCC to make DVR recording of subscription video-on demand illegal, and even hinted at possibly suing Slingbox for allowing the re-transmission of their content. Now as Netflix streaming gains in popularity, HBO Co-President Eric Kessler tell Bloomberg the company has no intention of letting Netflix gain access to HBO content:
quote:
"There is value in exclusivity," Kessler said in an interview. Consumers "are willing to pay a premium for high quality, exclusive content," he said...HBO's stand prevents Los Gatos, California-based Netflix from gaining online access to titles from all of the major studios. Netflix members can see films from Walt Disney Co. and Sony Pictures Entertainment online through a deal between the subscription movie service and Liberty Media Corp.'s Starz channel, which has separate accords with both studios.
While that's certainly HBO's right, it's possible they could stand to make more money collaborating with Netflix than competing with them. HBO's of course protecting their new broadband-video service HBO Go. HBO Go is only available to customers whose ISP or cable provider have struck an arrangement with the company -- and right now, only Comcast and Verizon have.

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puck0114
join:2005-12-24
Portland, OR

2 recommendations

puck0114

Member

HBO was kinda cool 20 years ago...

... but these days their content is overpriced for what it is.