Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I just noticed that Sling TV has HBO now. I thought Apple had the exclusive. How can they do that?
 
I also have been much more inclined to sign up for HBO, Netflix, and Hulu through Apple due to how easy it is to cancel at will.
I prefer to subscribe to services like Hulu (currently have that) and Netflix (don't use that ATM) directly through their web pages. Cancelling is just as easy. As much as I like Apple, they are already the richest company on the planet and I'd rather give those 15% to the guys who actually do the work. ;) But it seems it's currently not possible to subscribe to HBO Now directly through HBO.
 
I prefer to subscribe to services like Hulu (currently have that) and Netflix (don't use that ATM) directly through their web pages. Cancelling is just as easy. As much as I like Apple, they are already the richest company on the planet and I'd rather give those 15% to the guys who actually do the work. ;) But it seems it's currently not possible to subscribe to HBO Now directly through HBO.

Ever try canceling Hulu? Sure they let you through the web, but you have to answer several questions and a last ditch sales pitch/put account on hold. I want to be one click and done.
I also usually get discounted iTunes cards at grocers for 70-80 cents on the dollar, so money talks.
 
$9.99 as it is through Comcast I believe is much more sensible, and I think it's worth that much. I'd be interested in a $29 bundle for all the major premium channels.

Maybe it depends on where you are at, but comcast regular charge for hbo is $20 here, but they usually have some special going on. I'm currently paying $5 a month for hbo.

Once this deal ends, I will probably get hbo now during GoT times.
 
$14.99 x 0.15 = $2.25 to Apple

If you don't think DirecTV, Comcast, TWC, DISH, and all others aren't making a load more, and HBO getting less than the $12.74 they get from the Apple deal now, then I have some nice wetlands in Arizona to sell you.

This deal has put a shot across the bow of the cable and satellite establishment. In 5-10 years, we'll look back and know that 2015 was when it all changed.
 
What? You mean the Comcast sales guy I talked to who said Comcast sells us cable content AT THEIR COST except for the channels they own (NBC/Universal stuff) was lying to me? Color me shocked! :p
 
Looking forward to something solely on Apple TV as I already own an AppleTV for each TV in my home. Not having to be tied to a cable outlet and only relying on Power and Wi-fi is great.

However, hoping the broadband companies can keep pace. Likely we will see the cost of Highspeed internet continue to rise, but overall it has to be cheaper than my DirecTV+Cox Highspeed service now.
 
Perhaps if they had been as flexible with %s with publishers, they wouldn't have gotten into the trouble they did over iBooks.

I'm surprised it's this low - but then again, content providers aren't going to give up the revenue and didn't "need" Apple TV. It definitely helps, but there are so many streaming options, I am sure they didn't feel the need to undercut themselves.
 
wow! How the hell they got HBO on board with those margins is shocking.

Seriously? It says right there in the article how Apple got HBO on board: "Whether Apple is charging 15 percent or 30 percent a month, it's giving distributors a much better deal than the 50 percent that pay TV providers usually charge premium networks like HBO"
 
The article states that cable companies take 50%, not just 15-30%. Apple is giving HBO a big discount to what it is used to

----------



Exactly what people with cable or satellite can do now

Silly you for assuming people actually read the articles, it is easier to see a new thread and post a comment complaining or bashing apple for some reason
 
Seriously? It says right there in the article how Apple got HBO on board: "Whether Apple is charging 15 percent or 30 percent a month, it's giving distributors a much better deal than the 50 percent that pay TV providers usually charge premium networks like HBO"

Silly you for assuming people actually read the articles, it is easier to see a new thread and post a comment complaining or bashing apple for some reason

I clearly read it... the first line :p
 
Anything that hastens the death of cable as we know it and I am for it.

Cut my cable 5 years ago now. I have learned to cobble together Netflix, Apple TV Movies/TV shows and a over the air local channels. However, I still pay the cable company for internet access and they just suck - not reliable, speeds not as advertised, etc.

Apple will certainly help bring new ways of getting content (on demand, subscription, bundles, etc). But what I want most is a reliable internet connection. Having a choice of only one where I live guarantees that I don't get what I want. We need a monopoly breaker.
 
Seriously? It says right there in the article how Apple got HBO on board: "Whether Apple is charging 15 percent or 30 percent a month, it's giving distributors a much better deal than the 50 percent that pay TV providers usually charge premium networks like HBO"

HBO is surely going to be paying a lot to their streaming partner to get the data to all of their new customers, and any time there is a hiccup, Apple will say it's a problem with HBO's service. Apple gets the 15% with no risk or additional requirements on support.
HBO gets access to millions of new customers they otherwise wouldn't, so whatever the exact cost (15% + streaming backend), the numbers potentially eclipse the 50%+ they were letting the cable companies take, even though the cable companies fulfill the backend, as it were.

FiOS here just started a HBO free until the end of June promotion. Trying to get people hooked on the new shows so they will continue.
Normal price is $19.99, but $9.99 for the first year for new subscriptions.
 
Better for HBO to make something than nothing when you consider the piracy rates for GoT.

Well, piracy would be lower of they charged less. That's what happened to music. When they stopped ripping people off with overpriced CDs, we started buying the songs we wanted for a buck or whatever. Happiness ensued. Piracy went way down. Amazing.

Piracy goes away with FAIR prices for your stuff.

As for apples "rake"....wow, they get 15% for doing absolutely nothing. Any of the streaming boxes could have handled this deal and prolly done it for less too. Whatever though.
 
Let me state up front that I have cut the cord myself. Get my broadcast stations OTA here in Austin and have Netflix/Hulu Plus. Got rid of a big monthly TWC bill.

HOWEVER... this is not a model that can work. Each and every customer receiving streaming video adds to bandwidth demands. That is NOT the case with Cable TV - only one signal goes out over the network regardless of how many people are tuned in. But for internet streaming, each stream is unique and demands bandwidth.

Do that math... that simply does not work out if enough people "cut the cord." What we'll find in the end is that either these prices have to rise for the infrastructure to keep pace or cable TV prices will drop or go a-la-carte.

That isn't how modern cable television works.
 
Apple Collects 15% of Revenue Generated From HBO NOW and Other Apple TV Apps

Ever try canceling Hulu? Sure they let you through the web, but you have to answer several questions and a last ditch sales pitch/put account on hold. I want to be one click and done.
I also usually get discounted iTunes cards at grocers for 70-80 cents on the dollar, so money talks.


U can cancel Hulu easily if you subscribe through iTunes as well.

EDIT: I just realized the poster you replied to said he preferred to subscribe directly with the services. I agree with you....ease of cancellation and discount iTunes cards make Apple the better choice for me.
 
Last edited:
/* much better deal than the 50 percent that pay TV providers */

That is a huge margin. Nice to have a monopoly...
 
I just noticed that Sling TV has HBO now. I thought Apple had the exclusive. How can they do that?


I think Apple had "device exclusivity" but SlingTV is a service, not a device, so it may not be included. I believe they are also offering it through some ISPs.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.