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HBO and Apple in Talks for $15/Month Apple TV Streaming Service Launching in April
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This will be good for those people that might want HBO's series - but can save money by subscribing vs paying for them via cable subscription and/or iTunes.
I missed it - but can you just go month to month? IE - Can you subscribe for one month, binge watch and then wait a few months before signing up again. I would think so... And if so - that definitely would make it a viable option if you like their shows.
But to pay every month if you aren't into their programming and/or can't binge watch seems expensive.
I missed it - but can you just go month to month? IE - Can you subscribe for one month, binge watch and then wait a few months before signing up again. I would think so... And if so - that definitely would make it a viable option if you like their shows.
But to pay every month if you aren't into their programming and/or can't binge watch seems expensive.
Actually it is, as they're converging.
Netflix, Hulu and Amazon used to be just content delivery, but have been pumping truckloads of cash into commissioning content. Their total content has also been diminishing as studios start hiking their licensing fees and the distributors vie for exclusivity.
HBO commissioned content, and found of late that their distributors are hindering possible distribution, including customers wanting on-demand access to the full library and not just whatever's scheduled for a few channels.
End result will be all of them having a specialization of content, distributed on-demand via AppleTV and the like. In the meantime, traditional bundlers will be scrambling to keep subscribers to the scheduled programming model.
Hello guys,
Can some one of you identify the model of the TV in every Apple TV advertising?
Would love to know it, from which brand and mode it is???
Can some one of you identify the model of the TV in every Apple TV advertising?
Would love to know it, from which brand and mode it is???
What?! The original Ice Age movie?!? I'm in! Maybe they'll have Short Circuit 2 or Top Gun! 
True Detective was good for 8 episodes, Game of Thrones is alright when you're not waiting 9 months in between new episodes. Outside of that... no thanks for $15/mo.
True Detective was good for 8 episodes, Game of Thrones is alright when you're not waiting 9 months in between new episodes. Outside of that... no thanks for $15/mo.
Keep waiting, you'll never get it. Why would they add a channel for a service they already offer through iTunes?
Not a bad deal if I can watch Game of Thrones and they always have decent movies through HBO On Demand, I'd sign up.
Days ago we re-cut the U-verse service, back to straight internet service. Suddenly m'lady wants ABC (missing the finale of The Bachelor sent her into orbit), which delays non-subscriber streaming for a week. (No, we can't get _any_ OTA channels.)
Will be nice when the major networks follow HBO's lead.
Will be nice when the major networks follow HBO's lead.
I agree, but that wasn't what I was referring to. HBO GO is original content focused and even though the others are content creators now, their business model still revolves around libraries and acquiring streaming rights. Netflix will never has as many originals as it does sourcing other companies content. That is their breadwinner.
She can watch it online for free though. Unless she needs that immediacy, 24 hours is a reasonable wait period for free content.
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$8/month, or Netflix's price for "1 SD screen" ("2 HD screens" costs $9/month), won't stay at that level forever, although it probably won't start at HBO's $15 level either.
Netflix is evolving into HBO, with increased original programming, with classic titles from other studios and networks for more value.
As other studios and networks increase price, Netflix will counter with higher subscription and/or reduced contents from other studios and networks.
For the record, there were people who scoffed at me when I said that HBO's price point would be about $15/month for ala carte.
HBO as a standalone cable subscription channel costs $30/month on Verizon FIOS in my area. Granted, that price comes down if you bundle it with other premium channels, but $8 is far lower than what the average cable/satellite subscriber pays for it.
HBO offers movies as well. Typically more recent and better ones than Netflix does; although fewer and for a shorter time.
Too Pricey
The most you'll pay for HBO by itself on DirecTV is something like $14 or $15/month, which includes HBO Go. And if you subscribe to more premium channels (Starz, Showtime), it's even less.
To the commenter about Cinemax...we all know what Cinemax is good for, so this is basically just for one channel.
To the commenter who said Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime were channels...you're wrong. I would argue though that HBO has better content than Netflix and Amazon Prime combined, especially if this service offers every episode from every show they've ever aired...
The most you'll pay for HBO by itself on DirecTV is something like $14 or $15/month, which includes HBO Go. And if you subscribe to more premium channels (Starz, Showtime), it's even less.
To the commenter about Cinemax...we all know what Cinemax is good for
, so this is basically just for one channel. To the commenter who said Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime were channels...you're wrong. I would argue though that HBO has better content than Netflix and Amazon Prime combined, especially if this service offers every episode from every show they've ever aired...
The day you can watch Showtime shows on HBO will be when you can compare Netflix to HBO. Netflix will always be a library, no matter the amount of original content they create. Unless HBO beefs up and starts acquiring outside streaming content and rights from other providers, they aren't on the same level.
Already pay a lot for Comcast Xfinity with the 300 GB monthly cap. I don't think $15.00 a month for HBO via AppleTV is in the cards.
After we CTC, our habits actually changed a bit, we're really focused on the 10-12 shows we watch (that are split across different parts of the year, or we're watching complete series via Netflix), and all the incidental "let's turn on the TV and _hunt_ for something to watch" kind of disappeared.
Actually feels pretty good.
true, habits will change when CTC happens, however, there is still a part of me that likes it when a channel picks what I watch, e.g. when TBS picks what "The Big Bang Theory" re-run I watch when I'm exhuasted and don't feel like picking an episode nor have the time to invest in longer duration programming
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This is expensive, but still less than I pay for HBO now. But as much as I like using the Apple TV to watch shows and movies, it's still too difficult to fast-forward or rewind, especially if you're used to using the 'replay' button on remotes that just go back 5 or 10 seconds. So I'm sticking with HBO from my DirecTV. If it were cheaper than $15, I'd be more likely to switch.
why should i? the point of good customer service is to woo customers. if they're hoping that 'some people' (being me and the countless other who mention this annoyance in countless other discussions) aren't going to notice that they can stream a show right after broadcast for free, and yet can't get HBO's (paid for) stream of Friday night's show until Sunday (not a day off for everyone, mind you) - then they haven't really got all their ducks in a row, now have they?
if they want my money, they'll have to put their entire catalog on the service, stream new shows in less than 12 hrs, and not have so many dropped signals/ loading screens.
because as it stands, and for failing to meet the criteria i just mentioned, HBO GO is a gimped, barely-there service. they're going to have to do better than just cutting the cord. do you actually have HBO GO, by any chance? it's a big disappointment at best. there are only so many schlocky 80s flicks one can stomach. their A-Z list never changes, and i don't believe there are more than about 100 movies total. maybe 10% watchable. it's not "Cable HBO crammed into an app", if that's what you and others are thinking.
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