HBO Shows Now Available in HD on iTunes
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
mdelvecchio
macrumors 68040
that takes care of the retailer's markup, yes. but surely the cost of packing (materials, ink, production), plus the cost of the media (materials, duplication), plus the cost of transport (drivers, fuel, insurance) are higher than the cost of dropping a few files into itunes' data center.
this is why Netflix is also moving to online -- it's cheaper, and they can make more money.
Jerome Morrow
macrumors 6502a
Indeed it was amazing. Top notch series.
stefmesman
macrumors 6502
here they call 720p HD and 1080p Full HD
Oh goodie
Can someone please give me some more info on how I might be able to pay more than twice the amount of a years subscription on one season of one stinking show ?
Cause ..I'm an Apple crazed lunatic frothing at the mouth to give Steve Jobs all my money without thinking.
I have no concept of value and was thinking about throwing two $20 dollar bills into the street ...............But HEY ....I can buy these overpriced shows to fill up gigs on my iPad .....FOR NO REASON
Yaaaaaaeeeyyy !
I think you'd be better off if someone geve you more info on how to forge a productive, meaningful life for yourself, and those other questions will answer themselves. For instance, once you move out of your parents' basement and start paying your own cable bill, you'll notice that HBO costs $200-$300 a year, not $20-$30 a year as you seem to think, and their shows have historically had very lo-o-o-ong hiatuses, so if you're only subscribing to HBO for two or three of their shows, it's probably cheaper in the long run to buy them, even at iTunes prices.
And once you move to an actual multi-room dwelling with - gasp - maybe a spouse and kids, you'll find quite a bit of value to having your content readily available on multiple devices, and not tethered to an optical disc and whatever TV you happen to have a Blu-Ray player connected to.
And most of all, once you have elevated your existence from shut-in to productive, dignified human being, you'll understand that your time on this earth is actually valuable, and you'll become more annoyed by the time-wasting nonsense that comes with watching Blu-Ray discs: loading up discs, cueing up partially-watched episodes, navigating menus, sitting through interminable and unskippable content (trailers, merchandise commercials, piracy warnings, and my personal favorite, commentary track disclaimers). And you'll realize - again, keep in mind that your time will be actually worth something in this scenario - that you might even be willing to pay a little extra to avoid all that.
nutmac
macrumors 603
Although per-episode pricing is fundamentally broken ($3.99 for HD?!), per season pricing fares much better in comparison to physical media.
For instance,
Rome: $29.90-35.88/season for HD ($19.90-23.88 for SD) vs. $39.99/season for Blu-Ray on Amazon ($31.49-31.99 for DVD)
True Blood: $39.99/season for HD ($29.99 for SD) vs. $41.99-45.99/season for Blu-Ray on Amazon ($29.99 for DVD)
That said, what's bothersome is lack of rental option. For instance, while I loved Game of Thrones, it's unlikely that I would watch the same episodes again. I would like to see three things to happen: (1) every titles should be available for purchase and rental, (2) improve rental term (unlimited viewing window, but cap to 2-3 maximum rental at a time), and (3) HD should be priced at SD level.
For instance,
Rome: $29.90-35.88/season for HD ($19.90-23.88 for SD) vs. $39.99/season for Blu-Ray on Amazon ($31.49-31.99 for DVD)
True Blood: $39.99/season for HD ($29.99 for SD) vs. $41.99-45.99/season for Blu-Ray on Amazon ($29.99 for DVD)
That said, what's bothersome is lack of rental option. For instance, while I loved Game of Thrones, it's unlikely that I would watch the same episodes again. I would like to see three things to happen: (1) every titles should be available for purchase and rental, (2) improve rental term (unlimited viewing window, but cap to 2-3 maximum rental at a time), and (3) HD should be priced at SD level.
I stopped buying DVDs years ago when I realized how convenient buying them in iTunes was and still is. About three years ago, I had finished buying the X-Files on DVD. I was missing the last four seasons I think. I came home with the expectation that I would rip each episode and tag them and put them in iTunes. I think I got through the first three season of doing this and gave up. When the complete series became available on iTunes, I bought all nine seasons and haven't touched the DVDs since. Those were the last DVDs I bought and regret doing so.
It's all about convenience and saving time and having what I want to watch anywhere I want, even in another state.
miamialley
macrumors 68040
Or you can save $70 and watch it on Netflix.
...and not in HD.
Unfortunately, only past seasons.
I wish. No current seasons for HBO/Showtime and no sports are keeping me from pulling the plug too.
Oh goodie
Can someone please give me some more info on how I might be able to pay more than twice the amount of a years subscription on one season of one stinking show ?
Cause ..I'm an Apple crazed lunatic frothing at the mouth to give Steve Jobs all my money without thinking.
I have no concept of value and was thinking about throwing two $20 dollar bills into the street ...............But HEY ....I can buy these overpriced shows to fill up gigs on my iPad .....FOR NO REASON
Yaaaaaaeeeyyy !
Not sure what planet you live on, but HBO costs $20-$30 per months - not per year. If I buy True Blood for $40 a season, Dexter for $35, and Weeds for $35 I have come out ahead by about $250 a year.
It's not about being a "crazed lunatic frothing at the mouth" over Apple. It's about paying for what I want and not paying extra for crap I do not watch. It's obscene that I have to upgrade two packages from Comcast just to get Comcast Sports Net and Versus to watch my local teams.
Once they switch to an à la carte-type pricing - which they NEVER will - I will downgrade and pay for only what I watch.
CapnJackGig
macrumors 6502a
Will not pay extra for HD. HD is the standard now, not the exception. I also wont be paying an HBO tax. None of their shows are worth 3.99 an episode.
I wouldn't buy whole seasons, but it's an option for people who usually watch the broadcast but miss an episode here and there.
----------
This is so bang on! Exactly what I told Bell when I cancelled them earlier this year. They better wake up and realize ppl want to pay for what they are watching and not pay extra for the crap. I gladly paid for the Breaking Bad season b/c it's what i want to watch. The best shows on TV, imho, are on HBO and AMC. Unfortunately here in Canada, you can't just buy those channels - you have to buy the other junk (which is also more expensive). I get why they do that (advertising, commercials blah blah blah), but that model is dead, dead, dead.
I'd rather pay x amount directly for the content I want to watch.
We cancelled TV right after the Superbowl and I honestly don't miss it. We didn't watch alot before, but what I watch now is what i want instead of vegging in front of the tv watching whatever to justify the cost.
I so don't miss TV and my iPad and 2nd monitor have become my 'TVs'.
I'm very happy that the episodes are available. I would be happier if I could just rent them b/c as others have said, I don't re-watch a series. I don't have the time or the gumption.
I'm really taking the Kenny Chesney "Don't Blink" song to heart these days. You don't have to be a country fan to listen to what he's saying. Life goes by too fast for me to sit around and watch a show twice
I have better things to do Cheers,
Keebler
Nothing I'm interested in.
Deadwood, Carnivale, The Sopranos are my top 3 favorite HBO programs.
Carnivale did such a great job of pacing in the first season. It's too bad the shows pace went from deliberate to really brisk, and a little heavy handed, as they tried to wrap everything up once they knew they weren't coming back for a third season. Still a very good show though.
----------
I've purchased whole seasons on iTunes when they were on sale. Picked up Extras Complete Set for like $15 or so last year. Great deal, but you do miss out on the outtakes, etc...
If they're going to continue to charge a premium for digital release content they MUST include all the extras that go along with the DVD/Blu Ray releases.
greytmom
macrumors 68040
True Blood isn't available via Netflix streaming - only by DVD.
Mr. Gates
macrumors 68020
Yeah I could stay in my parents basement seeing as I bought the house.
You seem to know a lot about me.
Tell me about my eyes you sweet man....
greytmom
macrumors 68040
All joking aside, how are you paying 20-30 per year for HBO? Once Brighthouse raised my price to $18 per month ($216 per year) I dumped HBO.
Mr. Gates
macrumors 68020
I've actually been in another country for a year and a halve and haven't had to think about things like the TV bill for much longer than that.
I admit,I was wrong about the price. I was going off of memory and I was remembering the monthly charge thinking it was yearly. Getting confused in my age.
Anyway, still a silly move to buy a TV show this way. Just my opinion.
mw360
macrumors 68020
The list price for the BluRay is $49.99. That's also like 49 $ for a whole 12 episode season. You can get it for less from online stores because companies need to shift their excess physical stock before it goes out of fashion, even if its at a loss. For better or worse Apple don't have that problem.
scoobydoo99
Cancelled
westy, you are my new hero
Thanks for articulating so succinctly the advantages of streaming over physical media. I get flamed every time I say "Blu Ray is dead" on these forums, which I do repeat quite often, but it's true. Plastic discs are sooooo 1990's.
And this comes from a former videophile who used to have a home theater that cost the same as a decent new car. I was so bleeding edge that I even had a Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo player during the height of the format war. But I soon came to my senses, divested myself of all that physical media, and started streaming to my Apple TV. Now I just enjoy living life, consuming media content whenever I want, and appreciating the fact that I no longer hoard small plastic discs that aren't even suitable as coasters.
greytmom
macrumors 68040
I disagree. It's a method that works well for those who prefer not to fool with physical media or the devices that enable the playing of physical media.
JamesMay82
macrumors 68000
The reason why studios don't all go digital for distribution is because there isn't enough money in it.
Not everyone has an Apple TV or video game console to stream content over the internet + not everyone has fast enough broadband.
if you look at how many people buy a DVD for the latest and greatest blockbuster versus the people who download legally from the internet there will be no comparison. Physical media is way more profitable & their are more retailers to supply to (although they are closing fast) versus the handful of digital distributors.
Not everyone has an Apple TV or video game console to stream content over the internet + not everyone has fast enough broadband.
if you look at how many people buy a DVD for the latest and greatest blockbuster versus the people who download legally from the internet there will be no comparison. Physical media is way more profitable & their are more retailers to supply to (although they are closing fast) versus the handful of digital distributors.
ck2875
macrumors 65816
i like how this mactrast site (had never heard of it) plagiarized the MR article… very pathetic
http://www.mactrast.com/2011/08/hbo-shows-now-available-in-hd-through-itunes/
http://www.mactrast.com/2011/08/hbo-shows-now-available-in-hd-through-itunes/