WSJ on Apple's Video Service: Starz, Showtime, and HBO to Cost $9.99 Per Month, Roku May Gain Apple TV App

[blacktape242]

hate to say it but if apple give me something like directv now i'll switch.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

Ever heard of Game of Thrones??

I used to love HBO.... but in recent years Game of Thrones was the only show left I cared for. The old days of the Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire etc. are over and now that they stopped live Boxing events I'm done with them...

You have 8 episodes until the series finale of Game of Thrones left.... I'll be watching those in a free preview weekend around the holidays

 

[kyeblue]

Oh good! Tim, I can help. This is for your next briefing:

The things that would benefit Apple would be:
- an optimized, less confusing GUI
- stable software
- great hardware (including for pros)

The things that would threaten Apple are:
- a portfolio that is too big to handle
- buggy software
- little innovation
- bad customer service

Love, an Apple Customer.

Please, no "innovation", almost all of them intrude our privacy and benefit no one.

 

[jicon]

So, in Canada, HBO is offered by Crave.
$10 CAD a month for 'classic' HBO. Then, another $10 a month. Just a theory, but suspect Apple pricing may be similar.

For Canadians, suspect whatever movie/tv service offered today will be US only. Those pesky broadcast rights getting in the way again.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

Except when they gave away 4K for free to people who previously purchased the movies and any new movies you got 4K for “free” unlike Vudu which charges a premium (they since matched Apple). Like that?

Oooh, £1 cheaper than a physical Blueray off Amazon. With what Apple charges for digital media, you are not exactly disproving my point.

 

[BR3W]

No he is right. There is a difference between HBO Now, which is limited and subscribing to the channel. Having done both I can tell you that the above poster is correct.

Limited how?

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

Limited how?

HBO Now does not have live programming....

 

[redfirebird08]

I don't think so. More and more people own smart TV's and all of these services are on offer. Most people I know prefer watching their 4k 50 plus inch TV than a tiny (by comparison) tablet or computer screen. There is nothing "futuristic" about stating at an tiny iPhone screen. Why do you think Apple needs to make deals to get AirPlay going?
[doublepost=1553527291][/doublepost]

I only pay $10 for HBO through Amazon, but this might be because I also have Amazon Prime.
[doublepost=1553527497][/doublepost]

No he is right. There is a difference between HBO Now, which is limited and subscribing to the channel. Having done both I can tell you that the above poster is correct. This is Apple copying what has already been done by Amazon.

The website says Prime required plus $15 for HBO. Direct screenshot from Amazon's website:

 

[Mendota]

The website says Prime required plus $15 for HBO. Direct screenshot from Amazon's website:

That might be why it generally cost more, I probably got a special. That happens from time to time. I currently also received a special offer on the Washington post, normally about $10 I get it for $5. It might also explain why it generally cost more than HBO Now.

 

[redfirebird08]

That might be why it generally cost more, I probably got a special. That happens from time to time. I currently also received a special offer on the Washington post, normally about $10 I get it for $5. It might also explain why it generally cost more than HBO Now.

I mean it cost more than HBO Now if you factor in the Amazon Prime price of $12. Can't get HBO through Amazon without having Prime upfront. But the $15 price for HBO on Amazon is the same as HBO Now at $15.

Regarding your point earlier about the TV version of HBO compared to HBO Now, I have had both myself. I don't watch any movie channel enough to say it's "much better" than the streaming version. HBO Now has all the shows and movies on there and it's on demand access. It's much better than HBO through my TV provider, which has very limited amount of old episodes through the on demand feature on the cable box. New episodes on big shows like Game of Thrones show up on HBO Now right around the same time they are first aired on TV.

 

[Mendota]

I mean it cost more than HBO Now if you factor in the Amazon Prime price of $12. Can't get HBO through Amazon without having Prime upfront. But the $15 price for HBO on Amazon is the same as HBO Now at $15.

Regarding your point earlier about the TV version of HBO compared to HBO Now, I have had both myself. I don't watch any movie channel enough to say it's "much better" than the streaming version. HBO Now has all the shows and movies on there and it's on demand access. It's much better than HBO through my TV provider, which has very limited amount of old episodes through the on demand feature on the cable box. New episodes on big shows like Game of Thrones show up on HBO Now right around the same time they are first aired on TV.

Well given that I would have Prime anyway, it works out well for me. With Prime I get streaming music and the easy ability to buy music (which I prefer) I also get books, Prime video, and of course the shipping. So it works out well for someone like me.

 

[redfirebird08]

Well given that I would have Prime anyway, it works out well for me. With Prime I get streaming music and the easy ability to buy music (which I prefer) I also get books, Prime video, and of course the shipping. So it works out well for someone like me.

I had Prime for a couple years and realized I don't buy enough stuff for shipping and I don't watch enough of Amazon's TV shows to really justify the price. I still have the Prime Video App on my iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV because I still purchase plenty of movies through Amazon since their prices are usually better than iTunes.

Cancelled HBO for the last couple years, but re-subscribed to get ready for Game of Thrones in April. Will probably cancel it again when the season is over, lol

 

[Iconoclysm]

Hmm..

I guess I don't see why HBO wouldn't simultaneously offer HBOnow direct to people for $10 (down from $15) and keep 100% of it.

They already offer a similar deal to Prime.

 

[nomad411]

Is there any development on the Roku front? I just got a Roku TV and I am so looking forward to the AppleTV App on it.

Otherwise, waiting to see if a new Apple TV box appears in the fall.