I'm a huge fan of HBO shows including The Sopranos, Deadwood, and Rome, so it was great to hear that HBO will be offering digital downloads of movies and TV shows. Michael from DVD Dossier has the inside scoop on the HBO on Broadband launch: HBO to Go.
There are three requirements to be part of the test, and I qualify for none of them at this time: (1) be a Time Warner cable subscriber; (2) subscribe to HBO (I cancelled after the Sopranos ended); and (3) live in Wisconsin.
HBO on Broadband offers unlimited downloads of HBO shows and movies and has the largest collection of HBO programing available from any source. It gives users the freedom to enjoy HBO whenever they want and wherever they go... HBO subscribers can download and watch as much as they like as often as they like, with no per-program fees or additional charges. If you have a PC laptop, you can take the shows with you and watch anywhere you go (although programs can not be transferred to an iPod, Zune or other portable device nor burned to a DVD).
So what does this mean for Netflix? If HBO, Showtime, and the studios are all providing their content online, it will be hard for Netflix (or Blockbuster) to compete with free or ad-supported services. HBO requires customers to be a subscriber, so Netflix still has the opportunity to provide access to HBO content to non-subscribers. NBC is now offering free access to shows at Hulu, and they were 40% of Apple's digital TV downloads. How will companies charge is content is free?
In related news, Time Warner is considering charging customers for bandwidth. Let's see.. Offer free movies and TV shows, but charge for bandwidth. BRILLIANT!
Michael worked on the project and has more details on his blog, DVD Dossier.
Cable is already overpriced (Comcast) and from what I've seen, aside from satellite, most cable companies are priced higher than NF's 8-at-a-time, and that's just for basic(+) service, not to mention the premium channels.
And on the related note of charging for higher bandwidth, aside from it being standard practice in some parts of the world (or was), the cable companies are still way too greedy, especially considering that they usually have a corner on the market where they are located.
Posted by: Old Timer Too | January 22, 2008 at 10:58 PM
We get HBO and don't even ever watch it. I think I've maybe watched a movie or two in the years we've had it. Never liked any of their shows or much tv at all for that matter. Never heard of Hulu.
Posted by: Plus | January 23, 2008 at 12:11 PM
When HBO, Showtime, NBC, ABC, etc. all have this type of technology in place, why would they ever make their content available to BBO and NFLX? I'm guessing that the film studios may as well follow suit.
Posted by: Edward R Murrow | January 23, 2008 at 04:46 PM
If I lived in one of those areas where cable isn't available, and the only way to get HBO was via satellite, I would prefer to get my content on DVD by mail.
I like getting my content on DVD by mail, so I'm not paying for stuff I don't want.
Posted by: Becky | January 23, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I actually don't think you need to be an HBO subscriber and a TWC subsciber. You can be one or the other, but both are not necessary according to the way I read the press releases.
Posted by: bumpershine | January 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM
The trial ended Oct 31, 2009
Still hoping HBO figures out a direct online subscription model...
Would dump cable in a heart beat
Posted by: Doug Drake | November 09, 2009 at 02:38 PM