Comcast blocks HBO GO

[Sonikku]

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hbo-go-blocked-on-ps4-by-comcast-just-like-on-ps3/1100-6425719/

Comcast blocks HBO Go on Playstation, Roku, and other devices. Evasive when explaining why.

Comcast has yet to offer a satisfactory answer for the lack of support. As Techdirt notes, customer complaints over the past year--since the PS3 got HBO Go--have been met with a variety of responses from Comcast. Most recently, a company spokesperson chalked the issues up to "business decisions."

Time Warner for the time being allows it. Curious how that'll end up once the merger completes.

 

[Markbnj]

Nice of them to remind everyone why the FCC voted to regulate their Internet services under title 2.

 

[manly]

Time Warner for the time being allows it. Curious how that'll end up once the merger completes.

I haven't been keeping up, is the merger expected to go through?

 

[Rubycon]

If the hardware has a VPN client this could be circumvented.

Some consumer routers (Asus IIRC) also have this functionality built in. Encapsulation would effectively sidestep their efforts against the users.

 

[postmortemIA]

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hbo-go-blocked-on-ps4-by-comcast-just-like-on-ps3/1100-6425719/

Comcast blocks HBO Go on Playstation, Roku, and other devices. Evasive when explaining why.



Time Warner for the time being allows it. Curious how that'll end up once the merger completes.

Based on last FCC net neutrality ruling, I doubt the merger is going to go through with current administration.

and them all cable companies had this coming to them; they all have been milking the cow (us) for last 15 yrs.

 

[MarkLuvsCS]

I don't know if this plan came from someone with a GIANT pair or an empty head. I would think now would be the time to scheme in the shadows and look like an innocent bystander, but when these blunders come to light wow, just wow.

I hope this opens more eyes.

 

[DCal430]

See below

 

[DCal430]

Nice of them to remind everyone why the FCC voted to regulate their Internet services under title 2.

This has nothing to do with Title 2. Basically comcast has to install equipment on their system to authenticate Sony devices. Sony wants Comcast to pay for that upgrade, Comcast wants Sony to pay. Comcast isn't blocking anything, they just didn't install the authentication equipment yet.

Nothing to do with net neutrality at all.

 

[DCal430]

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hbo-go-blocked-on-ps4-by-comcast-just-like-on-ps3/1100-6425719/

Comcast blocks HBO Go on Playstation, Roku, and other devices. Evasive when explaining why.



Time Warner for the time being allows it. Curious how that'll end up once the merger completes.

100% wrong OP. Comcast doesn't block HBO Go on any device. Also HBO Go works fine on any non Playstation device. HBO GO works fine on Roku, AppleTV, Chromecast, Xbox(360, One), basically any device that isn't a Sony Playstation. The problem isn't that comcast is blocking anything, but the Playstation requires Comcast to install special authentication hardware. Comcast doesn't want to pay to install it.

 

[Dari]

This totally wrong, it isn't comcast that is blocking HBO Go, it is HBO blocking Comcast customers. HBO wants comcast to pay for each device connected, and Comcast is refusing, so HBO is blocking them.

This has nothing to do with Title 2. Basically comcast has to install equipment on their system to authenticate Sony devices. Sony wants Comcast to pay for that upgrade, Comcast wants Sony to pay. Comcast isn't blocking anything, they just didn't install the authentication equipment yet.

Nothing to do with net neutrality at all.

So who is it that wants money, HBO or SONY? Your answers don't make sense.

 

[Markbnj]

Basically comcast has to install equipment on their system to authenticate Sony devices.

Why would that be necessary? Are the Sony devices using an IP connection? To what are they being authenticated?

 

[TheVrolok]

Noticed this last year on my PS3. Made me sad.

 

[Markbnj]

Why would that be necessary? Are the Sony devices using an IP connection? To what are they being authenticated?

Answering my own question. I haven't been able to find a lot of details, but reading between the lines it appears that the HBO app might be relying on some service at Comcast to authenticate the user as a subscriber with an active cable plan that includes HBO. If that's the case, then yeah this is a spat between those two corporations, doesn't have anything to do with net neutrality, and my original response was knee-jerk.

 

[lxskllr]

If that's the case, then yeah this is a spat between those two corporations, doesn't have anything to do with net neutrality, and my original response was knee-jerk.

That's ok. It gives you a nice segue into the evils of digital restrictions management. No point in wasting good rage :^D

 

[DCal430]

If you want a good games and HBO GO, get an XboxOne. HBO Go has worked on Comcast on the Xbox (360, One) from basically day one. Better games, and better support, with the M$ systems.

 

[TheVrolok]

Better games

Heh.