HBO will soon let you watch their stuff without a cable subscription

[irishScott]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/15/6982049/hbo-go-will-offer-standalone-subscription-2015

It's happening!... next year. Still, hell yes! Here's hoping it comes out in time for GOT!

 

[manimal]

paradigm shift in the industry



will have lasting effects.

 

[smackababy]

Wish HBO leading the way, I hope this starts to trickle down to more stations.

 

[vi edit]

It all comes down to cost. Anything above $20 and I think it's going to fail. Part of this feels like a setup...as in they are going to price it at something stupid like $30 a month and scare away piles of subscribers and use that as a "TOLD YOU SO!" excuse as to why a la carte is a bad idea.

 

[mcurphy]

Wow, this is freakin excellent news. We cut cable about 6 months ago, and although Amazon Prime is great, full HBO is even better. Can't wait!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

That might convince me to cut the cord. Only thing I'd miss is sports, and seeing as how I'm feeling jaded about football with the complete clusterfuck the NFL and NCAA have become, it's down to the NBA...

 

[smackababy]

It all comes down to cost. Anything above $20 and I think it's going to fail. Part of this feels like a setup...as in they are going to price it at something stupid like $30 a month and scare away piles of subscribers and use that as a "TOLD YOU SO!" excuse as to why a la carte is a bad idea.

HBO is already $20 a month on a cable subscription. If you think it will be less than that, you're an idiot. It is going to be at least the same cost as with cable, and likely higher, as I believe that price is subsidized.

 

[Drako]

I've been watching it for years without cable.

I have DirecTV.

 

[Kev]

too bad the hbo go app on every device i've ever used is complete garbage.

 

[Drako]

too bad the hbo go app on every device i've ever used is complete garbage.

I think they do that on purpose so they can sell more BDs and DVDs. :biggrin:

 

[mcurphy]

too bad the hbo go app on every device i've ever used is complete garbage.

I didn't mind it so much with my Roku, but it definitely wan't on par with interfaces like Netflix or Amazon Prime. This is something they can (and mostly likely will) redesign in the near future.

 

[HN]

too bad the hbo go app on every device i've ever used is complete garbage.

what issues do you have with it? works fine on my ipad. find show/movie, hit play, it plays. (and sends pretty flawlessly to a chromecast as well)

 

[Drako]

what issues do you have with it? works fine on my ipad. find show/movie, hit play, it plays. (and sends pretty flawlessly to a chromecast as well)

It has really shitty video quality compared to any other streaming apps that I have used. But I guess on an ipad it might look OK. :hmm:

 

[OutHouse]

separate app with separate monthly charge? I don't think it will be very popular.

they need to put their shit on netflix.

 

[amdhunter]

It'll only be available for those people who can't get subscription cable TV. Watch.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

HBO is already $20 a month on a cable subscription. If you think it will be less than that, you're an idiot. It is going to be at least the same cost as with cable, and likely higher, as I believe that price is subsidized.

It will be higher, you're right. They'll state that they're specifically targeting cord cutters and use the logic that even if the cost is higher than adding HBO to your existing cable subscription, it is still far cheaper than having a cable subscription in the first place.

We typically add HBO when GoT is starting and then drop it when GoT ends for the season. Same with other premium channels and I don't think we'll be changing our behavior.

 

[OutHouse]

HBO is already $20 a month on a cable subscription

$17.99 per month with directv.

 

[OutHouse]

We typically add HBO when GoT is starting and then drop it when GoT ends for the season. Same with other premium channels and I don't think we'll be changing our behavior.

yup.

i kept it for the last season of trueblood but after 3 episodes i dropped HBO because the show turned to pure shit.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, Id pay $5-10 a month, otherwise I will wait until eventually the content makes it to amazon or netllix after X number of years.

 

[TheSlamma]

I used to wish cable companies would just let you do a la carte channels, but that was back when History, Discovery, HGTV, Travel and a few others actually had decent programming, now that those are all complete garbage with not glimmer of hope just getting HBO alone is a way better deal.

 

[smackababy]

We typically add HBO when GoT is starting and then drop it when GoT ends for the season. Same with other premium channels and I don't think we'll be changing our behavior.

I was planning on doing this, however, HBO was enabled on my account and remains enabled without me paying for it for over a year now. I am weary about adding any other channels though. I have the option to add HBO on my account, but why would I when I get it for free?

yup.

i kept it for the last season of trueblood but after 3 episodes i dropped HBO because the show turned to pure shit.

Turned? It started as such, good sir.

 

[Red Storm]

Is it going to be true standalone, or will you be required to have certain cable internet service?

 

[manimal]

I bets its south of 20 north of 15. Gotta be close to regular sub and cheap enough for people to justify it.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Definitely depends on cost. Having Netflix, Hulu, Prime, then HBO GO as well as buying season passes for the extended cable shows I actually care about could probably save me a fair amount per month. Everything else I could just do OTA.

But that assumes HBO GO is, say, $20 or less per month, not something ridiculous.

 

[HN]

it'll be more than the average of what you'd pay for it as an add on to your cable subscription. rationale would be that although it's more, you're saving $40-$50 by not needing to subscribe to basic cable.