HBO considering offering online subscriptions to cable cutters

Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
Premium network HBO is currently only available to paying cable TV subscribers, but that could change through the company's HBO Go streaming service in the future.

HBO Go


HBO gave the first signs that it might be willing to shake up its business model in a new interview with Reuters. The comments were made by HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler, who said that HBO Go could "evolve" with broadband partners.

While HBO Go currently requires users to have an HBO subscription through a cable TV provider, the network's CEO admitted that the company could package HBO Go with monthly Internet service through broadband partners, many of which are the same cable TV providers.

Plepler said that customers could pay an extra $10 or $15 per month ? about the same price as a regular cable-only HBO subscription ? as part of their Internet bill to have access to the network. But the CEO said the network and its broadband partners would "have to make the math work" before such a program could be made available.

HBO's apparent willingness to shake things up comes as competition has been heating up from Web-based media providers Netflix and Amazon, which have begun producing their own original content available only to paid subscribers. Netflix in particular found success with "House of Cards," a political thriller starring Kevin Spacey and produced by director David Fincher, with the same level of quality viewers see with HBO's own programming.

Earlier this year, HBO updated its iOS HBO Go app to allow users to stream content to their Apple TV via AirPlay. A native HBO Go application for the Apple TV is rumored to arrive at some point this year.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 60
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,718member
    And the future slowly arrives. One day cable subscription will be remembered like milk deliveries.
  • Reply 2 of 60
    ankleskaterankleskater Posts: 1,287member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by digitalclips View Post



    And the future slowly arrives. One day cable subscription will be remembered like milk deliveries.




    So that means my house will have a little box near the backdoor where the cable used to come in.

  • Reply 3 of 60


    Wow! It appears someone is finally "getting it."  I should mark this day on my calendar ...

  • Reply 4 of 60


    Wow please do this!

  • Reply 5 of 60
    buckalecbuckalec Posts: 203member


    And so it began. HBO and mainstream ABC could turn the tide. Great news.

  • Reply 6 of 60
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    Think about it. Netflix Hulu Plus= $16. Let's add another $10 for HBO. Then let's add some sports channel subscription, and a cooking channel. Get the picture? It doesn't take long for these subscription fees to mount up to the typical cable bill. In fact you could wind up with a bigger bill depending on your appetite. All on top of the of the cost for broadband service too. What about multiple HDTVs in the home? Even more bandwidth needed to increase overall cost. With data caps?

    The a la carte model may sound attractive but it starts to add up quickly. Economy of scale and all that jazz. So I kind of chuckle at the "And the future slowly arrives" mindset.
  • Reply 7 of 60
    charlitunacharlituna Posts: 7,217member
    This is a step in the right direction but they just need to let us pay that $15-20 via the app rather than in our bill. Putting it with our Internet bill means there could still be lock out if say TimeWarner decides not to offer this version and you have to have cable

    And for those that prefer to own put the eps on sale within the week and make pricing more reasonable. Sorry HBO and Showtime but your shows are not so awesome that they justify the $3.99-5.99 you want to charge
  • Reply 8 of 60
    dmarcootdmarcoot Posts: 191member
    Finally. They probably saw the numbers after the airplay update and said Holy Sh*t we were wrong.
  • Reply 9 of 60
    fithianfithian Posts: 82member
    Let's say you watch three series on HBO each week. For $10 a month you receive these from HBO streaming, versus a digital cable HD connection with converter and 2000 channels you would never watch for only $160 a month. The cost for streaming would be about $1 per episode; much cheaper than iTunes or another source, and much more legal than downloading the episode through usenet.
  • Reply 10 of 60
    asciiascii Posts: 5,936member
    Technically, you shouldn't have to partner with anyone, just put it up on your website and whatever broadband provider people have shouldn't matter.
  • Reply 11 of 60
    al_bundyal_bundy Posts: 1,525member

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by lkrupp View Post



    Think about it. Netflix Hulu Plus= $16. Let's add another $10 for HBO. Then let's add some sports channel subscription, and a cooking channel. Get the picture? It doesn't take long for these subscription fees to mount up to the typical cable bill. In fact you could wind up with a bigger bill depending on your appetite. All on top of the of the cost for broadband service too. What about multiple HDTVs in the home? Even more bandwidth needed to increase overall cost. With data caps?



    The a la carte model may sound attractive but it starts to add up quickly. Economy of scale and all that jazz. So I kind of chuckle at the "And the future slowly arrives" mindset.


    some of us don't watch this much TV so no need to pay for every subscription

  • Reply 12 of 60
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member


    Originally Posted by lkrupp View Post

    It doesn't take long for these subscription fees to mount up to the typical cable bill. In fact you could wind up with a bigger bill depending on your appetite.


     


    The idea behind the a la carte model is that we don't have such tastes. There are very few channels whose broadcast sets are even worth viewing. With this model no one channel would have a huge number of subscribers but every channel would have some, given that people like different things. Couple that with video iAds instead of the standard broadcast advertisements and the channel prices go way down since the ads can be targeted to the user and the channel can show 10,000 different advertisements at the same time

  • Reply 13 of 60
    tcaseytcasey Posts: 199member


    i wont buy cable but i would buy hbo..i doubt im alone here..

  • Reply 14 of 60
    isaidsoisaidso Posts: 750member


    This story was circulating in January.


    At the time, I commented somewhere that HBO should only do this if they would like to make a billionbilllionbilion dollars, and own the universe (or something to that  effect)

  • Reply 15 of 60
    philboogiephilboogie Posts: 7,675member
    Great news. Hope it will be adapted widely (US) and quickly adopted by Europe. Only reservation is costs; we pay around $20/m for 25 analogue, 60 digital and 16 HD channels. 100 additional channels for $10 (or 150 channels for $15). Content -to me- is useless as I hardly ever watch TV, but I like HBO (you pay another $20/m)
  • Reply 16 of 60


    yes, please.

  • Reply 17 of 60
    macbook promacbook pro Posts: 1,605member
    lkrupp wrote: »
    Think about it. Netflix Hulu Plus= $16. Let's add another $10 for HBO. Then let's add some sports channel subscription, and a cooking channel. Get the picture? It doesn't take long for these subscription fees to mount up to the typical cable bill. In fact you could wind up with a bigger bill depending on your appetite. All on top of the of the cost for broadband service too. What about multiple HDTVs in the home? Even more bandwidth needed to increase overall cost. With data caps?

    The a la carte model may sound attractive but it starts to add up quickly. Economy of scale and all that jazz. So I kind of chuckle at the "And the future slowly arrives" mindset.

    This.

    The mass media companies are simply approaching a potential target audience from a different perspective. The mass media companies will continue to force consumers to subscribe to bundles rather than a la carte programming. Notably, the largest Internet Service Providers are also the largest subscription television providers.


    If you want a la carte, the best option available today is Amazon Instant Video or Apple iTunes.


    This is the reason you are forced to subscribe to "bundles" of channels:

    The Walt Disney Cmpany
    • Hulu (27%)
    • Disney/ABC Television Group Digital Media
    • Walt Disney Television
    • Disney-ABC Domestic Television - formerly Buena Vista Television
    • Disney-ABC International Television - formerly Buena Vista International Television
    • ABC Television Network
    • ABC News
    • A+E Networks (joint venture with Hearst Corporation; equity holding)
    • A&E
    • History
    • Bio.
    • H2
    • Military History
    • Crime & Investigation Network
    • Lifetime
    • Lifetime Movie Network
    • Lifetime Real Women
    • ESPN, Inc.(Disney 80%)
    • ESPN and HD
    • ESPN2 and HD
    • ESPN on ABC - formerly ABC Sports
    • ESPN Classic
    • ESPNews and HD
    • ESPN Deportes
    • ESPN Films
    • ESPNU
    • ESPN Kids
    • ESPN Classic
    • ESPN Now
    • ESPN Plus
    • ESPN Original Entertainment
    • ESPN Pay-Per-View
    • ESPN Regional Television
    • ESPN International (see for complete list of channels)
    • ESPN America
    • TSN (20%)
    • ESPN Radio
    • Mobile ESPN
    • ESPN3
    • ESPN The Magazine
    • ESPN Books (an imprint of Disney's Hyperion Books)
    • ESPN Home Entertainment
    • ESPN Outdoors
    • BASS
    • ESPN Digital Center


    Time Warner
    • Turner Broadcasting System
    • Turner Broadcasting International
    • Millennium Media Group
    • Chilevisión
    • Turner Entertainment Networks
    • truTV
    • TBS
    • TNT
    • TCM
    • WPCH
    • Court TV Original Productions
    • TNT Originals
    • TCM Productions
    • TBS Productions
    • Turner Sports
    • NBC / Turner
    • NASCAR Races
    • Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
    • Bleacher Report
    • NCAA.com
    • March Madness Live
    • PGA.com
    • NBA Digital (joint venture with the NBA)
    • NBA TV
    • NBA.com
    • NBA LEAGUE PASS
    • NBA Mobile
    • NBA Game Time App
    • NBADLEAGUE.com
    • WNBA.com
    • Turner Entertainment Digital Network
    • The Smoking Gun
    • TBS, Inc. Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media (AYAKM) division
    • Cartoon Network
    • Adult Swim
    • Boomerang
    • Cartoon Network Studios
    • Williams Street
    • Adult Swim Video
    • Cartoon Network Video
    • CNN News Group
    • CNN U.S.
    • HLN
    • CNN en Español
    • CNN International
    • CNN Radio
    • CNN Originals
    • Headline News Productions
    • CNN Digital Network
    • CNN.com
    • CNNMoney.com
    • iReport
    • CNN Mobile
    • CNN Newsource
    • CNN ImageSource
    • CNN Wire
    • HBO
    • HBO
    • Cinemax
    • HBO Independent Productions
    • HBO Multiplexes
    • HBO on Demand
    • Cinemax Multiplexes
    • Cinemax on Demand
    • HBO Video
    • HBO Domestic and International Program Distribution
    • HBO Films
    • HBO Miniseries
    • HBO Sports
    • HBO Entertainment
    • HBO Documentary Films
    • Picturehouse (co-owned by New Line Cinema)
    • HBO International
    • HBO Asia
    • HBO Hungary
    • HBO India
    • HBO Poland
    • HBO Romania
    • HBO Latin America Group
    • HBO Latin America
    • HBO Brazil
    • Warner Channel
    • E! Latin America
    • Cinemax Latin America


    News Corporation
    • 20th Century Fox Television
    • 20th Television
    • Foxtel
    • Fox Broadcasting Company
    • Fox International Channels
    • Fox International Channels Italy
    • Fox International Channels Portugal
    • Fox International Channels Philippines
    • Fox Channels Benelux
    • Fox Sports Australia
    • Fox Telecolombia
    • Fox Television Stations
    • Fox Television Studios
    • Imedi Media Holding
    • Latvijas Neatkar?g? Telev?zija
    • MyNetworkTV
    • STAR TV
    • TV5 R?ga
    • Asianet Corporation
    • Big Ten Network (51%)
    • Fox Business Network
    • Fox College Sports
    • Fox Deportes
    • Fox News Channel
    • Fox Soccer
    • Fox Sports Enterprises
    • Foxtel (50%)
    • Fox Sports 1
    • Fox Sports Networks
    • Fuel TV
    • FX Networks
    • FX Movie Channel
    • National Geographic Channel (US) (67%)
    • National Geographic Channel (International) (50%)
    • LAPTV (Latin America — co-owned with Paramount Pictures/Viacom, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/MGM Holdings and Universal Studios/NBC Universal)
    • Telecine (Brazil — co-owned with Globosat Canais, Paramount Pictures, MGM, Universal Studios and DreamWorks)
    • BSkyB [United Kingdom] (39.1%)
    • Sky Deutschland [Germany] (49.90%)
    • SKY Italia [Italy] (100%)
    • SKY Network Television [New Zealand] (43.65%)
    • Foxtel [Australia] (25%)
    • Star TV [India & Greater China] (100%)
    • Tata Sky [India] (20%)


    Viacom
    • MTV Networks
    • MTV
    • MTV2
    • Tr3s
    • MTV Desi
    • MTV Hits
    • MTV Jams
    • mtvU
    • VH1
    • VH1 Classic
    • VH1 Soul
    • CMT
    • CMT Pure Country
    • CMT (Canada) (10%)
    • Palladia
    • Nickelodeon
    • Nick 2/Nick at Nite
    • Nick Jr. (Previously known as Noggin from February 2, 1999 until its relaunch September 28, 2009 as Nick Jr.)
    • TeenNick (Previously known as The N from April 1, 2002 until its relaunch September 28, 2009 as TeenNick)
    • Nicktoons
    • TV Land
    • Nick Gas (1999 –2009)
    • NickMom
    • BET Networks
    • BET
    • BET Hip-Hop
    • BET Gospel
    • Centric
    • Comedy Central
    • Logo
    • TMF
    • VIVA
    • Spike




    As anyone can see, a few companies own the vast majority of television production and distribution. Nothing will change other than they may offer new methods of reaching into your wallet.


    What these companies fail to realize is that their subscription television model will be in serious jeopardy within the next generation. As many consumers become "cord cutters" they in turn raise a generation of "cord nevers." Although I didn't have subscription television as a youth, I decided I wanted subscription television as an adult but later recognized the many possible avenues to the same content.


    700
  • Reply 18 of 60
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    isaidso wrote: »
    This story was circulating in January.
    At the time, I commented somewhere that HBO should only do this if they would like to make a billionbilllionbilion dollars, and own the universe (or something to that  effect)

    What makes you so sure they will? Remember Time Warner owns HBO.
  • Reply 19 of 60
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    This.

    The mass media companies are simply approaching a potential target audience from a different perspective. The mass media companies will continue to force consumers to subscribe to bundles rather than a la carte programming. Notably, the largest Internet Service Providers are also the largest subscription television providers.


    If you want a la carte, the best option available today is Amazon Instant Video or Apple iTunes.


    This is the reason you are forced to subscribe to "bundles" of channels:

    Viacom
    • MTV Networks
    • MTV
    • MTV2
    • Tr3s
    • MTV Desi
    • MTV Hits
    • MTV Jams
    • mtvU
    • VH1
    • VH1 Classic
    • VH1 Soul
    • CMT
    • CMT Pure Country
    • CMT (Canada) (10%)
    • Palladia
    • Nickelodeon
    • Nick 2/Nick at Nite
    • Nick Jr. (Previously known as Noggin from February 2, 1999 until its relaunch September 28, 2009 as Nick Jr.)
    • TeenNick (Previously known as The N from April 1, 2002 until its relaunch September 28, 2009 as TeenNick)
    • Nicktoons
    • TV Land
    • Nick Gas (1999 –2009)
    • NickMom
    • BET Networks
    • BET
    • BET Hip-Hop
    • BET Gospel
    • Centric
    • Comedy Central
    • Logo
    • TMF
    • VIVA
    • Spike


    Disney
    • Hulu (27%)
    • Disney/ABC Television Group Digital Media
    • Walt Disney Television
    • Disney-ABC Domestic Television - formerly Buena Vista Television
    • Disney-ABC International Television - formerly Buena Vista International Television
    • ABC Television Network
    • ABC News
    • A+E Networks (joint venture with Hearst Corporation; equity holding)
    • A&E
    • History
    • Bio.
    • H2
    • Military History
    • Crime & Investigation Network
    • Lifetime
    • Lifetime Movie Network
    • Lifetime Real Women
    • ESPN, Inc.(Disney 80%)
    • ESPN and HD
    • ESPN2 and HD
    • ESPN on ABC - formerly ABC Sports
    • ESPN Classic
    • ESPNews and HD
    • ESPN Deportes
    • ESPN Films
    • ESPNU
    • ESPN Kids
    • ESPN Classic
    • ESPN Now
    • ESPN Plus
    • ESPN Original Entertainment
    • ESPN Pay-Per-View
    • ESPN Regional Television
    • ESPN International (see for complete list of channels)
    • ESPN America
    • TSN (20%)
    • ESPN Radio
    • Mobile ESPN
    • ESPN3
    • ESPN The Magazine
    • ESPN Books (an imprint of Disney's Hyperion Books)
    • ESPN Home Entertainment
    • ESPN Outdoors
    • BASS
    • ESPN Digital Center

    Time Warner
    • Turner Broadcasting System
    • Turner Broadcasting International
    • Millennium Media Group
    • Chilevisión
    • Turner Entertainment Networks
    • truTV
    • TBS
    • TNT
    • TCM
    • WPCH
    • Court TV Original Productions
    • TNT Originals
    • TCM Productions
    • TBS Productions
    • Turner Sports
    • NBC / Turner
    • NASCAR Races
    • Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
    • Bleacher Report
    • NCAA.com
    • March Madness Live
    • PGA.com
    • NBA Digital (joint venture with the NBA)
    • NBA TV
    • NBA.com
    • NBA LEAGUE PASS
    • NBA Mobile
    • NBA Game Time App
    • NBADLEAGUE.com
    • WNBA.com
    • Turner Entertainment Digital Network
    • The Smoking Gun
    • TBS, Inc. Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media (AYAKM) division
    • Cartoon Network
    • Adult Swim
    • Boomerang
    • Cartoon Network Studios
    • Williams Street
    • Adult Swim Video
    • Cartoon Network Video
    • CNN News Group
    • CNN U.S.
    • HLN
    • CNN en Español
    • CNN International
    • CNN Radio
    • CNN Originals
    • Headline News Productions
    • CNN Digital Network
    • CNN.com
    • CNNMoney.com
    • iReport
    • CNN Mobile
    • CNN Newsource
    • CNN ImageSource
    • CNN Wire
    • HBO
    • HBO
    • Cinemax
    • HBO Independent Productions
    • HBO Multiplexes
    • HBO on Demand
    • Cinemax Multiplexes
    • Cinemax on Demand
    • HBO Video
    • HBO Domestic and International Program Distribution
    • HBO Films
    • HBO Miniseries
    • HBO Sports
    • HBO Entertainment
    • HBO Documentary Films
    • Picturehouse (co-owned by New Line Cinema)
    • HBO International
    • HBO Asia
    • HBO Hungary
    • HBO India
    • HBO Poland
    • HBO Romania
    • HBO Latin America Group
    • HBO Latin America
    • HBO Brazil
    • Warner Channel
    • E! Latin America
    • Cinemax Latin America



    As anyone can see, a few companies own the vast majority of television production and distribution. Nothing will change other than they may offer new methods of reaching into your wallet.

    Nicely done. TV is a oligopoly that won't soon be dismantled much to the dismay of many here.
  • Reply 20 of 60
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member


    Originally Posted by MacBook Pro View Post

    The Walt Disney Cmpany

    Time Warner

    News Corporation

    Viacom


     


    What a great way to ruin a Friday.






    As anyone can see, a few companies own the vast majority of television production and distribution. Nothing will change other than they may offer new methods of reaching into your wallet.



     


    If Ma Bell could be destroyed, so can they. But unlike the telephone world, they won't even have the opportunity to recombine.

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