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HBO announces launch of standalone streaming service

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by TheresTheDagger, Oct 15, 2014.

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TheresTheDagger Member

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Halleluiah. Its now just that much easier to cut the cord with cable. Can't WAIT for this to launch.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...015_n_5989866.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

HBO is cutting the cord.

The company announced on Wednesday that it will launch a standalone streaming video service in the U.S. that will allow you to watch HBO programming without paying for an expensive cable subscription.

"It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO," Richard Plepler, HBO's CEO, said at an investor conference in New York on Wednesday, adding that it will be "transformative" for the company.

In the U.S., the company currently offers HBO GO, a service that lets people watch HBO programming on demand on many devices, though you must have a pay for TV subscription in order to use it. That, of course, hasn't stopped many people from sharing passwords.

HBO's move, which executives have said in the past the company hadn't done because it wasn't "in our economic best interest," comes as subscriptions to pay TV in the U.S. have remained flat or slightly declined in recent years. Many people, especially younger people, are choosing to "cut the cord:" forgoing cable subscriptions and instead opting for services like Netflix and Hulu Plus.

In his presentation to investors, Plepler alluded to HBO GO's popularity among millennials, citing research that said it's "the preferred streaming platform" among 18 to 24 year olds.

Plepler said the number of "broadband only" homes -- homes that subscribe to broadband internet, but not to cable TV -- is expected to grow.

"All in, there are over 80 million homes that don't have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them."

A lot of details remain unclear at this point -- how much will the service cost? Will it simply be HBO Go sold as a standalone product, or a slimmed down version with only some of the content? Plepler acknowledged as much in his presentation, but said that for "competitive reasons," they won't be able to answer questions today.

An HBO spokesman would not comment beyond Plepler's presentation.

HBO's announcement comes the same day that Netflix, the world's largest streaming network, is set to announce its most recent quarterly earnings. Netflix stock was down 3 percent in late morning trading.
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#1 TheresTheDagger, Oct 15, 2014

justtxyank Contributing Member

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I'll wait to see price point and content limitations before getting excited.

#2 justtxyank, Oct 15, 2014
Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

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Piracy is killing them. Most of those pirates would pay for content a la carte. Good move.

#3 Xerobull, Oct 15, 2014
ynelilvs99 Member

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About time. I wonder if this will make it cheaper to add to your current cable subscription as well.

#4 ynelilvs99, Oct 15, 2014
DrLudicrous Contributing Member

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Xerobull said: ↑

Piracy is killing them. Most of those pirates would pay for content a la carte. Good move.
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Yup. If my choice is to download Game of Thrones or pay $100 a month for cable + HBO then the choice is pretty obvious. As long as this is somewhat reasonably priced then I'll sign up for it.

#5 DrLudicrous, Oct 15, 2014
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Xerobull said: ↑

Piracy is killing them. Most of those pirates would pay for content a la carte. Good move.
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That's how Spotify got my business :grin:

#6 steddinotayto, Oct 15, 2014
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Excellent move if the pricing is good.

#7 Cold Hard, Oct 15, 2014

Bandwagoner Contributing Member

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How hard will it be for them to get on devices?

Netflix has been around forever and is on everything. I think I have 5 devices on the same shelf that can access Netflix.

#8 Bandwagoner, Oct 15, 2014
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I wonder if this will be the trend . . .if Showtime will do it etc etc
I think I have seen some of their shows on Netflix
I wonder will they pull them from there. .. since they will be direct competitors then
That will make my netflix account lose value

Cable + Dvr + Premium channels . . .hhmmm
Versus
Cable internet + Streaming

Rocket River

#9 Rocket River, Oct 15, 2014
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Rocket River said: ↑

I wonder if this will be the trend . . .if Showtime will do it etc etc
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No way this is a trend any time soon. The devices won't be able to just add apps like that.

#10 Bandwagoner, Oct 15, 2014
REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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Bandwagoner said: ↑

How hard will it be for them to get on devices?

Netflix has been around forever and is on everything. I think I have 5 devices on the same shelf that can access Netflix.
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I have HBO go on my Playstation and xbone

#11 REEKO_HTOWN, Oct 15, 2014
DrLudicrous Contributing Member

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I'm pretty sure HBO Go is already on most devices. It's been on my Roku for a while.

#12 DrLudicrous, Oct 15, 2014
TheresTheDagger Member

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This is also a way for HBO to apply pressure to the cable companies (ahem Charter) who refuse to allow HBO GO to be available to its customers.

I pay for HBO through Charter same as every other HBO subscriber but don't get the content they do through HBO GO. That better change pronto or else folks like me will simply drop HBO or worse yet Charter altogether.

#13 TheresTheDagger, Oct 15, 2014

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TheresTheDagger said: ↑

This is also a way for HBO to apply pressure to the cable companies (ahem Charter) who refuse to allow HBO GO to be available to its customers.

I pay for HBO through Charter same as every other HBO subscriber but don't get the content they do through HBO GO. That better change pronto or else folks like me will simply drop HBO or worse yet Charter altogether.
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Keep charter for internet, ditch them and go with DirecTV

#14 Scionxa, Oct 15, 2014
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Smart move by HBO. I know a lot of people that would jump on this for the right price for their Game of Thrones fix

#15 Junkyard_Dog, Oct 15, 2014
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Bandwagoner said: ↑

How hard will it be for them to get on devices?

Netflix has been around forever and is on everything. I think I have 5 devices on the same shelf that can access Netflix.
Click to expand...

I'd be willing to bet that HBO Go is already available on most if not every relevant device that Netflix is on.

#16 HR Dept, Oct 15, 2014
heypartner Contributing Member

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Bandwagoner said: ↑

How hard will it be for them to get on devices?

Netflix has been around forever and is on everything. I think I have 5 devices on the same shelf that can access Netflix.
Click to expand...

HBO has had online service for quite awhile, just like ESPN. The point about this news is your couldn't buy that service unless you entered a user id/password from a cable/satellite provider.

This gets us one step closer to full streaming, no cable/satellite.

Now if Showtime and ESPN follow suit,,,,

#17 heypartner, Oct 15, 2014
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HR Dept said: ↑

I'd be willing to bet that HBO Go is already available on most if not every relevant device that Netflix is on.
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My AVR, bluray, PS3, PS4, and TV all have Netflix. Only the PS3 has HBO Go.

#18 Bandwagoner, Oct 15, 2014

shastarocket Contributing Member

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HBO Go is not the same thing as live streaming HBO, right? If that's the case, I imagine the stand alone service would have to wait until the show came on TV before streaming it on-demand. That way the cable/satellite companies can still have an advantage.

Still, if it is priced at $10-15/month, I'd give it a shot

#19 shastarocket, Oct 15, 2014
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shastarocket said: ↑

HBO Go is not the same thing as live streaming HBO, right? If that's the case, I imagine the stand alone service would have to wait until the show came on TV before streaming it on-demand. That way the cable/satellite companies can still have an advantage.

Still, if it is priced at $10-15/month, I'd give it a shot
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I'm almost certain you can stream on HBO go when a show airs. You don't have to wait for it to finish airing on tv. If Game of Thrones is on your TV at 9 pm, that is when it is also available on HBO go

#20 rhino17, Oct 15, 2014

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