While most of the major TV networks and several basic cable channels have been ramping up the amount of programming they make available online, premium cable channels have steered clear of the Internet. That could change with today’s announcement that Verizon Fios and HBO have teamed up to create HBO Go, a service that makes the pay channel’s offerings available online. [More]
By June 11, 2009
Looking for some inexpensive entertainment this weekend? It’s HBO and Cinemax free preview weekend at a number of major cable providers, including Charter, Comcast, Cox, Time Warner, and Verizon FIOS. If that doesn’t include you, keep an eye on the FreePreview.tv site to learn when your provider’s previews are coming up. [FreePreview.tv] (Thanks, Tim!)
Make Time Warner Pay For Shoddy Service By Demanding Free Premium Channels
By October 5, 2008
According to a tipster, Time Warner Cable resets their complaint list every three months, allowing users with shoddy service to continually request perks like free premium channels year-round without reprisal.
Canceling HBO Costs $1.99 But Canceling Comcast Is Free, Which Do You Choose?
By May 29, 2008
Reader Jonathon wanted to cancel his HBO so he contacted one of Comcast’s infamously useless online customer service representatives. CSR Adam informed Jonathon that to cancel HBO would cost him a fee of $1.99. He asked to speak to a supervisor to get the fee waived but CSR Adam said that would be impossible. The CSR then pointed out that there would be no charge to cancel Comcast’s service altogether. Decisions, decisions. Jonathon’s letter and chat log, inside…
HBO Using Tivo's Macrovision DRM To Restrict "John Adams" Miniseries?
By March 19, 2008
When Dean recorded HBO’s new Tom Hanks-produced miniseries “John Adams”—which is not a pay-per-view or on-demand program—he was surprised to see it was flagged by Tivo’s Macrovision software, which controls how many times you may watch a program and how long you can store it before it’s automatically deleted. Now the question is, was this a mistake on the part of HBO or Dean’s cable provider Comcast? Or—considering HBO’s infamous anti-consumer stance on time-shifted programming—is it the beginning of a sneaky “back-door” approach to locking down all their content, something Tivo’s own people said would probably not happen when they added Macrovision to their recorders in 2004?
Comcast Drops "West Coast" Feeds On The East Coast?
By August 2, 2007
Reader Steve says Comcast has dropped the west coast feeds on his premium channels without telling him about it. Now his sadness can not be quantified.
HBO Backlash: Subscribers "Crash" HBO's Website Complaining About Sopranos Finale
By June 11, 2007
This was whimpering. If you’re angry at wasting an hour, complain with your wallets.
The Sopranos finale was most notable to this website because it was being used in a thumbscrew-like fashion to “suggest” that analog cable subscribers switch to digital. Comcast, in particular, took HBO off analog cable to coincide with the finale, in the hopes that analog subscribers would switch. Now, oh boy, are people mad.
HBO Exec Wants To Change "DRM" to "Digital Consumer Enablement"
By May 10, 2007
Get ready for DCE, or “Digital Consumer Enablement”, HBO’s new name for DRM. HBO’s CTO Bob Zitter says DRM is a misnomer, because the technology “allows consumers “to use content in ways they haven’t before.”
Delta: Get Ready For "Signature" Cocktails and $5 HBO Movies
By May 1, 2007
Delta. Yesterday you were bankrupt, today you’re talking about HBO and alcohol.
ThisIsDumb: “Rome” Promotional Wine is From California
By January 10, 2007
- Though intended to give diners an authentic taste of the show’s premise, the “Rome” wine was not shipped in from Italy; it was produced in California. HBO’s senior VP-consumer marketing, Courteney Monroe, was unable to secure an Italian wine vendor, but she doesn’t believe the promotion fails logistically.
Uh, right. —MEGHANN MARCO
