# HBO to offer web-based stand-alone subscriptions starting next year **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413 "2014-10-15T17:04:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/1 "2014-10-15T17:04:12Z")
I’ve been waiting for this for ages. Maybe it’s too early to rejoice because we don’t know how much they’ll charge. They’ve had HBO Go for a long time, but it only works if you already have an HBO subscription through your cable or satellite provider. Those of us without cable or satellite were SOL. [Heads-up, cord-cutters: HBO to start online-only subscriptions in 2015 - CNET](http://www.cnet.com/news/cord-cutters-hbo-to-start-online-only-subscriptions-in-2015/) Now if BBC America, FX, and AMC followed suit, I would be one happy camper. Those four are about the only channels I would watch if I did have cable. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/2 "2014-10-15T17:08:39Z")
It just occurred to me that this might belong in Cafe Society. I’ll contact the mods and let them decide. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/3 "2014-10-15T17:21:59Z")
No it’s not too early. This is great news! Goodbye DirectV! Burn in hell At&T. Adios Time Warner! Never again Comcast! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/4 "2014-10-15T17:22:27Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > It just occurred to me that this might belong in Cafe Society. I’ll contact the mods and let them decide. Yeah, I think that’s better. I’ve moved – no biggie. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/5 "2014-10-15T17:26:18Z")
Would this only be available on your computer, or can it be streamed to your TV through Roku or some other service? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/6 "2014-10-15T18:00:33Z")
I’d be comfortable paying something close to what I pay for Netflix for that! The only one I’d add to **Si Amigo** ’s list is TMC… ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/7 "2014-10-15T18:03:12Z")
This is great news, but I have this fear that once details come out it’ll be something like “new content only, no back catalog,” and “$50/month.” Content providers aren’t known for their ability to offer and price their materials reasonably. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/8 "2014-10-15T18:04:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Would this only be available on your computer, or can it be streamed to your TV through Roku or some other service? I initially read about this in an article indicating that it would be available on Apple TV. I’m guessing it would include other streaming devices as well. ---
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/9 "2014-10-15T19:01:20Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > This is great news, but I have this fear that once details come out it’ll be something like “new content only, no back catalog,” and “$50/month.” > > Content providers aren’t known for their ability to offer and price their materials reasonably. This is what I’m afraid of. I understand that HBO packages can cost $20 or more per month, on top of basic cable charges. I’d be quite surprised if they offered the internet only service at a lower rate than that. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/10 "2014-10-15T20:03:45Z")
I think the amount of content would be similar to that offered by Netflix - I could see them charging more, but I can’t seem them going higher than $20/month. The sweet spot would be $10-15 a month, I think. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/11 "2014-10-15T20:10:09Z")
This is good news, but it seems like everyone is expecting HBO GO for like $20 a month. That may not be what is actually provided. We have no idea what sort of service they are contemplating. They may just as likely offer a service like what Amazon has with non-Prime shows. You have to pay $3 an episode and you get them the day after it airs (which, mind, is still good… just may get pricier than people are expecting from the news today). ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/12 "2014-10-15T20:21:48Z")
I’d pay twice as much as Netflix for HBOgo. It has premium content I’d gladly pay for, but not $100/month. I’ll stick to downloading at that price. The only thing I really miss from my canceled satellite package is baseball. If MLB TV didn’t have blackouts for the only games I want to see (my local team), I’d pay for that too. A la carte is definitely the only way I’ll pay for television. By the way, if this ends up with ads like Hulu, they can kiss my money goodbye. I absolutely refuse to pay money to be psychologically manipulated and lied to. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/13 "2014-10-15T20:28:21Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > By the way, if this ends up with ads like Hulu, they can kiss my money goodbye. I absolutely refuse to pay money to be psychologically manipulated and lied to. Far be it from me to try to get into the minds of network executives, but I don’t see why they would. Their whole brand is based on not having ads, unlike the network shows shown on Hulu. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/14 "2014-10-15T21:05:42Z")
True. I forget that since I hardly ever get to watch HBO anymore. Remember when all of cable was like that? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/15 "2014-10-15T21:14:48Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > This is great news, but I have this fear that once details come out it’ll be something like “new content only, no back catalog,” and “$50/month.” > > Content providers aren’t known for their ability to offer and price their materials reasonably. Yes, same here. $10/month would be my top price point, no matter what they offer. For that, I’d really expect them to offer their whole current lineup (movies and shows) and their whole library of HBO-produced material back into history. Partly I feel that way because I can get it all through NetFlix on DVD for approximately that price. I have no problem waiting a year or two for the next season of their latest shows to come out on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/16 "2014-10-15T22:04:15Z")
I can see HBO Streaming being no more than $20 a month. They got good stuff now but will be fighting to remain relavent once the cable providers are out of the picture. And let’s not kid ourselves, amazon, hulu and m go want to be the next cable like companies. Still, viva a la cart! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/17 "2014-10-15T22:12:19Z")
Where is bandwidth supposed to come from? Can you imagine adding even 100,000 hi def HBO viewers to internet streaming? What happens when 700,000 ditch cable and expect the web to support their streaming video? Theres no way the internet can replace Cable. Especially with everyone demanding hi def video. They’d have to create an entirely separate internet infrastructure just for video broadcasting. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/18 "2014-10-15T23:08:14Z")
They have to hit the sweet spot of making it cheap enough that it isn’t worth it to keep asking my mom what her password for HBOgo is. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/19 "2014-10-15T23:41:56Z")
Maybe [Netflix’s financials](http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/10/15/netflix_earnings_the_company_says_price_hikes_crushed_its_subscriber_growth.html) will convince HBO to not price it too high. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413/20 "2014-10-15T23:46:47Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Where is bandwidth supposed to come from? Can you imagine adding even 100,000 hi def HBO viewers to internet streaming? What happens when 700,000 ditch cable and expect the web to support their streaming video? > > Theres no way the internet can replace Cable. Especially with everyone demanding hi def video. > > They’d have to create an entirely separate internet infrastructure just for video broadcasting. What in the world are you talking about? There is nothing special about streaming HBO content hi-def or otherwise even onto large screen TV’s. Literally tens of millions of households already do it with Netflix and Hulu and that isn’t even counting the literally trillions of Youtube videos streamed every year. Of course it takes infrastructure but the technology already exists and scales up quite well to meet any need as long as the profit is there. My internet connection is a measly 50 mb/s (that is still really fast) and I never tax it or notice any lags streaming anything even on multiple large-screen TV’s. I could pay a little more and get 200 mb/s (unheard of just a few years ago and still incredibly fast). If you live in an area with experimental Google internet service, you could get Gigabit internet service for a very reasonable fee. That is what all major internet providers are building up to right this second and it will become much more widespread in the next few years. You can’t ‘use up’ the internet like you can the water in a lake. Any popular service like Netflix creates its own demand that the internet service providers have to respond to. Such a supply and the demand helps the internet as a whole unless you have a really crappy service provider and live on a dead-end street in the middle of the boonies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-to-offer-web-based-stand-alone-subscriptions-starting-next-year/701413.md?page=2)