# How can I cancel HBO and still watch GoT? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 6, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263 "2013-01-06T16:29:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/23 "2013-01-06T21:10:29Z")
[Relevant Oatmeal comic.](http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones) ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/24 "2013-01-06T21:33:26Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > I’d urge Dopers to rethink their TV strategy. Unless you watch a hell of a lot of cable content or have a very cheap package deal, are you really getting your $500-1000 a year back from your cable/satellite costs? Especially now that there are more selective broad-spectrum options? I agree. We set up a dedicated PC attached to our living room TV, and have been saving about $1,200 a year quite happily. We invested a bit more up front and installed a Hauppage video card and had an antenna put on the roof. With Windows Media Center, we can DVR anything from the broadcast channels. And of course we can watch through Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and iTunes, and anything else on the web. There are some shows we will pay to watch during the current season, but then there’s a middle ground of stuff we’re interested in, but can wait for. Lately we’ve been watching _It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Warehouse 13_, and _The Tudors_ on Netflix, and it’s fun watching them commercial free and all in a row. I also have the early seasons of _Breaking Bad_ waiting for me whenever I want! ---
**Author:** ![Myrnalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@Myrnalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrnalene)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/25 "2013-01-06T21:37:35Z")
> [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > [Relevant Oatmeal comic.](http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones) This comic is the voice of an entire generation. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/26 "2013-01-06T22:08:07Z")
> [@Myrnalene](#): > > This comic is the voice of an entire generation. True, true…but on the other hand, post #9. HBO says: you want to watch our show, buy our service. Nothing immoral or unscrupulous about that. I just don’t wanna. ---
**Author:** ![andrewbub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@andrewbub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewbub)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/27 "2013-01-06T22:15:47Z")
so to wrap up this thread for you. legally: impossible ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/28 "2013-01-06T22:20:47Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > HBO always releases DVDs just before the next season. Season 2 isn’t out on DVD for like another month. Which is so freaking irritating - if you’re trying to catch up on a show, you can’t do in in the week or so between DVD release and season premiere unless you totally gorge on the disc set. We’ve had to record two or three episodes of a new season before we could start watching it. It’s not just HBO, either - FX and AMC do the same thing. I can’t quite picture what marketing decision goes into releasing a product at what might be the most useless point in its lifespan - people buying it to catch up don’t have time, and fans who already saw the season aren’t likely to watch it with any haste while the new season is out. I understand (I think) that they think the synergy of the disc release and the premiere catch limited attention spans, but after about the third or fourth show we were trying to catch up on just as the new season started… well, that led to the decision to dump cable altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/29 "2013-01-06T22:22:57Z")
> [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](#): > > I agree. We set up a dedicated PC attached to our living room TV, and have been saving about $1,200 a year quite happily. We’ve had a dedicated media PC for some time, but besides being somewhat of a hassle to use compared to a dedicated appliance, it seemed to get used just episodically enough that when we wanted to watch something, it needed an hour to update the OS and video apps. The Roku is just a killer solution, even for a nuts and bolts techhead like me. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/30 "2013-01-06T22:26:32Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > It’s a box about the size of a pack of cigarettes. Plug in a network cable, or connect it wirelessly to your home router, plug in its power pack, and jack the HDMI outlet into your TV. You just added HD Netflix, Vudu, Hulu, Amazon Video and about 500 lesser channels (400 of which are VERY lesser) to your system. There is no further charge except for your internet connectivity and any subscription channels or pay-movie fees… So if I got the concept - it’s basically like dedicating a computer, plugged into your TV, that picks up any internet-based TV content providers? ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/31 "2013-01-06T22:45:30Z")
> [@andrewbub](#): > > so to wrap up this thread for you. > > legally: impossible most pirated show of last year. you think HBO would want to rake in more of those bucks and make the show purchasable some legal way, on Hulu, iTunes, etc so this: > [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > [Relevant Oatmeal comic.](http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones) ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/32 "2013-01-06T22:48:54Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So if I got the concept - it’s basically like dedicating a computer, plugged into your TV, that picks up any internet-based TV content providers? Basically. It’s not as versatile or general-purpose (e.g. it has no web browser), but it Just Works for every major internet streaming service (except itunes). ---
**Author:** ![Mattie\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mattie\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mattie_Blue)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/33 "2013-01-06T23:12:06Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Mattie, there’s only been two seasons so far, and only one is on DVD yet… Boy, is my face red. I checked Netflix and they have 3 seasons listed as in our queue. Unfortunately, I should have looked more closely. They do have the first season available on DVD and will allow you to put the next two seasons in the saved section of your queue. Sorry ☹ ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/34 "2013-01-06T23:53:41Z")
so websites like “let me watch this” are illegal pirated versions of the tv shows and movies? ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/35 "2013-01-07T00:37:08Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > So if I got the concept - it’s basically like dedicating a computer, plugged into your TV, that picks up any internet-based TV content providers? Exactly, but as an appliance, it is hassle free. As lazybratsche says, it’s not as versatile as a computer, but at the price of one computer component and with ten-button remote simplicity, it’s hard to beat for streaming. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/36 "2013-01-07T02:03:44Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > … > > I’d urge Dopers to rethink their TV strategy. Unless you watch a hell of a lot of cable content or have a very cheap package deal, are you really getting your $500-1000 a year back from your cable/satellite costs? Especially now that there are more selective broad-spectrum options? Thanks for the advice–but the OP was asking how to watch _Game of Thrones_. You also mentioned watching _Downton Abbey_ tonight. I’m tuning in mostly to snark–but PBS is broadcast TV. Don’t you even watch the local news & weather on that newfangled digital broadcast thingie? ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/37 "2013-01-07T03:18:02Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > so websites like “let me watch this” are illegal pirated versions of the tv shows and movies? Worse - they’re usually scams and/or malware hosts. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/38 "2013-01-07T04:24:07Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Thanks for the advice–but the OP was asking how to watch _Game of Thrones_. Reasonable thread drift, IMVHO. > [@](#): > > You also mentioned watching _Downton Abbey_ tonight. I’m tuning in mostly to snark–but PBS is broadcast TV. Don’t you even watch the local news & weather on that newfangled digital broadcast thingie? No. I have even less interest in local TV than in any cable channels. We’d also need about a 50 foot antenna mast. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/39 "2013-01-07T06:30:41Z")
> [@tellyworth](#): > > Worse - they’re usually scams and/or malware hosts. I have been watching this particular one for a couple of years and other than some dumb pop up ads I have not had a problem. I delete the pop ups and then watch the programs. I watched the entire two seasons of Game of thrones in the last month or so. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/40 "2013-01-07T14:41:55Z")
Relevent [article about HBO’s new 10-year deal with Universal](http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/06/hbo-inks-exclusive-deal-with-universal-to-keep-content-out-of-netflixs-hands/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=Google+Reader) to keep their movies out of Netflix’s hands. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/41 "2013-01-07T15:33:04Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > most pirated show of last year. you think HBO would want to rake in more of those bucks and make the show purchasable some legal way, on Hulu, iTunes, etc > > so this: HBO makes more money off cable subsciptions than it would selling the episodes of the show. After all, most of HBO’s advertizing isn’t spent by HBO itself, but the cable companies that want you to sign up with them. That’s a massive savings. And all that subscription fees allow HBO to spend the amount of money they do on shows like Game of Thrones or Deadwood or Rome. While a lot of folks may pirate, plenty will simply “play by the rules” and subscribe giving HBO more money than simply offering up episodes for purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263/42 "2013-01-07T16:11:27Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > HBO’s new 10-year deal with Universal to keep their movies out of Netflix’s hands. \*bang bang bang \*Goes another nail in Netflix’s coffin. And we’re all the losers - what we’re seeing is a turf war for the center of the streaming universe. Netflix could have held it, but made one wrong decision after another and now is too weak a player to hold on. Grab a comfy seat for another several years of erratic availability, overlapping costs, high prices and general hassle. Don’t bet on any winners right now. I would bet on an as-yet-unknown that may not even exist yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-cancel-hbo-and-still-watch-got/646263.md?page=3)