Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

Netflix considering premium offering with HBO content?

2 February 2009 0:29 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 10 comments

One of the biggest hurdles Netflix has faced in developing the Watch Instantly streaming video service has been a lack of available content. While the company has been able to offer thousands of titles, a lot of the more valuable content is unavailable due to licensing agreements with cable companies. They already have a partnership with Starz to give them access to additional titles, and now it looks like they may be working on a deal to do something similar with HBO.

Although there hasn't been any kind of announcement from Netflix about the possibility of a deal with HBO, company executives have always preferred not to talk about partnerships until they have actual deals in place. But that hasn't stopped them from sending out a questionnaire to subscribers to guage interest in HBO content.

The survey, which was detailed on the website Hacking Netflix, asks current subscribers if they would be interested enough in HBO content to pay an additional $10 per month for access to it. It seems like a steep price considering that you still have to provide the broadband connection and computer, set-top box, or Blu-ray player to watch.

While streaming has clearly been a key component of the continued success Netflix enjoys, ridiculous price demands from content owners and licenses is perhaps the biggest reason Netflix is the first real success story. Content providers don't seem willing to share in the cost of establishing the new markets and business models.

Permalink to this article | Topics: Blu-ray Consoles Home Theater Online video

Comcast, Time Warner looking to offer TV online (21 February 2009)

Netflix to start streaming-only subscription plans (20 February 2009)

Netflix reaches 10 million subscribers (16 February 2009)

« Previous news article
Circuit City drops prices again

Next news article »
Flash for iPhone still a problem, says Adobe

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
lamain (Newbie) 2 February 2009 2:33
I think $10 is too much but I would still pay it. I just love VoD. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 2 February 2009 3:35
Open all the HBO shows and movies to VoD though netflix and I can drop HBO!...that is if I had HBO...hehehehehehehe [ + quote]
Hopium (Newbie) 2 February 2009 10:58
they cancelled deadwood fuck hbo [ + quote]
blueboy09 (Newbie) 2 February 2009 13:40
Actually, this is really not that much different from what you get in cable and satellite packages. Pretty much the same IMO. Why would you want to pay $10 a month for $120 a year, when you could get the same TV series on DVD/Blu-Ray a little more than half that amount and get to keep these to watch 4ever. I just don't see the rationality (besides convenience) on even paying for this. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 2 February 2009 14:20
*Originally posted by blueboy09:* Actually, this is really not that much different from what you get in cable and satellite packages. Pretty much the same IMO. Why would you want to pay $10 a month for $120 a year, when you could get the same TV series on DVD/Blu-Ray a little more than half that amount and get to keep these to watch 4ever. I just don't see the rationality (besides convenience) on even paying for this. Becuse you can;t get 3 at a time from netflix for 10$. :P [ + quote]
atomicxl (Junior Member) 2 February 2009 14:58
HBO isn't worth that much imo. I reduced my 3 disc down to one disc and unlimited streaming and thats only like $8. HBO alone doesn't offer me more than double the value. Also, how quickly are they gonna add stuff? Pay $10 bucks to stream Entourage like half a year after in broadcast and is finally released on DVD seems like an ultimate rip-off. [ + quote]
ZippyDSM (AfterDawn Addict) 2 February 2009 15:07
*Originally posted by atomicxl:* HBO isn't worth that much imo. I reduced my 3 disc down to one disc and unlimited streaming and thats only like $8. HBO alone doesn't offer me more than double the value. Also, how quickly are they gonna add stuff? Pay $10 bucks to stream Entourage like half a year after in broadcast and is finally released on DVD seems like an ultimate rip-off. THeres more porn on HBO.... LOL [ + quote]
SProdigy (Member) 2 February 2009 15:18
*Originally posted by atomicxl:* HBO isn't worth that much imo. I reduced my 3 disc down to one disc and unlimited streaming and thats only like $8. HBO alone doesn't offer me more than double the value. Also, how quickly are they gonna add stuff? Pay $10 bucks to stream Entourage like half a year after in broadcast and is finally released on DVD seems like an ultimate rip-off. Exactly. I was always pitched offers for HBO by my cable company and I could fend them off with "I watch Sopranos on DVD." Saves my money, except for when the new season arrived, which always sucked trying to dodge spoilers during water cooler chat. I must say though, when I had HBO On Demand, the new episodes were available the very NEXT day after they aired, so maybe this will be a good thing? Other than that, HBO is only good for watching the boxing events they can't squeeze PPV revenue out of! [ + quote]
dgaus (Newbie) 2 February 2009 21:05
$10 is crazy. I can subscribe to HBO for only $5 thru cable and this includes 5 standard definition HBO's, 1 HD HBO, HBO On Demand, 5 standard definition Cinemax, 1 HD Cinemax and Cinemax On Demand. Why would I pay twice that to stream a limited amount of HBO content thru Netflix when I can catch most shows with HBO On Demand? Chances are if I have internet at highspeed I have cable or Dish. If most people have the option I do, I don't see this taking off. [ + quote]
vballstud (Inactive) 3 February 2009 8:30
Chances are that if this flies and people start dropping cable tv, cable companies will still find a way to make their money... mostly by jacking up cost for broadband. [ + quote]