Take my money, HBO • Hacker News Board

Re: Take my money, HBO

#41

Post by leif » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:58 AM UTC

_wp3r wrote: post #24

mortenjorck wrote: post #7

The "recent tweets" widget shows people tweeting numbers like $10. Isn't HBO as an add-on to an existing cable subscription generally significantly more than that?

customers with internet > customers that pay for cable Volume wins?

I doubt that inequality amounts to much. Outside of the tech crowd, if you have cable internet, you pretty much have cable TV. Their salespeople are relentless, and most people [in the US] really really really really like TV anyway.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#42

Post by res0nat0r » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 1:59 AM UTC

_wp3r wrote: post #24

mortenjorck wrote: post #7

The "recent tweets" widget shows people tweeting numbers like $10. Isn't HBO as an add-on to an existing cable subscription generally significantly more than that?

customers with internet > customers that pay for cable Volume wins?

Actually it is:

customers that pay for cable + HBO > customers with internet only.

Hence why they have no current desire to alienate big cable to cater to the small number of users who loudly complain they can't watch HBO online when they want.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#43

Post by DeepDuh » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:00 AM UTC

smackfu wrote: post #22

dfc wrote: post #6

As an American I'd rather sign up for "Take My Money BBC."

Would you pay $225 a year? That's how much it costs a Briton. ("The annual cost of a colour TV licence is £145.50")

It's hilarious that they apparently need to specify "colour" ;).

Re: Take my money, HBO

#44

Post by sg214 » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:00 AM UTC

HBO as an add-on to cable packages costs ~$20. If HBO were to offer it as a standalone service, they would have to handle billing, subscription management, increased marketing budget to make up for marketing that cable/sat currently offers for them, etc. So unless a critical mass of people are willing to pay AT LEAST $30 per month, this is a lost cause.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#45

Post by dfc » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:00 AM UTC

smackfu wrote: post #22

dfc wrote: post #6

As an American I'd rather sign up for "Take My Money BBC."

Would you pay $225 a year? That's how much it costs a Briton. ("The annual cost of a colour TV licence is £145.50")

It is not apples to apples. That price includes streaming and over the air/cable license. I only want the streaming license.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#46

Post by veb » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:01 AM UTC

bascule wrote: post #30

smackfu wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would you pay $225 a year? That's how much it costs a Briton. ("The annual cost of a colour TV licence is £145.50")

Would I pay $19/mo for BBC content? Yes

I would too. Absolutely love BBC stuff.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#47

Post by biot » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:01 AM UTC

jquery wrote: post #15

I pay $30/month to watch Starcraft 2 tournaments on GomTV.net. I pay $0/month to watch Game of Thrones, Veep, Girls, and True Blood. I will continue to pay $0 until there is an option that does not involve enriching evil cable executives. Your move, HBO.

Do you always analyze who gets enriched before making purchases? For example, how do you purchase anything without enriching the evil oil executives who sell the petroleum products used to transport goods used in the production of the products and services you consume?

Even if you manage to perfectly align your beliefs with your purchasing habits, how do you ensure that those who profit from your purchases don't give their money to the evil cable or oil executives?

Re: Take my money, HBO

#48

Post by ry0ohki » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:01 AM UTC

smackfu wrote: post #22

dfc wrote: post #6

As an American I'd rather sign up for "Take My Money BBC."

Would you pay $225 a year? That's how much it costs a Briton. ("The annual cost of a colour TV licence is £145.50")

$19/month for what 5 TV channels and 6 radio stations? Pretty good deal!

Re: Take my money, HBO

#49

Post by shpoonj » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:02 AM UTC

I wouldn't pay a single cent to HBO.

I would, on the other hand, pay $40 via iTunes per season of Game of Thrones.

Networks are outdated. Stop trying to change them and adapt like the rest of us.

Re: Take my money, HBO

#50

Post by shmerl » Wed, Jun 06, 2012, 2:03 AM UTC

Did HBO ever consider asking some fixed price per simple download? No streaming, no complicated subscription services. Just payments per files. There can't be any logical reason not to offer it, if it's so widely pirated already. They can only convince some of those who pirate not to do it, if they provide the same level of simplicity and convenience. In any case, it can't make it any worse for them, than it is now. It can probably only make it better.