My wish is NetBO = NetFlix + HBO - then I can forget about cable provider. But as others are pointing out - it would be bad for competition.
Netflix now bigger than HBO
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Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#12I just finished watching the first season of House of Cards and I really enjoyed it. It's up there with original HBO programming as far as quality is concerned. If they can keep that up then traditional outlets should definitely stay worried. I know there was some talk about Netflix's future because of their dependence on content providers, but if they can keep this up then they certainly have a hand to play.
They just released another Netflix-original series, Hemlock Grove. After watching through it, I'm not that impressed. The reviews I've read also seem to be on the negative side.
Not to discount your opinion, but I do want to mention that I'm also less than impressed by 50% or more of what comes out on cable, to say nothing of broadcast television. It's just the nature of the creative process (and also, let's face it, varying tastes). Launching a few bad shows will not cripple Netflix, as long as they have a number of good ones and get a good return on that investment.
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#13 I've battled with Netflix many times. Its Canadian content is a joke, compared to what's available in the US I can't imagine why anyone would stay with Netflix Canada for more than a month.
Yes I've tried various VPNs and it's far better but I don't like the layout they changed it since I had used it the first time.
The biggest problem is the bizarre customer service which seems to be very amateurish. I was billed twice per month somehow they got approval to bill my credit card again, same address same person - me, without me giving approval. And it was a battle to get the representative to understand that was a problem.
The representative said she couldn't refund multiple months but I asked how they could take multiple months but not refund it! After some arguing (very unprofessional) she agreed to refund two months.
I asked her to cancel my account and she asked me why! Jesus Christ why do you think! You bill me twice, no approval, you drag your feet to refund my money you took and then are surprised when I want to cancel my account.
The concept is great better than MythTV, torrent or anything I could get working but their billing and customer service absolutely sucks!
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#14It would've been nice if that article compared revenue and profit numbers, rather than just how many subscribers each service had ...
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#15I think that HBO are quietly positioning themselves to prosper when the cable bubble finally bursts, though- HBOGO is great. Compare that to Showtime, for example, whose app offerings are widely panned.
I'm not so sure. HBOGO is exclusively an add-on to the cable service. Its present quality is irrelevant to the post-cable world as it is completely incapable of gaining traction outside of the "cable bubble." It is basically a tree falling in a forest where nobody can hear it. In the far-off future when HBO gets with the times, who knows what Showtime and everyone else's offerings will look like?
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#16I think that HBO are quietly positioning themselves to prosper when the cable bubble finally bursts, though- HBOGO is great. Compare that to Showtime, for example, whose app offerings are widely panned.
Thats why they are testing the waters with HBO Nordic in the scandinavian countries (I reside in Denmark). My experience so far has been that HBO Nordic is compared to Netflix hitting more quality programming than netflix, but Netflix is quickly catching up (especially with House of Cards), and since netflix is monthly based, and HBO Nordic is 6months prepaid, and netflix has good solutions for mobile.
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#17Apple has $100b+ cash on hand. From a strategic perspective, Apple really needs to give a hard look at Netflix.
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#18I keep seeing qz.com linked here: Is there a bloody reason that the page doesn't go completely to the right side, so I can use my bloody mousewheel without my mouse being over the content?
Browser & OS plz
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#19I think that HBO are quietly positioning themselves to prosper when the cable bubble finally bursts, though- HBOGO is great. Compare that to Showtime, for example, whose app offerings are widely panned.
I'm not so sure. HBOGO is exclusively an add-on to the cable service. Its present quality is irrelevant to the post-cable world as it is completely incapable of gaining traction outside of the "cable bubble." It is basically a tree falling in a forest where nobody can hear it. In the far-off future when HBO gets with the times, who knows what Showtime and everyone else's offerings will look like?
I don't think the idea is to gain traction, but to be ready to switch to a non-addon model when the bubble bursts. Espn and HBO have set themselves up with excellent apps and web services. Right now they are (frustratingly) only available to cable subscribers, but if at some point in the future we see a mass exodus from cable companies then all they need to do is add a way to pay them directly and they have a full, independent subscription service.
Re: Netflix now bigger than HBO
#20"HBO’s figure dates to the end of 2012, but it’s unlikely to have grown much in the first three months of 2013, owing as much to the cable TV industry’s stagnation as its own trouble signing up new subscribers."
I wonder how many people are like me and only pay for the months in which Game of Thrones is on (Q2 so far)?