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TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

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Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#111

Post by vrc »

DennisP wrote: post #67
letmeinhere wrote: post #14

Apparently some of these series are going to be re-licensed to ad-supported networks. [1] I don't think this undermines the premise of this article, that the current crop of streaming execs are moving TV backward to a more ephemeral medium. It's gonna be essential for independent archivists to preserve assets that are being discarded. [1] https://www.polygon.com/23513277/westworld-hbo-where-to-stre...

Yeah, that doesn't make me feel any better. Generally I have zero interest in watching quality shows with interruptions by ads, but on streaming networks they're especially bad. It's not like they bother putting them in at scene changes, they just jam them in anywhere.

Also they have such terrible ad inventory that even their top-tier programming gets the same ads at each interval.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#112

Post by yaomtc »

tyingq wrote: post #103

The practice of Amazon Prime, Frontier, and other on-demand services just up and removing movies (or tv shows) you "bought" is weirder to me. I assume it's because they lost rights in some negotiation, but the movies just disappear. No notice, no refund.

That's why I only buy shows/movies on Blu-ray or DVD. I'm not paying a similar price to that and risk having it taken away at some point.

EDIT: And if that isn't a reasonable option, I can probably download a DRM-free version of the movie from some "movie preservationist".

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#113

Post by Guvante »

cletus wrote: post #101

This feels like a contract issue. Rumor has it the issue is residuals but on the face of it that doesn't make sense. Why? Because you would expect residuals on a streaming service to have somethign to do with how many people watched the show. If that were the case, there'd be no reason to remove it. So the obvious answer is that's not how it works. My guess is that HBO is paying residuals for having the show availabl…

First of all this move is enough for me to never subscribe to HBO Max so don't take my defense as positive, just explanatory.

> If that were the case, there'd be no reason to remove it

If the deep parts of the catalog don't generate subscriptions they are a money hole.

Remember you don't want to supply users with everything they want when paying residuals. You want to give them exactly enough content to justify the subscription cost and nothing more.

The ideal user is one that only watches a single show and nothing else.

Of course the problem with this perspective is it assumes users ignore such actions. Hopefully the user base proves them wrong.

> Given that though, HBO might be removing Westworld while residuals are the most expensive and it could come back in a couple of years.

That isn't necessarily true, it could be that by pulling the content the residuals are frozen or even worse (as someone suggested on an article on the topic) reset when you begin streaming again.

> I agree it does feel like HBO is breaking their viewer expectations by removing one of their own originals.

Honestly I would bet a lot of money viewers were ignored for this discussion. It is exactly the kind of "short term profit at all costs" play that has become more popular.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#115

Post by philliphaydon »

listenallyall wrote: post #63
philliphaydon wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was gonna watch west world the other day but found out it’s cancelled? :(

Westworld is a uniquely terrible show. HBO is doing you a favor by removing it.

I thought it was meant to be good? 8.5 on IMDB.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#116

Post by bombcar »

phpisthebest wrote: post #93
dougmwne wrote: post #33

I think part of the reason this is a big deal is that it breaks HBO’s brand. They have always been seen as a prestige channel that had a catalog of original programming you’d never see anywhere else. Westworld appeared to be part of this original programming portfolio and something that would live on as part of what it meant to be subscribed to HBO, like the Sopranos. Having the series disappear is like finding out t…

Disney;s business model for many years was to do just that, they would put popular titles "in the vault" only to re-release them a few years later it is proven economic model of false scarcity. Just like the McRib, McDs would never put it on the permanent menu because they sell more due to it "limited run" every year. I suspect these shows will be like that, they will be removed and readded periodically to boost subs…

99% of the world never noticed movies going in or out of the vault.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#117

Post by wankle »

I breezed through the article, we don't watch TV on the streaming services. We use free HD OTA since we're not that far from the towers. Do a lot of people watch TV shows on the streaming networks? It doesn't seem like something I'd want to pay for or if I did, maybe I'd just go back to cable? We use streaming services for movies and documentaries.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#118

Post by LeoPanthera »

tyingq wrote: post #103

The practice of Amazon Prime, Frontier, and other on-demand services just up and removing movies (or tv shows) you "bought" is weirder to me. I assume it's because they lost rights in some negotiation, but the movies just disappear. No notice, no refund.

Does this actually happen? It was my understanding that they disappear from the store, but if you already bought it, you still have access to it.

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#119

Post by listenallyall »

phpisthebest wrote: post #97
listenallyall wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Buying a legit copy doesn't make it legal to download a pirated/illegal copy, any more than buying a band's CD makes it legal to sneak into their concert without a ticket.

Downloading, or possessing copyrighted work that you have not paid for is not actually illegal. It is not drugs, and it is not theft One of the reasons indivual consumers were targeted for torrents was the fact they were UPLOADING while at the same time downloading Copyright law is about DISTRIBUTION of a protected work, if I have a copy of a movie, and never distribute it even if the person I obtained it from was no…

It is certainly not as clear-cut as you are making it out. It's not theft to "possess" Call of Duty if you never paid for it?

Or, say I purchased a record of Rolling Stones "Sticky Fingers" back in 1977 or whenever. It is a copyrighted work that I paid for, as you stated. Now, can I go into Sam Goody in 1983 and just walk out with a cassette of the same album? In 1994 can I snag a CD off the shelf at Tower Records? Today, can I demand Amazon or Google or Apple provide me with a MP3 copy?

Let's say I bought every single Rolling Stones album, in every format, etc. I own every song they have ever released. Tomorrow they come out with a new box set -- every song in the collection is one that I already own... so now I can possess the box set for free without buying it?

Re: TV disappears, but HBO Max removing shows feels different

#120

Post by listenallyall »

mathieuh wrote: post #105
listenallyall wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you are claiming that downloading illegal torrents is in fact legal?

Something being illegal doesn’t say anything about its morality. Many things that we now think are normal were illegal not too long ago, and in many cases things are made illegal to protect the established powers. Personally I only follow laws I agree with.

So did the Pirate Roberts Silk Road guy. Terrific life decision.

edit: Brittney Griner too.

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