Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35741074)

If that's what you think, then you really have missed the point of those wanting access to HBO content.

In the US, HBO is available to many cable/satellite providers; in the UK, it is limited to one. I believe a cable/sat subscription gives you access to HBO GO.

Box sets are way overpriced and take several months to be released. Individual episodes are also way overpriced.

Using services like Now TV is an option for people like myself, because I no longer subscribe to pay TV. But for those who do subscribe to (an already very expensive) pay TV service, an extra seven quid a month is beyond the pale.

Now TV is a very poor HBO service anyway compared to HBO GO, in that back seasons are absent for very long periods of time.

HBO were greedy by doing the deal with Sky in preference to wider accessibility for people in the UK.

I don't do it myself, but HBO deserve all the illegal downloads that they get. When will they learn; give people widely available access to content at a fair price and they will pay.

This is about greater access to HBO content; nothing whatsoever about having a dig at Sky

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35741010)

No, I didn't mean that, Harry. I was trying to make the point that if you didn't get broadband through VM, other platforms offer broadband, so it's not a problem.

However, other platforms can't offer Sky Atlantic or any of the programmes that are shown on it as 'exclusive to Sky'.

Therefore, the broadband analogy is not the correct one to use.

Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35741074)

If that's what you think, then you really have missed the point of those wanting access to HBO content.

In the US, HBO is available to many cable/satellite providers; in the UK, it is limited to one. I believe a cable/sat subscription gives you access to HBO GO.

Box sets are way overpriced and take several months to be released. Individual episodes are also way overpriced.

Using services like Now TV is an option for people like myself, because I no longer subscribe to pay TV. But for those who do subscribe to (an already very expensive) pay TV service, an extra seven quid a month is beyond the pale.

Now TV is a very poor HBO service anyway compared to HBO GO, in that back seasons are absent for very long periods of time.

HBO were greedy by doing the deal with Sky in preference to wider accessibility for people in the UK.

I don't do it myself, but HBO deserve all the illegal downloads that they get. When will they learn; give people widely available access to content at a fair price and they will pay.

This is about greater access to HBO content; nothing whatsoever about having a dig at Sky

Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35741074)

If that's what you think, then you really have missed the point of those wanting access to HBO content.

In the US, HBO is available to many cable/satellite providers; in the UK, it is limited to one. I believe a cable/sat subscription gives you access to HBO GO.

Box sets are way overpriced and take several months to be released. Individual episodes are also way overpriced.

Using services like Now TV is an option for people like myself, because I no longer subscribe to pay TV. But for those who do subscribe to (an already very expensive) pay TV service, an extra seven quid a month is beyond the pale.

Now TV is a very poor HBO service anyway compared to HBO GO, in that back seasons are absent for very long periods of time.

HBO were greedy by doing the deal with Sky in preference to wider accessibility for people in the UK.

I don't do it myself, but HBO deserve all the illegal downloads that they get. When will they learn; give people widely available access to content at a fair price and they will pay.

This is about greater access to HBO content; nothing whatsoever about having a dig at Sky

Originally Posted by harry_hitch (Post 35741114)

But who else offers VMs speeds or related reliability. Also you can legally buy HBO content from a variety of places, not just sky.

Unlike VM broadband and their speeds, which are only available for VM customers. Or Netflix, which don't share their exclusive content.

HBO shows can be watched without funding Sky, you just wanna moan about it.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35741225)

Sorry, Harry, I can't agree. VM may have the best broadband speeds at the moment, but there is nothing to prevent other companies investing to provide those speeds. BT are certainly getting there. It is completely the wrong analogy.

I maintain that when you are dealing with a product that is stand alone, such as the Game of Thrones series, there should be a legal obligation to make it available on all platforms without discrimination and at the same price. How the platforms package it is up to them.

I can live with a short six month or even a year exclusivity, but after that I think it is unreasonable.

Originally Posted by telegramsam (Post 35741224)

Slightly off topic I know but does anyone know how you can get rid of the `red button` at the bottom right of the screen when watching Sky 5? It was so annoying me when watching Scotland v Ireland match last night!

Originally Posted by andy_m (Post 35741119)

More to the point, why does anyone think they're entitled to watch it? Hbo make stuff and are entitled to sell it to whomever they like. Sky buy stuff and are entitled to show it to whomever they like. I have no involvement in either of those actions - so why should I expect to see it on my tv?

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35741223)

I agree. I think Andy is defending the indefensible. You don't need to rely on exclusivity to differentiate your product.

Originally Posted by passingbat (Post 35741269)

Technically you are right.

But the internet has shrunk the world and people are used to immediacy now and expect it. They don't want to wait 6 months to see an episode that social media has already discussed and therefore 'spoiled' the story line.

Viewing habits have changed drastically and people get frustrated with the old system of content being tied to specific cable or satellite providers, when they know that the wherewithal is there to give global access via the web to all who want to pay for it. There is a rapidly growing number of Cord-Cutters who are frustrated at the limitations that the old system, by it's very nature, imposes.

The music industry finally learned, giving rise to Napster becoming legal, followed by the likes of Spotify. The announcement of HBO re an online service next year is a great sign. We just need the roots of the old system to stop strangling the progress of the new direction. The people want it, so eventually the content providers will have to get on board.

Originally Posted by spiderplant (Post 35741257)

Press the blue button. Pressing Clear also works on TiVo.

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35741225)

Sorry, Harry, I can't agree. VM may have the best broadband speeds at the moment, but there is nothing to prevent other companies investing to provide those speeds. BT are certainly getting there. It is completely the wrong analogy.

I maintain that when you are dealing with a product that is stand alone, such as the Game of Thrones series, there should be a legal obligation to make it available on all platforms without discrimination and at the same price. How the platforms package it is up to them.

I can live with a short six month or even a year exclusivity, but after that I think it is unreasonable.

Originally Posted by telegramsam (Post 35741398)

How can I actually tell how cheap my broadband is with Virgin when they bundle it all in with the tv package? When I was with Sky their broadband was only 7 pound 50 p and worked just as good as Virgins.

Originally Posted by harry_hitch (Post 35741572)

Its odd you ask that, considering you have the info on what you paid Sky.

That being said, it was over 5 years ago now, but I managed to find a break down of bundle costs before I joined VM. My bill is lower now than is was then too. I was paying Sky more, whilst receiving less MB's from Sky BB - even though we had a new deal from Sky.