4 ms·

Are the traditional cable premium channels like HBO & Showtime even relevant anymore? I would hate to be them. I'm sure many (most?) will disagree, but I see t

Are the traditional cable premium channels like HBO & Showtime even relevant anymore? I would hate to be them. I'm sure many (most?) will disagree, but I see these services as on their way out. Quickly. They could have lived longer had they brought out more flexible subscription plans. For example, no way would I have a monthly subscription, but there have been many times I would have paid some fee for a shorter block just to catch a movie or event.

paulhauggis 15y ago
"Are the traditional cable premium channels like HBO & Showtime even relevant anymore? I would hate to be them." Seeing as how their original content is widely torrented, yes.
wmf 15y ago
HBO and Showtime are my favorite channels; too bad I can't get them because I don't want cable.
jasonlotito 15y ago
Yes. Very much so. Between HBO and Showtime, that's pretty much why I subscribe to TV. Their original programming is top notch, and well done.
robryan 15y ago
I'd hate to be a cable intermediary a lot more, at least HBO and Showtime have a lot of original content to play with.
ctdonath 15y ago
They need to learn from Kodak. Once the public begins to transition en masse to another medium, it's very fast. TV has a certain "lemming" following: people want particular content because other people want that content. When enough people expect the bulk of their content via Netflix (or wherever) the social pressure to stick to "cable" will evaporate. Now if somebody could just replicate the "here we are now, entertain us" brain-dead delivery system that cable/OTA provides.
- pyre 15y ago
  > Once the public begins to transition en masse to > another medium, it's very fast. HBO already has a system in place (HBO Go), but it seems like they are waiting for a tipping point to divorce their internet content streaming from the requirement of having a cable subscription. Probably once they feel that pissing off the cable companies is worth the revenue they will gain.
chollida1 15y ago
HBO and live sports are the only two reasons I subscribe to cable anymore. I'd say HBO is one of the most relevant forces in TV these days.

paulhauggis 15y ago

"Are the traditional cable premium channels like HBO & Showtime even relevant anymore? I would hate to be them." Seeing as how their original content is widely torrented, yes.

wmf 15y ago

HBO and Showtime are my favorite channels; too bad I can't get them because I don't want cable.

jasonlotito 15y ago

Yes. Very much so. Between HBO and Showtime, that's pretty much why I subscribe to TV. Their original programming is top notch, and well done.

robryan 15y ago

I'd hate to be a cable intermediary a lot more, at least HBO and Showtime have a lot of original content to play with.

ctdonath 15y ago

They need to learn from Kodak. Once the public begins to transition en masse to another medium, it's very fast. TV has a certain "lemming" following: people want particular content because other people want that content. When enough people expect the bulk of their content via Netflix (or wherever) the social pressure to stick to "cable" will evaporate. Now if somebody could just replicate the "here we are now, entertain us" brain-dead delivery system that cable/OTA provides.

pyre 15y ago
> Once the public begins to transition en masse to > another medium, it's very fast. HBO already has a system in place (HBO Go), but it seems like they are waiting for a tipping point to divorce their internet content streaming from the requirement of having a cable subscription. Probably once they feel that pissing off the cable companies is worth the revenue they will gain.

chollida1 15y ago

HBO and live sports are the only two reasons I subscribe to cable anymore. I'd say HBO is one of the most relevant forces in TV these days.