Two more risks: net neutrality and data caps. If cable companies were to ever concede a direct-to-consumer offering from HBO, you can bet that HBO gets a small

Two more risks: net neutrality and data caps. If cable companies were to ever concede a direct-to-consumer offering from HBO, you can bet that HBO gets a smaller share of the cable subscriber revenue. Without legislation protecting competition, the cable companies can easily stifle online competition with data caps and violations of net neutrality principles... this is likely because it is in their economic interest (albeit, in a subtle fashion) to do so. My guess is that HBO understands how much this would hurt their bottom-line just as well as SONY does[1]. Lesson: lack of broadband competition harms the consumer and stifles innovation. [1] http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/2993265/sony-iptv-plans-comcast-bandwidth-cap http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/2993265/sony-iptv-plans-com...