HBOGo vs. On Demand selection

[IQof20]

This goes beyond HBOGo's web site and includes Showtime Anytime, etc.  The selection of movies and series episodes is much larger via the web than via the on demand menus.

This hardly seems to be a licensing issue (I can watch all episodes/seasons of The Wire for example via HBOGo), unless there is some elaborate give/take on per-month charges going on here somewhere to save a couple of pennies.  Given that I pay for these premium channels and the channels themselves seem to still be providing the service I pay for, it then truly seems to reside entirely upon AT&T's shoulders.

To be honest, this seems like a bit of a game for conserving bandwidth by only providing access to certain content to more savvy users.  

I'm willing to just go ahead and re-connect one of my media center PCs to the main television and just watch from HBOGo, Showtime Anytime, etc. vs. the AT&T on-demand menus.   However, I'd at least like to ask for some type of answer on what AT&T's policy is on this for an official response.

FYI, we switched from Comcast and never noticed any difference between HBOGo online content and on-demand content.  Not saying it couldn't be there, just definitely noticing it via AT&T.

[americangame ACE - Warrior]

Or it could be that HBO doesn't want to provide everything to AT&T since watching the movies and shows via VOD streaming means that the users aren't watching whatever is being broadcasted on HBO at that moment?

Companies have done weirder things.

[IQof20]

Yes, but it's all available on HBOGo (all seasons...all shows), so it just seems...strange.

[americangame ACE - Warrior]

Everyone who subscribes to HBO doesn't use HBO Go. I would even bet that the percentage of HBO Go users is low. Not everyone has a streaming box that can do HBO Go. If it wasn't for my Xboxes I wouldn't be able to watch it on my TV and I'm not 100% certain that I would use it.

[bri_man_65]

I get the HBO GO emails from HBO.  They have flaunted before that they offer more dircetly through their app than may be offered in On Demand.   I imagine they are trying to put/show more value in their app, so possibly at some point they can find a way to earn money directly from the app (like maybe a premium price to access all content instead of what is offered through On Demand). 

[oufanindallas]

---

bri_man_65 wrote:

I get the HBO GO emails from HBO.  They have flaunted before that they offer more dircetly through their app than may be offered in On Demand.   I imagine they are trying to put/show more value in their app, so possibly at some point they can find a way to earn money directly from the app (like maybe a premium price to access all content instead of what is offered through On Demand). 

---

If you subscribe to HBO, you get access to HBOGo.  I use it from both my computer and my ROKU device at home.  Good way to get caught up on older series that are no longer On Demand.  HBO is currently testing in Sweden or Norway a Pay version of HBOGo for those who don't have HBO as part of their TV package.