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While Comcast is generously taking the caps off for Xbox customers looking for Comcast Xfinity On Demand content, those looking for HBO Go will not find it available period. Time Warner Cable doesn’t cap their customers, but they are not offering HBO Go for Xbox users either (as well as those with set top streaming boxes like Roku).
Microsoft announced this morning Comcast Xfinity, HBO Go, and MLB.tv apps for Xbox Live were now available, but both cable operators have decided HBO Go on the Xbox is not right for them, at least for now.
Microsoft updated their website to confirm neither cable operator, serving tens of millions of customers, were among the providers supporting HBO Go on the gaming console. The service is available to customers of AT&T, Bend Broadband, Blue Ridge Communications, Cablevision, Charter, Cox, DirecTV, Dish, Grande Communications, HTC Digital Cable, Massillon Cable/Clear Picture, Mediacom, Midcontinent Communications, RCN, Suddenlink, Verizon, and Wow!
Oddly, Stop the Cap! readers tell us they can access HBO Go on Comcast’s iPad and iPhone apps, which hold some hope HBO Go will show up eventually on the gaming console.
Time Warner Cable is another story. We’ve previously noted they’ve shown no interest in allowing streaming video and game consoles access to premium movie channel content, although they do support some access through phone and iPad apps.
This is exactly why these services will fail. Something that should be ubiquitous and available everyone is fragmented and selectively offered through just a handful of devices or partners. Other than a handful of geeks that focus on these devices, the average consumer isn’t going to understand that buying an Xbox, Roku, Boxee, Google TV, Smart Tv, etc.. means that only some will have the streaming they want but not all, or only a random few – and only if they’re subscribers to cable TV. It’s just way too bloody confusing when it should be dead simple. Fragmented TV viewing… Read more »
“Microsoft updated their website to confirm neither cable operator, serving tens of millions of customers, were among the providers supporting HBO Go on the gaming console.” I don’t assume that all of those “tens of millions” of customers subscribe to HBO, but those who do should be very upset. All cable or satellite subscribers have to pay extra for HBO and they should have access to all aspects of the extra service that they pay for. If HBO adds something to their premium service (such as an app) all of those paying customers should have access to it automatically. Thankfully… Read more »
“They are the only company to offer live streaming over any 3g, 4g or WIFI while other companies restrict their customers to their home networks. DISH also supports third party apps like HBOGO and Epix. It is one thing to talk about TV anywhere, it is another thing to offer it”
Didnt we already clarify that offering customers a slingbox at a high price was not the same as offering TV everywhere.
“Didnt we already clarify that offering customers a slingbox at a high price was not the same as offering TV everywhere.” I am not sure how SlingBox doesn’t deliver TV everywhere, but I wasn’t talking about that and I don’t have one to comment on. Perhaps you need further clarification on what I was speaking to. The SlingBOX is a great product that can place shift almost any kind of programming over the internet. Unless you find a deal it can be a little pricey. DISH has a sister product which is specifically designed for integration for their receivers. This… Read more »
If I can get HBO GO from Time Warner on my laptop, and plug in my laptop to my TV it is the same thing as having it on the XBOX. That being said, I can’t hook up my Laptop to my TV, but most people who have a newer laptop can. I just don’t get why it is not on the xbox but on a laptop/mobile device. If they think they are losing something by letting people have HBO Go on the Xbox, they aren’t. They are losing me as a customer to Verizon though because of this bulls***.(ridiculous… Read more »