HBO Go Now Playing On Samsung TVs, But Not For Comcast And TWC
DirecTV Allows Access to 'TV Everywhere' Service on Samsung, But Not Roku
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 2/17/2012 2:49:01 PM
HBO's "TV Everywhere" service is now available on Samsung's Internet-connected HDTVs -- but customers of Comcast and Time Warner Cable can't access the feature today.
The two biggest U.S. cable operators also block access to HBO Go on Roku's Internet set-tops, while they do allow subscribers to access the service via PCs, Apple iPads and mobile phones.
Meanwhile, DirecTV is allowing customers to log in to HBO Go on Samsung TVs, but like Comcast and TWC the satellite TV company hasn't given the green light to Roku. DirecTV did not immediately provide an explanation for why the Samsung TVs are OK but the Roku boxes are not.
According to sources familiar with Comcast and Time Warner Cable's positions, HBO has not yet agreed to all of the conditions the MSOs require of their TV Everywhere partners, such as how subscriber information is handled on third-party devices and websites.
Comcast declined to discuss why it is not allowing Xfinity TV customers to use HBO Go on Samsung TVs, but spokeswoman Alana Davis said "we continue discussions with HBO on this." TWC declined to comment; HBO didn't respond to a request for comment.
Pay-TV providers that allow access via both Samsung and Roku platforms include Dish Network, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Suddenlink Communications, AT&T U-verse, Verizon FiOS TV and RCN.
Cablevision Systems, for its part, announced an agreement with HBO to offer HBO Go to subscribers in December, saying it expects to go live "in the next few months."
Separately, at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, Samsung showed demos of 2012 models of its smart TVs providing content from Comcast, TWC, DirecTV and Verizon FiOS. Comcast and TWC are delivering on-demand content through the Samsung sets. Verizon is providing 26 live TV channels as well as VOD and DirecTV is enabling access to live and DVR content directly on Samsung's 2012 line of Smart TVs without the need for additional set-top boxes.
Comcast noted that the Xfinity TV app for Samsung will provide a wide selection of VOD movies and TV shows, including all the same content as HBO Go.
On Time Warner Inc.'s Feb. 8 earnings call, CEO Jeff Bewkes urged the industry to make cable content available on as many devices as possible -- as quickly as possible.
"Frankly, I don't understand the reticence of distributors to authenticate on third-party sites like Roku and get HBO and TNT and all of those channels to television," Bewkes said. "As a general principle, we, as an industry, should be making viewers have availability with on-demand TV of all of their favorite networks on any platform, any device that they want to use. ... That's how you fulfill the promise of your brands and of television to viewers. And I'm hopeful that the industry will move pretty quickly past some of its -- I think their more minor concerns that they have, and they ought to speed up."
The HBO Go service is available exclusively to HBO subscribers through participating affiliates, for no additional charge. Viewers have access to more than 1,400 titles, including every episode of every original HBO series, plus movies, documentaries and other programming.
HBO Go is not compatible with all models of Samsung Internet-connected TVs, according to the companies.
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