ROKU, HBO GO

> Not sure who to complain to on this but there are three choices - Comcast, HBO, or Roku

When in doubt, follow the money.  Who would want to propogate HBO content as broadly as possible, on as many devices as possible, and who would want to limit it? 

HBO: More HBO on more devices => greater interest in HBO => more subcribers => more money for HBO.

Roku: More channels and more subcribers on Roku => more Rokus sold.

Comcast: Distributing HBO beyond the confines of your Comcast controlled devices = less interest in maintaining a Comcast subscription.

This is a disintermediation issue, like music distribution, or contacting a taxi driver from your smartphone.  Comcast stands between you and the content provider, and they're afraid of the new business model. Ten years from now, we'll get our video content directly from the people who make it.  Until then, we have Comcast.

This is NOT a Comcast blocking issue. It is an authorization issue with HBO.  When you go to the HBO go activation site and select Xbox360 or Samsung TV comcast is there but not for Roku. I have Comcast for Internet but DirectTV for TV. If there were a Direct TV option under Roku I could get it because it would check my direct TV account to see that I am a valid HBO subscriber. It is just a validation that you are a subscriber not anything to do with the actual data (port) being authorized.

I can go on my comcast internet on my computer, go to HBO GO and tell it I am direct TV and it validates and works fine. HBO is the culprit. They do not have a selection for either Comcast or Direct TV for the Roku as your provider.

Not sure who to complain to on this but there are three choices - Comcast, HBO, or Roku. Very dissapointing that HBO go is not on the Roku with direct TV or Comcast.

Same logic.  Which of those three companies has the least money?

Doug in your case you complain to DirecTV they are who you get HBO from 

It is Comcast blocking, it would make it too easy for people with HBO to get rid of their 2nd (or 3rd) Comcast box and watch HBO GO on a Roku and save money every month.  

http://www.technobuffalo.com/home-entertainment/streaming-media/hbo-go-not-working-on-your-roku-dont-blame-hbo/

Yes, I would have to be authorized by DirectTV but the question looms why would DirectTV care about the Roku as the data would always be handled by another source. DirectTV does not handle internet data. That part was spun off to another outfit. Also DirectTV is listed for BOTH the Samsung and Xbox devices. Sure seems like a Roku issue to me. Why would DirectTV allow those but not Roku. Does not make sense. I thik there is more to this than meets the eye.

Doug, do not apply logic to this issue. They both claim that they want to be able to control the user experience. Comcast and DirecTV are the last two major players not to allow Roku to be verified on HBO GO. Basically we all believe they want that extra money for additional boxes they rent. Yes I know it doesn't make sense.

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@doug3507 wrote:

Yes, I would have to be authorized by DirectTV but the question looms why would DirectTV care about the Roku as the data would always be handled by another source. DirectTV does not handle internet data. That part was spun off to another outfit. Also DirectTV is listed for BOTH the Samsung and Xbox devices. Sure seems like a Roku issue to me. Why would DirectTV allow those but not Roku. Does not make sense. I thik there is more to this than meets the eye.

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There is not; somewhere, buried in this forum is an actual response from Comcast regarding the Roku.  It was Comcast that had to allow access to HBO through the HBO Go app on the Xbox.  Comcast has been "reviewing" this issue for years.

Apps written for the Roku are coded differently than the same app written for a tablet or smartphone.  Desktop access is through your browser/web page.  Comcast has to allow the Roku HBO Go app to access customer data to authorize account info and verify subscribership.  There is one primary difference with the Roku vs smartphone, laptop, etc.: It's a "set top" box much like the cable box connected to your TV.  The cable box Comcast charges you to lease.  The cable box Comcast wants you to use to access programming.

Boxee, Apple TV, Roku, they are all "cut the cord" devices that (theoretically) compete with Comcast's services.  Comcast's argument is that HBO content is available through On Demand for free with a subscription to HBO.  This is true for movies.  The problem comes when dealing with HBO's original programming (arguably the best reason to have HBO Go).  HBO Go has EVERY episode of every show HBO has ever produced in its library.  Xfinity On Demand does not.  Good luck finding the entire first season of the Sopranos or Sex in the City using On Demand.

HBO does not exist stand alone.  It is ALWAYS bundled with cable company offerings.  HBO enjoys that partnership very much.  It has no intention of losing the marketing and distribution network afforded it by Comcast, Cox or Time Warner.  So don't expect content direct to the consumer any time soon.

I subscribed to HBO so I could use HBO Go for Game of Thrones.  The fact that the only way I can enjoy it on my HDTV is by running an HDMI cable from my laptop to my TV when I already have a Roku is beyond annoying.  I am probably going to dump HBO (sick of watching it on small screens).  I'd rather just buy the Blu Ray at this point.  Three months of paying for HBO (at regular price) is pretty much the equivalent of buying the disks.

Do some research on all of this and you will see what I'm saying is true. 

hey folks.

my trial for epix just expired and i cant get it (even if i pay for it), because comcast doesnt carry it.

But they posted a link to "tweet" to https://twitter.com/comcastcares

to complain about it.

we should all try to do this for hbogo.

"comcastcares" (about your monthly payment.)

This is why new content providers like The Blaze TV sign agreements that allow there service to be purchased AL-LA -CART.

You can subscribe online and stream it or have it on DirecTV for 5 bucks a month. If more content providers embrace this model people will most likely have less channels but the quality will ris because customers will have to justify paying for it.

This thread is about people who get HBO through their TV provider as being blocked out of accessing HBO GO on their roku, I don't think anyone here was thinking that if you used comcast as your isp but had a different tv provider you would be blocked by comcast.  HBO GO is tied to your tv service with comcast, not internet.

I switched from comcast cable tv to dish a few months back while keeping comcast as my isp and have no issues accessing hbo go on my roku.

Yesd, I agree it is Comcast that doesnot allow the process of confirming you are an HBO customer BUT if one has Comcast Cable and gets TV from DirectTV then it is DirectTV that is at issue. If DirectTV allowed HBO verification then the data would flow over my Comcast Internet connection just fine. So in my case it is a DirectTV problem not Comcast.

Yikes... I can't figure out why people who post here don't do a little reading first??? As the last guy explained, keeping Comcast for your intternet service and switching to Dish (not DirecTV) will not be a problem.  The day Comcast starts blocking your internet, the world will break loose and it's also a FCC violation.  DirecTV and Comcast are the only two HBO providers that will not authorize HBO GO on a Roku.  For most, DISH is the only option.