ROKU, HBO GO

It is because you can access a entire catalog of programming that is not available on demand.

Guys,

I seriously think you are giving Comcast too much credit here -- I'm pretty sure it's entirely by accident that it doesn't work on Roku.  It works really well with Apple TV and any of those little Android based TV boxes that you can find on eBay.  However, they both use a different authentication system than Roku and I betcha the Roku authentication system is not compatible with the system Comcast have in place.

The trick will be getting Comcast to actually update their system to be compatible with Roku, and unless they see a lot of cancellations because of this, they'll not bother making the change.  The other option would be for Roku to tweak their system to use the same authentication method used by Apple TV/Xbox/Android -- I'd think there is a higher chance of that.

Just my 2c...

That's the game they are playing....to try to hold on to their existing model as long as possible before we all take our triple play services elsewhere. In the meantime, we have a service that is lousy compared to competitors who allow full access to the content we are paying for.

Comcast not being able to authenticate Roku is pure nonsense.  In the Boston area, students at Harvard University who are plugged into their Comcast system can get HBO GO on their Rokus.

I was under the impression, perhaps misguided, that comcast internet service was faster than uverse. Otherwise I'd be happy to switch.

And I agree this has nothing to do with technology, everything to do with keeping customers from having a complete service....

I cancelled comcast over 6 months ago. 1) because of HBOgo, 2)because everytime I posted something that made sense, they censored it on this forum, 3)because the price kept climbing higher and higher for no additional (in fact sub standard, compared to other options)reason. I went with ATT uverse. I LOVE IT !!!!!. 1/2 the price. 2X the service. I have all of the pay channels. and uverse DOES have on demand. I can watch prior seasons of current series. I just dont have to go past the 1936 flash gordon films that no one seems to ever care about, yet comcast says "you cant get that with uverse". and i have hbogo. I love it !!!!! and dont let comcast rope you into "faster internet service". I am getting the same bandwith and speed with att as i was getting with comcast. i agree with the prior posters. your only weapon is complaints and cancellations.

in the technical terms.

with the cable internet, it may say 100 mbps.

with the att uverse, it may say 85 mbps.

when you check the reality, they both come through at about 18 to 20 mbps.

So while i still had comcast hooked up, and uverse (they tell you not to cancell comcast until you have the uverse going and ensure you are happy), i plugged the cable in and registered the speed (18-20 mbps), then i went "wireless" on the same pc from the uverse router and get the same (18-20 mbps). PLUS ! did you know that comcast started putting a download limit per month on their customers? ask them if you dont believe me. uverse has no such limit.

Uverse is hands and feet above comcast in ALL aspects. I will never go back to cable again.

Also, all (except the one main box) is wireless. I can move the box to any room i want. no wires. crystal clear HD reception.

There is one restriction with uverse. You cant have more than 4 boxes going at any time. and if you are doing that, you need to spend more family time together.

Comcast has a speed test for your internet.  Google "Comcast speed test".  I get about 16 mb download and 5 mb upload.  Under the terms of their agreement with the FCC when Comcast bought NBC, they cannot limit or charge a class of customers more than other until (I think) 2016.

Note that Verizon is suing the FCC to void their "net neutrality" rule.  I think someone at Cablevision said that would allow cable companies to charge streaming wireless providers (think, Netflix, You Tube, HBO GO) to permit them to have access to the last few feet of cable or fiber optic coming into your home.

Drat! Just found out that we do not have uverse in our area now...which is odd since I'm in the bay area, home of all things tech. Oh well, I guess I keep waiting.

My bad.  I get a download speed with Comcast of about 24 mb, which is consistent with the internet plan I have with them.. My router is upstairs, and I have an extender downstairs, and my internet reception is generally very, very good. Verizon's lowest tier is 15/5.  They recommend (I think) 50/25 mb for $10 more. 

In the Boston area, both Comcast and Verizon have triple-play offers for one to two years that are really inexpensive.  Of course, as a Comcast customer, I can't get a triple-play at the discounted price.  I could switch to Verizon with a whole-house DVR and set-top box, internet and telephone for about $145 plus taxes and the ridiculous fees that telephone providers add to their bill.  That's vs. $250 for what I am paying now for internet and TV ($190) and telephone ($60).  While the DVR is no great shakes (100 hours SD/20 hours HD) and certainly doesn't match up to the new X-1 box that Comcast is promoting in the Boston area for new triple-play customers (they claim eventually everyone will get it), Verizon gets HBO GO and is one of about five providers that is now offering FOX NOW (Fox's equivalent of HBO GO) through Roku.  FX will be rolling out a similar service this fall. 

I have been a Comcast customer for over 20 years (counting predecessors to Comcast.)  You would think that Comcast would show some support to their long-standing customers.  However, the customer reps that I have spoken to seem to care less if I switch.  They are also clueless about HBO GO and have no idea what a Roku player is.  So much for customer service...

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@Wellesley72 wrote:
 

I have been a Comcast customer for over 20 years (counting predecessors to Comcast.)  You would think that Comcast would show some support to their long-standing customers.  However, the customer reps that I have spoken to seem to care less if I switch.  They are also clueless about HBO GO and have no idea what a Roku player is.  So much for customer service...

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If you were a Comcast Rep, would you care?  These guys don't make much, they deal with basic questions all day long (did you try plugging it in?) and because Comcast's customer support structure is broken, they get yelled at DAILY by frustrated customers.  Turnover rates are high and morale is low.  The Reps don't care if you cancel, but a trend in cancellations is going to get management and executives concerned.

The reps are clueless about HBOgo and Roku.  But if you push hard enough, they will be informed by coworkers or management and that will ultimately raise awareness at Comcast of this issue.  Always ask them to file a complaint on your behalf.

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@Wellesley72 wrote:

In the Boston area, students at Harvard University who are plugged into their Comcast system can get HBO GO on their Rokus.

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On-campus residents at Harvard University and University of Washington are able to access HBOgo due to a deal that these two universities have with HBO (or other cable powers).  Check out hbogo.com/#help/ then select Colleges and Universities to see details.

Comcast is waiting for Roku to write them a check before they grant their users access to HBOgo on Roku.  Once Comcast gives the nod, HBOgo writes one line of code and Roku users have access to the content they pay for.