ROKU, HBO GO

[WakkyWabbit]

When considering purchasing a ROKU device, I asked about HBOGo. ROKU customer reps informed me that if I had HBO via Comcast, all I would need to do is contact them to set it up. I did. Then I found out that ROKU did not support Comcast. When I contacted Comcast about the issue, which was several times and many minutes over the phone, I was told by Comcast they have no idea who ROKU is and that Comcast is not blocking them. Comcast reps, a total of three on separate calls, all told me the same thing. ROKU is not on their blocked list.

From everything I have been told by Comcast, this is a ROKU issue and not a Comcast blocking issue. I find it highly unlikely that three different Comcast employees would spend so much time with me over the phone with all three giving the same response if they were being dishonest.

If you, or someone else reading this, has direct info that it is Comcast blocking ROKU, I would appreciate them emailing it to me at xxxxxxxx@comcast.net. From everything I can gather, this is a ROKU issue and ROKU is the one stating that Comcast is blocking them. Comcast does not make any such statement that I can find.

[JonnyWatcher]

Hello,

I think you misunderstand the situation. Comcast internet is NOT blocking ROKU in any way. You can use your ROKU on your Comcast internet connection, to use Netflix, Amazon, or any other number of apps, without any issue.

The problem is that the HBO App will NOT work. It will not work because Comcast refuses to authorize the ROKU for use with the HBO Go application.

HBO Go requires activation by the cable provider in order to work. Try using HBO Go from a web browser, and it will prompt you to go to Comcast first to login, after which you will be accorded access to HBO Go. That is the issue here - Comcast has made apparently made a business decision not to allow HBO Go to be activated on their cable network.

They have not communicated the reasons for this, but suffice it to say that the use of Roku with HBO Go does threaten Comcast's revenue, and for now they seem to be circling the wagons.

I hope this helps you.

[tw98056]

Hey Wakky..

You need to spend more time reading through all the posts before you blame Roku.  It's definitely a Comcast problem and the idiots that you talk to at Comcast support are clueless.  Go to the HBOgo/activate page and try to find Comcast or Xfinity listed as an option for Roku or Samsung TV's.  You will find nothing there because they will not allow any connected to TV devices to be authorized.  They do allow for mobile and computers via a browser because they aren't connected to TV devices.  Roku is not at fault and they have tried in many ways to fight the battle and HBO could really do more in my eyes!!

[JonnyWatcher]

Also, regarding your comment about Comcast not lying about when they do block things, sadly that is not true. Perhaps the support people aren't told the truth, but Comcast has been caught blocking things in the past (and denying it until the end).

http://www.edbrill.com/ebrill/edbrill.nsf/dx/hart-v.-comcast-proposed-class-action-settlement-for-lo...

http://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2007/10/comcast-traffic-blocking-even-more-apps-groupware-clien...

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20071021/150541.shtml

[wsalopek]

Another reason this makes no sense is that I can hook up my notebook computer, or my desktop computer, or our xBox, to our TV, and watch HBO GO.  Comcast has authorized those devices.

So with all those ways (and probably a couple more I am not thinking of), to watch HBO GO via Comcast on a TV, why the heck is Comcast not allowing the same thing to happen via Roku?

What is it about, say, an xBox, that makes it different, in the eyes of Comcast, than a Roku?

Geez...

P.S.  I guess you guys know you can use "Playon", a Roku app, to get HBO GO thru the Roku, to the TV...but it's a bit of a hassle and not as slick as it would be if HBO GO's app itself was authorized for use.

[rwspears]

Hmmm could it be that Microsoft and Comcast now own NBC? Could it be that blocking HBO GO on the xbox was embarrising to Microsoft? Perhaps Microsoft took comcast to the side and said BEHAVE or else? LOL

[shadowplay0918]

Comcast has a working relationship with Microsoft/Xbox and started off my offering Comcast on Demand on Xbox and later added HBO Go.

Google "Comcast blocking HBO Go" and look at the hits you get or look at this article about how the CEO of Time Warner is unhappy about some cable companies are blocking the app (basically only Comcast at this point).....

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/02/08/time-warner-ceo-sends-clear-signal-to-cable-operators/

[tw98056]

Nope, DirecTV is still blocking it too unless they very recently changed and if they did, I'll be signing up with them in heartbeat.

[jhusosky]

At that time Time-Warner Cable was also blocking HBOGO on Roku, Comcast and DirecTV are the only major players blocking HBOGO on Roku

[tw98056]

Time for DISH if that's the case and they have a killer deal on their Hopper DVR right now which is considered to be the best one in the market, plus they really like ROKU

[MickRonson]

Verizon is another option. Depending on your location.

[Dystopian]

 Here is the direct contact form for the senior VP of digital platforms at Comcast. 

Matt Strauss

Comcast HQ

Comcast SVP Digital & Emerging Platforms

About page :http://blog.comcast.com/author/matt-strauss/

Email me : http://blog.comcast.com/contact_author.html?mailTo=Matt%20Strauss

Twitter : @Matt_CIM

Contacting lower level support reps is next to worthless. This comcast exec has a blog and is open to communicating with customers.Contacting him is our best chance to changethis policy. Email him (to the point ,yet well though out) letters explaining our frustration and maybe it will make a difference. If you get a response, POST it here. 

[sam_net]

Maybe they are willing to put HBO GO only on their X1 platform?

They won't change whatever their biz decision is about not allowing Roku unless something happens like what happened to Netflix.

[wsalopek]

Good job on that contact info...here is the reply I got...just political mumbo jumbo...not explaining or taking responsibility...but hey, they got back to me quick...I guess that says a little something...still, pressure needs to be applied:

Rosario, Victor ✆ Victor_Rosario@cable.comcast.com

5:08 PM (5 hours ago)

  

Every day we're working to make XfinityTV programming available to our customers in more ways including the Xbox, connected TVs, on websites like XfinityTV and HBOGo, on tablets and other devices.  Today, all HBO content is available on XfinityTV.com and through the XfinityTV app. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver even more choices to our customers in more places.   We do have have an ETA on Roku at this time.

Thank you,
Victor Rosario
Social Media Specialist
National Customer Operations
One Comcast Center
1701 JFK Blvd. Philadelphia, PA  19103
Follow Comcast Cares on Twitter (@comcastcares) and Facebook (Facebook.com/comcastcares)

[rwspears]

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@wsalopek wrote:

Good job on that contact info...here is the reply I got...just political mumbo jumbo...not explaining or taking responsibility...but hey, they got back to me quick...I guess that says a little something...still, pressure needs to be applied:

Rosario, Victor ✆ Victor_Rosario@cable.comcast.com

5:08 PM (5 hours ago)

  

Every day we're working to make XfinityTV programming available to our customers in more ways including the Xbox, connected TVs, on websites like XfinityTV and HBOGo, on tablets and other devices.  Today, all HBO content is available on XfinityTV.com and through the XfinityTV app. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver even more choices to our customers in more places.   We do have have an ETA on Roku at this time.

Thank you,
Victor Rosario
Social Media Specialist
National Customer Operations
One Comcast Center
1701 JFK Blvd. Philadelphia, PA  19103
Follow Comcast Cares on Twitter (@comcastcares) and Facebook (Facebook.com/comcastcares)

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@wsalopek wrote:

Good job on that contact info...here is the reply I got...just political mumbo jumbo...not explaining or taking responsibility...but hey, they got back to me quick...I guess that says a little something...still, pressure needs to be applied:

Rosario, Victor ✆ Victor_Rosario@cable.comcast.com

5:08 PM (5 hours ago)

  

Every day we're working to make XfinityTV programming available to our customers in more ways including the Xbox, connected TVs, on websites like XfinityTV and HBOGo, on tablets and other devices.  Today, all HBO content is available on XfinityTV.com and through the XfinityTV app. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver even more choices to our customers in more places.   We do have have an ETA on Roku at this time.

Thank you,
Victor Rosario
Social Media Specialist
National Customer Operations
One Comcast Center
1701 JFK Blvd. Philadelphia, PA  19103
Follow Comcast Cares on Twitter (@comcastcares) and Facebook (Facebook.com/comcastcares)

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The part in red is a LIE. I know for a fact the HBO GO app has way more HBO content.

[chrisbennett194]

I would kindly request that HBOGO conent be unblocked from the Roku device.

Yours truly,

A customer that sends you thousands of dollars per year to access content that I pay for.

[puffgussy]

Here's what I just sent:

Hello,

Contrary to numerous statements from Comcast representatives, Xfinity does NOT contain ALL of HBO’s content within the Xfinity library.  HBO Go contains EVERY episode of EVERY piece of original content HBO has produced.

Comcast/Xfinity does NOT have original content so it can not claim to be a viable substitute for HBO Go.  As it stands, Comcast is the only MAJOR cable TV provider not allowing access to HBO Go through the Roku.

One of the primary reasons I have cable TV AND HBO is to watch HBO original series.  I have a nice, new HD TV and my Roku streams in HD.  It loads and buffers with extreme efficiency and the picture quality is fantastic.  In order to take advantage of HD content through Comcast, I was forced to spend an extra $16/month or $192/annually on an HD DVR.  That may be in Comcast’s best interest but it is certainly not in mine.

Comcast’s solution for working around HBO Go is basically to spend more money on Comcast services.  That is RIDICULOUS!  Knowing that Cox and Time Warner allow HBO Go through the Roku, there is simply NO excuse or explanation that Comcast can offer that I would believe beyond:

“Comcast simply does not wish to allow HBO Go on the Roku because Comcast makes more money when customers have fewer options for content and are forced to use our services instead”

If that IS the explanation, Comcast is even more derisive towards its customers than it is already perceived to be.  If this is NOT the reason, then…

…GET OFF THE POT AND ALLOW ACCESS ALREADY.  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. 

[EP87]

Is there any estimate on when/ if ever HBOGO will be available on the Roku for comcast subscribers?

[Dystopian]

UPDATE BELOW :

[Dystopian]

OFFICIAL UPDATE :

Someone used the contact info i posted in the Samsung hbo go thread and contacted @Matt_Cim  directly via twitter , guess what, he responded !They are aiming for Q1 2013 for Samsung TV's. Roku might also be coming about that time but we won't know until someone tweets him to see if he responds back. If you get a response , post it here. It's cool to see that Comcast has responsive executives , faith restored?

I'm reposting the contact info below  :

Matt Strauss

Comcast HQ

Comcast SVP Digital & Emerging Platforms

About page :http://blog.comcast.com/author/matt-strauss/

Email me : http://blog.comcast.com/contact_author.html?mailTo=Matt%20Strauss

Twitter : @Matt_Cim

[rwspears]

links? was it a public post?

[Dystopian]

Yea, check his twitter feed, link posted above ! Someone asked why hbo go was not available on his Samsung TV and responded saying Comcast was targeting Q1 2013. If Roku is coming to Comcast @matt_cim is the person to ask. 

[rwspears]

http://twitter.com/Matt_CIM

For those who dont normally use twitter like me...

[shadowplay0918]

I guess its nice he responded but I can't say I am happy with the response.  

They now say they need at least 5-7 months to get something setup (and that is best case) that should have taken no time at all.  

I think this is just blow off answer....

[mgcg60]

I have a roku hooked up to my tv,I also have HBO w/comcast.Why won't comcast allow me to watch HBOGO on my roku?

[BarryATL]

I just wrote to Matt Strauss.  I will post the response.  Here is my message below:

I am a Comcast subscriber with HBO in my plan. I want to access HBO Go on my Roku device. You have responded to two different people with the exact same answer below:

"Every day we're working to make XfinityTV programming available to our customers in more ways including the Xbox, connected TVs, on websites like XfinityTV and HBOGo, on tablets and other devices. Today, all HBO content is available on XfinityTV.com and through the XfinityTV app. We will continue to work with our partners to deliver even more choices to our customers in more places. We do have have an ETA on Roku at this time."

Please not that the sentence that states " all HBO content is available on XfinityTV.com and through the XfinityTV app" is not true. The HBO Go site has complete collection of series all the way back to series 1 episode 1. XfinityTV.com and the XfinityTV app does not.

Comcast and DirectTV are the only major cable companies that will not validate HBO Go with a Roku device.

Rather than a generic answer, can you please tell us (your customers) what the problem is?

Thank you.

[Wellesley72]

I think that Strauss is (almost) correct if you look at the Xfinity TV website on your computer or if you look at the Xfinity TV app ("Play Now" on your iPad or iPhone.  There is a lot more content there than there is in the "On Demand" section on your television. 

Unfortunately, for people (like me) who would like to watch HBO content on their televisions, the content is much more limited (no episodes of all current and past series and a much smaller selection of movies).  I, for one, don't like watching any TV on a screen that is 3" by 6" inches.  Also, I was trying to watch "The Newsroom" last night on my computer (17" screen but still too small for more than 2 people to watch at the same time) and the program kept freezing on  me.

I don't think Strauss or anyone else at Comcast distinguishes between the content on demand and HBO Go.  You will notice that Strauss keeps referring to Xfinity TV.  I really don't care about Comcast streaming content to computers or iPods.  I want to see HBO GO on my TV through my Roku.  There is no technical problem here, because you can go to the HBO GO app on your TV through Roku and access the free content.  I think that Comcast is either terrified that HBO GO will at some point become a site open to anyone who wants to pay for it, and Comcast will lose the revenue; or HBO GO will be an app on Comcast's new cable boxes that they are starting to role out to their "Triple Play" customers in Boston and Philadelphia and which will eventually replace all existing cable boxes (at a higher monthly fee that we are currently paying, according to a Comcast technician I talked to recently). 

I don't know why you can get HBO GO on an Xbox 360 and not on a Roku, other than the fact that Comcast has some sort of partnership with Microsoft.  (I don't think it has anything to do with the complaint by the President of Netflix.)  And I don't want to particularly pay for an Xbox 360 and a monthly subscription fee so that I can watch HBO GO.  I view HBO GO as part of my HBO subscription, although clearly Comcast doesn't.

About six months ago I posted that, based on a conversation I had with someone at Comcast's HQ, they had no present intent to activate HBO GO on Rokus.  Having seen what is on HBO GO, I don't know that is worth paying $15/month for HBO without HBO GO.  However friendly their technicians and customer care people are, they are certainly not customer-friendly when it comes to making third-party content available outside of the Xfinity box. 

[BarryATL]

Response from my email to Mr. Strauss:

Good afternoon Barry,

There is no ETA on HBO Go on Roku at this time.

Thank you,

Elisa 

[puffgussy]

THEY ARE RIDICULOUS!

[rwspears]

Your gonna have to get Engadget  or someone like that to do a story on who is supporting it and who isnt supporting it and why. Bad national press will be the only motivator other then the bottom line. If investors get angry enough is the only way to get anything done..

[Dystopian]

Listen Guys,

The contact form I posted only reaches Comcast social media guys (not the VP of Digital Platforms directly).

He is  pretty active on twitter and believe it or not he DOES interact with his customers. He recently answered a question telling a user HBO go was coming to Samsung TV Q1 2013. Only 4 people have reached out to him (not good enough) 

YOU WANT HBO GO on ROKU ???? 

TWEET : http://twitter.com/Matt_CIM <---- The Guy Who Decides 

[puffgussy]

You should post that publicly on Google+ and Facebook.  THAT ought to increase the number of tweets he gets.

[StormyBiker]

http://upstart.bizjournals.com/money/loot/2012/07/26/news-corp-roku-vs-comcast-boxee.html?page=all

In order to get HBOGO on my ROKU, I'm thinking my only choice is to leave Comcast and go to another provider.

[fx257]

I have just terminated my Comcast service and signed up with Dishnetwork.  I am excited about getting Dish's Hopper (whole house DVR, 2 TB of storage and 3 builtin tuners) and most importantly HBOGO on Roku!  Dishnetwork's technology is light years ahead of Comcast's.  I had Comcast triple play and am cancelling the phone and TV and keeping their internet service only.  Unfortunately there are still no competitions for internet service provider in my area.  For phone, I am now using OBI 100 voice over IP adapter (free phone calls for life and the quality is as good as land line, available on Amazon).  I am now actually saving $40/ month by making the switch.   

Good luck to everyone still waiting for HBOGO on Roku using Comcast.   

[KENTm4814]

When will Comcast allow HBO GO using the Roku? AT&T Uverse and Dish offer it. I would like the full value of my HBO subscription, please. Thanks.

[KENTm4814]

When will Comcast support HBO GO using a Roku? AT&T and Dish now support HBO GO using a Roku. Why not Comcast? I feel that I am not getting the full value of my HBO subscription with Comcast.

[Anon1138598]

I've been trying to figure out how to get HBO GO on my Roku. Since I have an HBO subscription, I can get it on my iPad but not on my Roku. Now I see there are a whole bunch of folks who are complaining about this issue. 

XFINITY--Please support the Roku device! Why would not not do that? We already pay for HBO--let us have the Roku access!

[boberonicus]

I was planning to buy a Roku box today, just for HBO Go access.  That is, until I saw this thread.  Bummer!

[vincent228]

well this is post #637. has anybody gotten any further than the first one ? I have the xfinity on demand. I have HBO, Starz and Encore for pay channels. We usually watch the  movies on xfinity on demand, due to the fact that we do not feel like waiting until 4am to watch a movie we like. both Starz and Encore have about 70 movies to chose from. HBO on demand through Xfinity has 15 !!!!! So you cant get HBO go through them with all of its content. But you can get a whopping 15 movies from their on demand service. real p-ss poor service comcast !!!

[AbusedinTacoma]

Totally frustrating.  Considering the number of Comcast's competitors that have already offered access through Roku, you'd think this would be a no-brainer.  And Comcast keeps pushing their stupid AnyPlay service, which is poorly documented and doesn't guarantee I'll get what I'm expecting to get.

Angry, very angry.

[heavylid]

GRRRRR!!!! So what set-top box does Comcast support? I am looking in to changing companies if possible...but I am curious. And incensed.

[redhelix]

J

[jasviii]

I had mentioned in an earlier post that you can get HBO Go on the Boxee. That device is supported by Comcaat. Vudu finally showed up on the Roku.
Maybe we will get HBO Go for Roku sometime in 2013 and also see Fuel TV appear for UFC...sigh

[boberonicus]

I thought this was a technology issue, but apparently not. Comcast simply decided not to permit third party devices like the Xbox and Roku to authenticate HBO GO subscribers. I suppose the logic is to keep the content on Comcast devices whenever possible, for advertising and user subscriber data collection. 

Unfortunately, I really have become attached to HBO GO and I want to see it on the big screen.  So I have decided to start looking at alternative providers such as AT&T and Direct TV. These companies (and many more, it appears) permit HBO GO on third party devices. 

Frankly, it will be hard for me to switch, as Comcast has been rock solid and my wife loves the TiVo interface.  I guess my first step is to see if I can get TiVo from another provider.  If there was any reasonable future plans from Comcast for HBO GO (i.e. Q1 2013) I would abandon this search.

[deborahtakeda]

I need to know if I can get HBO go on my roku player.

[bkyle7301]

Comcast should support ROKU!!

[andyross]

To do what?

[TWIGGBOB]

CAN YOU TELL ME IF COMCAST IS OFFERING HBO GO ON MY ROKU BOX ?

[gbmang]

To allow HBO Go to stream over the device.

[edpeters]

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@bkyle7301 wrote:

Comcast should support ROKU!!

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Why not ask ROKU to support Comcast cabel and/or boxes?