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Netflix Calls Out HBO For Not Letting Subscribers Binge On New Shows (arstechnica.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the competitive-advantage dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Netflix has gleefully poked a stick at its competitors in the video streaming market, after revealing it had added more than seven million subscribers to its service in the last three months of 2016. HBO also got a special mention. In a letter to shareholders, the company's boss Reed Hastings teased the TV drama maker by noting that, if the BBC was willing to stream shows before they air on television, then maybe HBO -- which has rigidly stuck to its strategy of eking out episodes to viewers -- should do the same. He said: "[...] the BBC has become the first major linear network to announce plans to go binge-first with new seasons, favoring internet over linear viewers. We presume HBO is not far behind the BBC. In short, it's becoming an Internet TV world, which presents both challenges and opportunities for Netflix as we strive to earn screen time." But it's worth noting that HBO currently has an exclusive deal with Sky in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Italy, allowing the broadcaster to have first-run rights on the likes of Game of Thrones and Westworld until 2020 -- so any such change isn't likely to happen in the near-term. Late last year, it struck a deal with Netflix rival Amazon, allowing Prime members in the US to sign up for a monthly HBO subscription. "We have a very successful partnership with this great company that continues to evolve," said HBO exec Sofia Chang in December. The company's HBO Now streaming service shows no sign of shifting strategy, either, with programs airing simultaneously on traditional TV and online.

7 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. BBC iPlayer for the UK Only by omnichad · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Now if only the BBC would offer paid subscriptions to their iPlayer content to other coountries. Cord cutters are not going to subscribe to BBC America but are willing to pay for better access.

    1. Re:BBC iPlayer for the UK Only by Darinbob · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sherlock is on Netflix. I'm waiting for access to the last two years of Doctor Who, and other decent BBC shows. It's in a quandary though; it wants a piece of the streaming pie, but is also restricted in how it can offer taxpayer sponsored programming to other countries.

  2. Re:No thanks by omnichad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This has been true since the advent of the DVR (or even the VCR to a lesser extent), unless you are a slave to broadcast schedules. Just get better at avoiding spoilers. It's a better viewing experience to wait until you have the whole season at once rather than mixing one episode of show X and an episode of show Y the next day.

  3. Batching Means Delay by Luthair · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If you publish the entire season at once this means you were sitting on progressively more unreleased for a period of time. Imagine if one were to instead release this content as it were available instead of making people wait...

    1. Re:Batching Means Delay by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      As opposed to the delay of making people each week for the show then going on hiatus for a few months at a time because its not "sweeps month"?

      I'd much rather the show come out all at once than in spits and spurts because if I'm really into the story nothing pisses me off more than having to wait for 3 months while they make more, or pre-empt it around some sporting / cultural events, or because they're waiting for the "best" time to exact the maximum value from the advertisers.

      Having it all at once lets me watch it on my schedule, and I don't mind waiting for that in the slightest.

    2. Re:Batching Means Delay by Dorianny · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If you publish the entire season at once this means you were sitting on progressively more unreleased for a period of time. Imagine if one were to instead release this content as it were available instead of making people wait...

      This would be true for studio based TV shows which are typically shot sequentially. On location series are typically shot all at once, movie style. The extra wait for the entire series to be finished would be a couple of weeks of post-production

  4. It's nothing but SPOILERS by l0ungeb0y · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I like the weekly release of shows like Game of Thrones and West World -- you get to talk to other viewers about the Show as it progresses rather than just in past tense. Binge Watching is nice if you want to get a Show or Season done and over right away. But I find that with quality Shows, I'll take the time to batch them out on my own to draw the viewing experience out longer