HBO on iTunes, apple, hbo, on demand, rumor, top, television, itunes, programming

HBO Bringing Shows to iTunes!?

According to Portfolio, Apple and HBO will team up to offer HBO original programming on iTunes in the next couple of weeks, and HBO may receive variable pricing and/or a higher profit percentage for its shows than other content providers. This is huge, not only because it marks HBO's first big move into the online media market, but also because they've managed to strong-arm a notoriously stingy Apple into their own financial terms.

What's impressive is how HBO got Apple to negotiate beyond its usual terms. If you remember, the fixed $1.99 episode price and profit splitting are what led to the Apple/NBC divorce in the fall. Now, Apple has backed down from its stance and appears to be into the flexible pricing scheme. Portfolio believes Apple wants this partnership to drive Apple TV sales. I also wonder if NBC on the Zune Marketplace shook 'em up a little.

And if HBO does come to iTunes, it will be their first mainstream venture into the online media market. They've been hesitant up until now, presumably because it might cannibalize subscription revenue. While they are testing an online on-demand system with a planned national rollout, it's currently only available in Wisconsin, and requires a subscription to HBO through cable providers.

While no specifics have been declared, Portfolio hints that it could simply be older/cancelled shows, such as Deadwood and The Larry Sanders Show. This would make sense, because watching new shows would still require a subscription, and HBO doesn't show many replays of shows no longer in production. In any case, Portfolio says this will likely play out in the next two weeks, with a simultaneous announcement/availability of content. Let's keep our fingers crossed. [Portfolio via iPodNN]

1:52 PM on Mon May 12 2008
By Adrian Covert
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34 comments

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Mayor McRib at 02:04 PM on 05/12/08
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I recently nixed my subscription to HBO and would love to be able to keep up to date with Entourage, but as posted above, I doubt that will be allowed. Although, the Adams mini-series would be awesome. HBO has some great original programming, to bad you have 2 wait so long before seasons.
OG512 at 02:09 PM on 05/12/08
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no thanks. i'm tired of all these TV shows trying to team up with apple or zune. if you want to watch an older show, buy a recorder/burner. i am not impressed until the NFL or the NBA can be seen in full length and in full speed on the ipod.
Darrone at 02:10 PM on 05/12/08
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@Mayor McRib: There programming is going downhill. They need a new hit. The wire is over, weeds is on showtime, and entourage is getting old (vince and e can't act, how has no one noticed this?) Time to freshen it up HBO.
Whisssper at 02:11 PM on 05/12/08
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wow his tupé looks remarkably like a kippot
Mayor McRib at 02:13 PM on 05/12/08
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@Darrone:
I think that weeds has gotten stale too. Last season really was pretty weak. It's just gotten too far out of hand and I hated the Matthew Modine character.
Adrian Covert at 02:13 PM on 05/12/08
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@Darrone: All good points. In Treatment was pretty great, but that was a limited thing. Can't they bring an Aaron Sorkin or Mitch Hurwitz show to the network?
genius74 at 02:14 PM on 05/12/08
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@OG512:

Wha!?!?!

Do you mean live broadcasts? Jus a tad confused..
Darrone at 02:17 PM on 05/12/08
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@Mayor McRib: Very true, and I loved U-Turn, very upset at his death. A very original character. Again, these shows generally have 2-3 good seasons, and beyond that, you're pretty much screwed.

@Adrian Covert: In treatment was too chick-flicky, and very reliant on the "new patient every night" premise. Always came off like a boring novelty act to me.
kOtic at 02:17 PM on 05/12/08
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Man.. I think Gawker Media needs a seperate Apple-modo.
CColdsmoke at 02:18 PM on 05/12/08
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So what's it going to be? Pay $60 to have season 1 of Rome on DVD or pay $50 to have season 1 of Rome in digital format? I think I'll dish out the extra ten bucks for the DVDs. Assuming I ever feel like paying to see that great show again.
shamoononon has a... at 02:21 PM on 05/12/08
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Gawd people watch too much friggen TV.
$Image of Kaiser-Machead\'s Chips Ahoy!$ Kaiser-Machead's Chips... at 02:23 PM on 05/12/08
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Showtime's better =P

(I do love me some Dexter)
LagunaSol at 02:24 PM on 05/12/08
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If HBO comes to the nutty conclusion that somehow its content is worth more than $2/episode, the experiment will fail.
$Image of Kaiser-Machead\'s Chips Ahoy!$ Kaiser-Machead's Chips... at 02:26 PM on 05/12/08
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@OG512: I considered a recorder, but I wouldn't use it often enough to warrant the price, and on top of that, I have to subscribe to a particular network to get the programming I want. I like the Showtime series, but I don't subscribe to the channel and have no intention to if I can spend less to watch specific programming that I prefer.
itchytooth at 02:35 PM on 05/12/08
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Larry David is my hero.
OG512 at 02:36 PM on 05/12/08
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@genius74:
yes live
@Kaiser-Machead: on top of that, the shows they are referring to are so old, i have probably seen them and don't care to see them again. the only HBO episodes worth watching are the Sopranos, OZ and The Wire.
HJTravels at 02:45 PM on 05/12/08
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I hate that dude!
maven2k at 02:50 PM on 05/12/08
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I got some crazy deal with my cable system because they wanted me to get their VOIP phone so I don't pay for HBO, but I really like Curb Your Enthusiasm. I wouldn't pay for HBO to get it because I can always get the dvd's from the library and watch them for free. It would be pretty cool to have Curb on your PMP.
NightElfMohawk at 02:50 PM on 05/12/08
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Thank goodness... now I can get Flight of the Conchords on the iPod for when I'm at the gym with their nifty headphone-jack input TVs on the machines.
Coder4Life at 02:53 PM on 05/12/08
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love the phottto.. It's u know GOOD.
Cupajo at 02:54 PM on 05/12/08
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HBO lost me too. After Sopranos and 6Ft ended, and after what they did to Carnivale, they just don't have that much worth watching anymore.
Jesustron at 02:54 PM on 05/12/08
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I'll just never be sold on watching video on an ipod. Possibly because i live in philly, and when something shiny is out in the open, it gets forcibly removed by criminals.

However i'm all for expanding streaming video at home.
GeekyNerdGuy at 03:31 PM on 05/12/08
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Chet's shirt?!!!
Sam6644 at 03:42 PM on 05/12/08
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@itchytooth:

+1, my friend. +1.
LA_Longhorn at 03:59 PM on 05/12/08
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God I hate Larry David and CYE. Nothing worse to me than a show about a whiny asshole multi-millionaire.
nutbastard at 04:04 PM on 05/12/08
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@HJTravels:

"I hate that dude!"

then sir, I hate you.
Mayor McRib at 04:17 PM on 05/12/08
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I can see the possibility of downloading the old episodes of "Dream On".
marc_wtih_a_c at 05:15 PM on 05/12/08
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hey now...
Cashak at 05:27 PM on 05/12/08
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God I can't stand that guy, or that show. The hell is so funny about a neurotic balding asshat that never learned how to comb his own hair?

Californication... now thats a hell of a show. Probably the best new cable series last season. That and Burn Notice.
Dickey at 05:35 PM on 05/12/08
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nice to see some of these shows come to itunes, more digital content a good thing.

I personally love paying less for the digital content and not have to bother wasting time ripping it.

buh bye dvd's and hard media.
nutbastard at 05:42 PM on 05/12/08
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@Cashak:

So i'm assuming you don't dig Seinfeld either (Larry David being the Co-Creator and the George Costanza character being based on him)? It was only named The Greatest Television Show of All Time, but I guess labels are fleeting, eh?

Probably don't like Mel Brooks films either...
$Image of Kaiser-Machead\'s Chips Ahoy!$ Kaiser-Machead's Chips... at 05:54 PM on 05/12/08
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@nutbastard: Glad to see others who dig the show about nothing.

SERENITY NOW!
GeekyNerdGuy at 06:39 PM on 05/12/08
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I think Larry David's show is entertaining, but it's not so much "haha" funny as it is, let's sit back and think about how ridiculous and absurd that situation is funny. I laugh about it more thinking back on the show than I do while watching it.

However, I don't think it compares to the brilliance of Seinfeld, and I think the only sitcom that comes close to be as entertaining as Seinfeld is It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. However, I will admit that the last season was not as good as the first two.
itchytooth at 08:11 PM on 05/12/08
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@Cashak: I guess you're right - the show would have been much funnier if Larry knew how to comb his hair.

You're observations are astute. Neurosis has obviously stood in the way of many would-be comedy geniuses.