Sorry if this is a FAQ - but why doesn't DirecTV offer HBO Comedy?

[RobertSeattle]

Seems like "capacity" isn't much of excuse anymore. I'm a HBO Subscriber and find it annoying the all the "classic" HBO comedy series are only there.

[RobertE]

Soon. :D

[Stuart Sweet]

There is a rumor that it will be offered when DIRECTV's new satellite comes on line.

[RobertSeattle]

"Anytime between now and the end of the universe"

[tcusta00]

Seems like "capacity" isn't much of excuse anymore. I'm a HBO Subscriber and find it annoying the all the "classic" HBO comedy series are only there.

Capacity is still an excuse. Come back next week though. :D

[beavis]

I would love for D* to carry all the HBO's and Cinemax's out there. I remember when D* blew away the competition with premium movies. There are about 5 or 6 more Cinemax's out there that once D11 goes live I would scream like a little girl if they got the full HBO/Cinemax suite in HD lit up.

[syphix]

Considering the price hike and premium (literally) for HBO, I'd HOPE that additional HBO's are in the plans once D11 lights up!! $2 more than any other premium package? And their original programming sucks more than ever...

[LameLefty]

I just hope HBO Signature HD is in the plan.

[captain_video]

I get 14 HBO channels on FIOS, including both Comedy and Signature, plus HBO HD.:D I never understood why DirecTV is about the only provider that doesn't carry either HBO channel. No doubt it costs them extra to carry it whereas the customer is supposed to get all available HBO channels when they sign up for HBO or one of the other premium packages. I guess if they don't make it available to the customer it saves them money, even if it pisses off a few customers.

FWIW, I never watch HBO Comedy simply because it offers endless reruns of the same HBO programming. After you've had it for a month you've seen 95% of everything they air on the channel.

[tcusta00]

I never understood why DirecTV is about the only provider that doesn't carry either HBO channel.

Capacity. Come back next week. :D

[Azdeadwood]

Soon in the DirecTV dictionary:"Anytime between now and the end of the universe"

Sadly true, when I hear them saying "soon" I just get angry. Give me a date! I've seen "soon" take over a year and then still not meet the original promise.

For all the people that tell me to switch if I don't like it: Overall I like D* better than Dish but at least Dish's idea of "soon" was usually a month or two.

[tcusta00]

Sadly true, when I hear them saying "soon" I just get angry. Give me a date! I've seen "soon" take over a year and then still not meet the original promise.

For all the people that tell me to switch if I don't like it: Overall I like D* better than Dish but at least Dish's idea of "soon" was usually a month or two.

When did DirecTV advertising include the word "soon"?

[Islandguy43]

Sadly true, when I hear them saying "soon" I just get angry. Give me a date! I've seen "soon" take over a year and then still not meet the original promise.

For all the people that tell me to switch if I don't like it: Overall I like D* better than Dish but at least Dish's idea of "soon" was usually a month or two.

When were you a sub at Dish? I recall Dish telling me back in Summer of 2006 that we would have hd lils "soon", or better yet by the 3rd qtr of the year of 4th at the latest. Soon turned out to be June of 2008.

[LameLefty]

Please, stop all the pissing and moaning about one company's "soon" versus another's.

The answer to why HBO Comedy isn't carried is easy: capacity. D11 changes that, and D12 next year will make the situation even better. If Sea-Launch hadn't had their little "Oops!" last year, D11 would already be operational and this discussion would be moot. That's about the beginning and the end of the answer to the original question.

[oldfantom]

When did DirecTV advertising include the word "soon"?

You are kidding right? That annoying commercial where the Monica Geller look alike is telling she only has 60 seconds... I don't see a lot of them thanks to my DVR.


As to the question of why say soon and not give a date. Promise small, deliver big.

[bjlc]

the true answer.. Because they don't want to.

that's the answer.. They could have, should have, offered it years ago. They didn't. They could have, should have offered Superstations like WOR, WPIX, but they didn't.

The bottom line is that they can get away with not offering it and still charging more for HBO then anything else. why deliver more and lose money when you are getting prime dollars for offering less.

[JeffTex42]

When did DirecTV advertising include the word "soon"?

Marketing 101. They started using 'soon' when their lawyers told them there was no basis to be sued for using it.

[Jhon69]

Uh maybe DirecTV is saving us money.No HBO Comedy no $14.99 a month like Dish subscribers have to pay for the HBO programming package.;)

[tcusta00]

Uh maybe DirecTV is saving us money.No HBO Comedy no $14.99 a month like Dish subscribers have to pay for the HBO programming package.;)

Good point, and it's over $16 with Comcast.

[Ken S]

Uh maybe DirecTV is saving us money.No HBO Comedy no $14.99 a month like Dish subscribers have to pay for the HBO programming package.;)

It's $14 on DirecTV...not much difference. The package that seems the most out of whack though is Cinemax...three channels for $12?

[ThomasM]

It's funny. Time-Warner Cable doesn't like discussing how many HD channels they have. But they blow DirecTV out of the water in premium channel choices.

They have ALL the Cinemax/HBO channels (gee, I wonder why?) and most of the other various premium offerings too. Granted, they may not all be in HD, but I'd rather get more premium channels than 1 or 2 in HD (especially since I don't HAVE HD) :D

[BrucePadgett]

Don't get jealous, but I'm paying $5 per month for HBO with Time Warner. It may only be a 12-month promotion, but the deal seems to be offered most of the time.

P.S. Cinemax for $5 a month is also available.

[Tom Robertson]

Why doesn't DIRECTV offer HBO Comedy? It wasn't funny enough... (Sorry, I realize that isn't funny enough either...) :D

Cheers,
Tom

[joed32]

Sadly true, when I hear them saying "soon" I just get angry. Give me a date! I've seen "soon" take over a year and then still not meet the original promise.

For all the people that tell me to switch if I don't like it: Overall I like D* better than Dish but at least Dish's idea of "soon" was usually a month or two.

How about "anon". Just kidding. No dates but they are in the process of lighting it up so it can't be long.

[RobertSeattle]

Ever order something from Dell? They'll give you an delivery date that is actual + 5 days, so when the package is delivered 5 days early, you are ecstatic. Under promise, over deliver makes customers very happy.

[tftc22]

I would love for D* to carry all the HBO's and Cinemax's out there. I remember when D* blew away the competition with premium movies.
You should change that to "I remember when USSB blew away the competition with premium movies." Directv has only added one new premium channel since USSB ceased to exist and that's not even on the main satellite (HBO Latino). If you don't believe that, then look at this archived page. (http://web.archive.org/web/19990417165339/www.ussb.com/packageb.html) (I should specify that I meant that Directv hasn't added any new channels to the premium packages that were originally transmitted by USSB. I assume Directv has added Starz and Encore channels, but those were never shown on USSB).

Cable, DISH, and FIOS have kept adding premium channels while Directv has added virtually nothing. (I say virtually nothing because HBOL doesn't have unique content 90% of the time and is pretty useless when it is identical to HBO1 which already has a Spanish audio option on most of its movies.)

[Tom Robertson]

You should change that to "I remember when USSB blew away the competition with premium movies." Directv has only added one new premium channel since USSB ceased to exist and that's not even on the main satellite (HBO Latino). If you don't believe that, then look at this archived page. (http://web.archive.org/web/19990417165339/www.ussb.com/packageb.html) (I should specify that I meant that Directv hasn't added any new channels to the premium packages that were originally transmitted by USSB. I assume Directv has added Starz and Encore channels, but those were never shown on USSB).

Cable, DISH, and FIOS have kept adding premium channels while Directv has added virtually nothing. (I say virtually nothing because HBOL doesn't have unique content 90% of the time and is pretty useless when it is identical to HBO1 which already has a Spanish audio option on most of its movies.)
?? Ummm did you lose sight of HBOF and HBOFW?

Cheers,
Tom

[tftc22]

?? Ummm did you lose sight of HBOF and HBOFW?

Cheers,
Tom
Those are listed between FLIX and Sundance on that page... easy to miss (I didn't see them at first either).

[Tom Robertson]

umm... perhaps I lost sight of them... :)

My bad, sorry.

Cheers,
Tom