HBO/Cinemax free preview 1/15 - 1/18

[spartanstew]

FYI

[LOCODUDE]

Thanks for the heads up......

[joshjr]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Mark Holtz]

Any movies that would be of interest during this preview?

[Steve615]

2 more free previews in January too.

ESPN Full Court : 1/10-1/17 on channels 720-727.
Setanta Sports : 1/3-1/4 on channel 621.

I figured I would post this info in here,instead of creating another thread.

[Steve615]

Any movies that would be of interest during this preview?

Here is a link to HBO's schedule for 1/15/09.

http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DATE=UpdateCalendar&DATE=1/15/2009

[Red Dog]

2 more free previews in January too.

ESPN Full Court : 1/10-1/17 on channels 720-727.


I was wondering about that. I had been searching for news on this the last week or so and couldn't find anything.

Smart move on their part for the freeview - to tease Big Love. Anybody know if there are any current HBO + Showtime deals? I want to re-subscribe in January - after this freeview preferably.

[hdtvfan0001]

FYI

Thanks for sharing...just got the DirecTV e-mail today as well....it appears that they have some good flicks in that time window.

[LCDSpazz]

I see the two things I'd actually want to watch during the preview are not on the HBO main channel.
Want to get people to subscribe?
How about Directv adding more than than 1 lousy HBO channel in HD? They want 14 bucks a month for THAT?!?

[MIAMI1683]

I see the two things I'd actually want to watch during the preview are not on the HBO main channel.
Want to get people to subscribe?
How about Directv adding more than than 1 lousy HBO channel in HD? They want 14 bucks a month for THAT?!?

Thanks for being positive :rolleyes:

[JoeTheDragon]

I see the two things I'd actually want to watch during the preview are not on the HBO main channel.
Want to get people to subscribe?
How about Directv adding more than than 1 lousy HBO channel in HD? They want 14 bucks a month for THAT?!?

You get the full HBO line up with the free preview.

[LCDSpazz]

You get the full HBO line up with the free preview.
But I assume only the main channel is in HD. At least it was last time I subscribed about 6 months ago.

[kevinwmsn]

But I assume only the main channel is in HD. At least it was last time I subscribed about 6 months ago.

HBO East and West is in HD. We are still waiting on the rest, which was the main reason I canceled HBO.

[dcowboy7]

wow looking at the 1 HD channel movie selections if hbo was $2 a month i would still debate getting it....brutal....na i still wouldnt get it for that.

[JoeTheDragon]

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6627163.html

[Mark Holtz]

Well, I just activated the HBO channels.... lets see what movies I'll record....
27 Dresses on HBOS on 1/16
The Bucket List on HBO2 on 1/17
Charlie Wilson's War on HBOS
Children of Men on HBOS
In the Valley of Elah on HBOS
The Invasion on HBOS
Jumper on HBO
The Kingdon on HBO
Snakes on a Plane on HBOWMovies I didn't record because I already have them on DVD or seen them before:
300
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dirty War
Dragnet
Dune
Edward Scissorhands
ET The Extra-Terrestrial
Ghost
Gladiator
The Golden Compass
I Am Legend
I.Q.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
The Net
Office Space
Pan's Labyrinth
The Patriot
The Perfect Storm
Roger and Me :kickbutt:
The Shawshank Redemption
Speed
TransformersNow, in list 1, are there any movies which are "hidden gems"? I don't think so.

[dcowboy7]

^^ basically all the movies i would watch are on the non HD channels....figures.

[dodge boy]

wow looking at the 1 HD channel movie selections if hbo was $2 a month i would still debate getting it....brutal....na i still wouldnt get it for that.

Yeah, why do they think their programming is worth $2.00 more than anyone else's?

[dodge boy]

Well, I just activated the HBO channels.... lets see what movies I'll record....
27 Dresses on HBOS on 1/16
The Bucket List on HBO2 on 1/17
Charlie Wilson's War on HBOS
Children of Men on HBOS
In the Valley of Elah on HBOS
The Invasion on HBOS
Jumper on HBO
The Kingdon on HBO
Snakes on a Plane on HBOWMovies I didn't record because I already have them on DVD or seen them before:
300
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dirty War
Dragnet
Dune
Edward Scissorhands
ET The Extra-Terrestrial
Ghost
Gladiator
The Golden Compass
I Am Legend
I.Q.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
The Net
Office Space
Pan's Labyrinth
The Patriot
The Perfect Storm
Roger and Me :kickbutt:
The Shawshank Redemption
Speed
TransformersNow, in list 1, are there any movies which are "hidden gems"? I don't think so.

Doesn't sound like I'll miss much if I choose not to watch it!!!

[MIKE0616]

Yeah, why do they think their programming is worth $2.00 more than anyone else's?


CatHouse? :lol:

[sundude90]

Directv will be showing We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial," on HBO, January 18 at 7 pm ET/PT on Channels 70(HD), 501 & 504
All customer will be able to watch this on HBO because of a HBO Free Preview weekened from Jan 15-18.

Click here (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/epg/theGuide.jsp?expandId=304341356&expandTitle=-1301082370&d=18&h=18&tab=record) to record this event to your DVR!

More info here: DIRECTV: 2009 Presidential Inauguration (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P5370022)

[man_rob]

For one channel of HD, (East, west, it's still the same channel twice) HBO just isn't worth $14 bucks a month. Before I dropped HBO, due to DirecTV's broken promise of the pickup of all HD versions of the SD channels DirecTV carried, I deleted the SD channels from my favorites. Why watch a movie in not only SD, but over compressed SD? On an HD TV, the SD feeds look like Youtube clips.

But a free preview is a free preview, so I will DVR some movies from the HD channel.

[jake14mw]

Is there any way to show their schedule for just HBO East?

[CorpITGuy]

Worst of all... No HBO Comedy! Not even in SD!

Yeah, when my three free months are up I'm dropping HBO like a hot potato.

[dodge boy]

Worst of all... No HBO Comedy! Not even in SD!

Yeah, when my three free months are up I'm dropping HBO like a hot potato.

Wow free you still got jipped, shoulda tried for Starz, atleast there is a ton of channels in that one..... :lol:

Honestly they offered me free HBO one time, free because they sent me a DOA replacement receiver, I asked for showtime instead!

[ATARI]

Well, I just activated the HBO channels.... lets see what movies I'll record....
27 Dresses on HBOS on 1/16
The Bucket List on HBO2 on 1/17
Charlie Wilson's War on HBOS
Children of Men on HBOS
In the Valley of Elah on HBOS
The Invasion on HBOS
Jumper on HBO
The Kingdon on HBO
Snakes on a Plane on HBOWMovies I didn't record because I already have them on DVD or seen them before:
300
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Dirty War
Dragnet
Dune
Edward Scissorhands
ET The Extra-Terrestrial
Ghost
Gladiator
The Golden Compass
I Am Legend
I.Q.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
The Net
Office Space
Pan's Labyrinth
The Patriot
The Perfect Storm
Roger and Me :kickbutt:
The Shawshank Redemption
Speed
TransformersNow, in list 1, are there any movies which are "hidden gems"? I don't think so.

Children of Men is pretty good IMHO.

[hdtvfan0001]

I generally get a pretty good chuckle out of these "pree preview weekend" threads...as they almost always contain:

1) The useful and helpful announcement of the dates
2) The subsequent list of main movies presented in that time frame
3) The complaints that (despite being free), someone has seen all the movies
4) The complaints that (despite being free), someone doesn't like any of the movies
5) The totally-irrelevant "the channel isn't worth $X" post

So it appears we pretty much have all those covered....:D

[Rob]

I take it that Cinemax isn't on this Preview too?

[aa9vi]

I take it that Cinemax isn't on this Preview too?

Now you started it... the price of Cinemax vs. the quality of programming and number of channels...

[CorpITGuy]

I generally get a pretty good chuckle out of these "pree preview weekend" threads...as they almost always contain:

1) The useful and helpful announcement of the dates
2) The subsequent list of main movies presented in that time frame
3) The complaints that (despite being free), someone has seen all the movies
4) The complaints that (despite being free), someone doesn't like any of the movies
5) The totally-irrelevant "the channel isn't worth $X" post

So it appears we pretty much have all those covered....:D

6) The post complaining about items 1-5. :D

Check! ;)

[hdtvfan0001]

6) The post complaining about items 1-5. :D

Check! ;)
7) The post responding to all other posts.... Check. :D

[billsharpe]

I still haven't watched a couple of the movies I recorded from the last HBO preview many months ago. I guess I will pass on this preview weekend.

[dcowboy7]

I generally get a pretty good chuckle out of these "pree preview weekend" threads...as they almost always contain:

1) The useful and helpful announcement of the dates
2) The subsequent list of main movies presented in that time frame
3) The complaints that (despite being free), someone has seen all the movies
4) The complaints that (despite being free), someone doesn't like any of the movies
5) The totally-irrelevant "the channel isn't worth $X" post

So it appears we pretty much have all those covered....:D

u forgot the "but really only 1 channel is HD" posts....especially since that was mine. :D

[hdtvfan0001]

u forgot the "but really only 1 channel is HD" posts....especially since that was mine. :D
Sorry for the oversight...:D

[TheRatPatrol]

Speaking of HBO (along with Showtime and the other movie channels)

When I was a kid we got HBO and Showtime on cable. They used to send us a monthly booklet listing all the movies that would be on that month in alphabetical order in the back. Do they still have something like this, either online or some type of monthly book? Does the D* magazine lists the movies like that?

Thanks

[Etcruiser]

So which channel numbers are involved? Will this include the Cinemax channels as well?

I don't care what anyone says...free is good.

[deanconst96]

hotels have them

Speaking of HBO (along with Showtime and the other movie channels)

When I was a kid we got HBO and Showtime on cable. They used to send us a monthly booklet listing all the movies that would be on that month in alphabetical order in the back. Do they still have something like this, either online or some type of monthly book? Does the D* magazine lists the movies like that?

Thanks

[colt]

We live in the Pekin, Ill. area. We have no free preview this morning. Was it to start on 1/15 thru 1/18?

[colt]

Answered my own question.:lol:

[Mark Holtz]

It appears that CineMax is also part of this preview. Channels 512-514 are are available to me.

[gcvt]

I would 'DVR' a bunch of this stuff before the preview is over.....but I've seen most of what they're offering already. This is the exact reason I don't subscribe to these channels in the first place. Oh well, maybe the GF will want to watch something.

BTW, how do they go about deciding when to schedule these free previews? Why now...exactly...as opposed to next week or the week after?

[nj1313]

Can somebody post the channel numbers for the free preview?

Thanks!

[Rob]

HBO and Cinemax Channels are all free Preview Now. Channels 501 to 514. Have a good day and a Skinamax Night.

[hiker]

HBO and Cinemax Channels are all free Preview Now. Channels 501 to 514. Have a good day and a Skinamax Night.
I'm also getting Showtime and TMC. :eek2:

[jganyard]

Children of Men is pretty good IMHO.

I would also recommend Spartan w/ Val Kilmer and William H Macy. Written & Directed by David Mamet (Ronin, Wag the Dog, Heist among others).

[dcowboy7]

I'm also getting Showtime and TMC. :eek2:

im not....that sounds like your loyal customer gift....u must be getting those channels free for 3 months.


why would directv not even mention in their email newsletter that along with hbo the cinemax channels were free as well ?

the communication skills of this company rival a pet rock....sorry for the insult to the pet rocks out there.

[giantsox]

I see the two things I'd actually want to watch during the preview are not on the HBO main channel.
Want to get people to subscribe?
How about Directv adding more than than 1 lousy HBO channel in HD? They want 14 bucks a month for THAT?!?


Exactly why I cancelled HBO last month after having it since 2003. I really like Big Love and Flight of the Conchords, but I'm not adding it back until they give us the HBO HD channels that so many of us want and have been waiting for.

[gshu]

getting hbo, max, sho and tmc here too....

[quietmouse]

today is 1/15.... none of my 5 DVRs are able to get HBO.... (two HR21s, one HR20, two SD Tivo DVRs)

I was about to call DirecTV.... but decided to ask here first. Am I not getting the free HBO free previews because I'm currently getting Showtime for free? (don't wan't DirecTV to turn off my Showtime just so I can watch three days of free HBO)

Thanks for any info! :)

[deweydm]

Exactly why I cancelled HBO last month after having it since 2003. I really like Big Love and Flight of the Conchords, but I'm not adding it back until they give us the HBO HD channels that so many of us want and have been waiting for.

Yep. If HBOS, HBO2, and HBOF were HD, I'd probably resubscribe.

[mikeny]

I generally get a pretty good chuckle out of these "pree preview weekend" threads...as they almost always contain:

1) The useful and helpful announcement of the dates
2) The subsequent list of main movies presented in that time frame
3) The complaints that (despite being free), someone has seen all the movies
4) The complaints that (despite being free), someone doesn't like any of the movies
5) The totally-irrelevant "the channel isn't worth $X" post

So it appears we pretty much have all those covered....:DI haven't see the usual complaint as well that the free preview weekends usually sport the BEST that these channels ever offer and don't represent their "usual" looping B movie reruns. There is something to that point.

[ronrico51]

Why does D* only carry one HD channel of HBO? Is that Directv or HBO deciding that? I simply don't watch SD anymore, it just looks too crappy. So, HBO is a poor deal for someone like me, is there anything in the works for more HD from them?

[TheDurk]

I haven't see the usual complaint as well that the free preview weekends usually sport the BEST that these channels ever offer and don't represent their "usual" looping B movie reruns. There is something to that point.

However, it does not seem to apply to this lot. That may be because I disregard cartoons, comedies, horror films and anything not in HD (this leaves drama, action and sci-fi.) I just scanned through the four HD channels for the four days and found nothing of interest to me that I had not seen in theatrical release. In checking the unfamiliar titles on IMDB, I found a surprising number with (TV) or (V) tags. I believe B-movies at least had SOME theatrical release; a lot of this junk didn't. I am happy to do without these channels. I hereby add the obigatory "NetFlix Blu-Ray is more deserving of my money" statement.

[billsharpe]

Speaking of HBO (along with Showtime and the other movie channels)

When I was a kid we got HBO and Showtime on cable. They used to send us a monthly booklet listing all the movies that would be on that month in alphabetical order in the back. Do they still have something like this, either online or some type of monthly book? Does the D* magazine lists the movies like that?

Thanks

You can download a monthly guide from HBO's web site. Or at least you could during the last preview -- I haven't checked yet myself. Note that the guide doesn't cover ALL the HBO channels.

[ThomasM]

today is 1/15.... none of my 5 DVRs are able to get HBO.... (two HR21s, one HR20, two SD Tivo DVRs)

I was about to call DirecTV.... but decided to ask here first. Am I not getting the free HBO free previews because I'm currently getting Showtime for free? (don't wan't DirecTV to turn off my Showtime just so I can watch three days of free HBO)

Thanks for any info! :)

I'm getting 3 mos of Showtime/Movie Channel for free due to the usual CSR bungling...but I'm also getting the free HBO/Cinemax channels so that isn't why you aren't getting the free preview.

[Ryan]

So this preview is Directv only? No Dish or cable?

[hdtvfan0001]

Observation:

As one who partakes in a number of )first run) movies at commercial Theaters, rents movies (HD only, of course), occasional does an (HD) PPV, buys/owns Blu Ray (HD) disks, and has all the non-premium(HD) channels (which includes HDNet Movies, Universal HD, and about 6 other (HD) channels featuring movies)...

I have never seen any value in subscribing to HBO, Showtime, etc.

But please let me finish...

With a "free" 3-month Showtime provided at this time, the "free preview" weekend at HBO (which includes Cinemax)...this has only reinforced the lack of value in these premium movie channels, as out of 8 HD channels out there for the entire 3 days...I identified a total of 4 candidates that I either would want to or haven't already seen....out of the entire period within the guide.

But all that said...for those who are not movie-aholics like my family, and don't adopt all the viewing methods or locations I described previously....including PPV and/or commercial theaters....

It would appear that the movies (HD especially) you get with even one of these Premium Channel services (depending on your tastes), could pay for itself very easily compared to the costs of partaking of a commercial theater alone just once.

Therefore, I see both sides of the coin at the same time, and thank DirecTV for offering these previews for its customers.

[hiker]

So this preview is Directv only? No Dish or cable?No Comcast cable freeview here but they have periodic freeviews also just not at this time. DISH, I believe has freeviews also sometime.

[TheRatPatrol]

I have never seen any value in subscribing to HBO, Showtime, etc.

Therefore, I see both sides of the coin at the same time, and thank DirecTV for offering these previews for its customers.
I agree overall, but I also have them for their original series.

[hdtvfan0001]

I agree overall, but I also have them for their original series.
Valid point....but I only have seen one miniseries on HBO the past year that I cared for (John Adams, of course), and their regular series in general don't suit my tastes....but that's a personal decision certainly.

I get to see HBO and Showtime in most of the locations I travel to as well, so I also get random views of their programming that way as well.

[Ryan]

No Comcast cable freeview here but they have periodic freeviews also just not at this time. DISH, I believe has freeviews also sometime.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/17/dish-network-delivers-inauguration-mix-channel-of-its-own-plus/

looks like Dish will offer the HBO access for the season premiers and inaugural concert, plus a mix channel for the Inaugural news coverage

[mark44]

I see Showtime in my account details page online. Appears to be free.
Have heard nothing from D*, is there a promo going now?
Why would they not tell me. I would never have known if I didn't signon online because of another issue.

[dcowboy7]

I see Showtime in my account details page online. Appears to be free.
Have heard nothing from D*
Why would they not tell me.

because theyre stupid ?

[Balestrom]

After this free weekend, I can honestly begin to sympathise with those who would like D* to provide more HD programing for the movie stations.

During the free weekends I like to DVR as many movies as possible for viewing, so I can enjoy them over a span. However, after time getting spoiled with HD, I didn't want to record in SD movies. So I pulled up only the HD channels on my favorites and went through the weekend schedule to record. I honestly found zero movies I was interested in that were broadcasting in HD. So I opened up all channels just out of curiosity and I found at least 3 movies I would have recorded if they had been in HD.

Which brings me back to my point. I currently don't subscribe to the premium movie channels. And based on this weekend, I certainly won't subscribe anytime soon. And if D* adds more HD options to the movie channels? Likely I still wont spend the money. So perhaps my perspective is a bit tainted....

But... typically when folks complain about the lack of premium movie channels in HD I have shrugged as it doesn't affect my viewing habits. But after this free weekend, I can now say, I see their point. I cannot imagine being the person who is paying enjoy premium movie channels with so little HD options. The cost isn't worth it too me either way, but to those who are willing to pay for HD and premium... I think they are getting jipped.

Just my humble opinion.

[renbutler]

My wife and I enjoyed Juno on HBO HD.

We also DVRed The Bucket List, but I probably won't watch that.

[Stuart Sweet]

As the free weekend is over, I am closing this thread.