Which Premium Movie Network [Archive]

man_rob

07-02-07, 02:36 PM

HBO 7 Channels, $13
Cinemax 3 Channels, $12
Starz 12 Channels, $12
Showtime 9 Channels $12

How much do they discount for each additional premium service?
Why is Cinemax $12 for only 3 channels?
Which do folks here prefer?

Michael D'Angelo

07-02-07, 02:39 PM

I have all of them since I have the premier package. But if I had to choose one I would say HBO because Entourage is on.

cavihitts

07-02-07, 02:40 PM

They were all $12 individually but then HBO was raised $1.

First is $12 ($13 for HBO)
Second is $11
Third is $10
Fourth is $8
Fifth is $7

Earl Bonovich

07-02-07, 02:40 PM

If I recall... the knock of a $1 per extra network.

cavihitts

07-02-07, 02:41 PM

Why is Cinemax $12 for only 3 channels?

Cinemax is definately the worst value. IMO

JACKIEGAGA

07-02-07, 02:43 PM

I have all except Cinemax

cavihitts

07-02-07, 02:46 PM

I have all as well. I don't really know which one I would have if I could only have 1. Never really thought about it. I guess I would say HBO for movies plus I enjoy to watch a few of their original series.

cavihitts

07-02-07, 02:49 PM

BTW the Starz package is 12 channels.

man_rob

07-02-07, 02:52 PM

BTW the Starz package is 12 channels.

That is a mistype on my part, I meant 12, as I typed in my post. Sorry, I guess I can't edit a poll?

dave29

07-02-07, 02:58 PM

i have all, but i would say hbo.. because of boxing

armophob

07-02-07, 02:59 PM

Trouble is that you have to get all of the package for 1 HD channel. I have all the premium channels so that I can watch HBO and Showtime in HD. I may watch one of the 30 or so other movie channels once a month at the most. But to get the 2 movie packages for H and S, it is better to buy them all. I would say though, if I had to choose, HBO has the better original programs.

Tom Robertson

07-02-07, 03:04 PM

I have them all, but find myself recording (since I have a DVR) STARZ the most, then HBO.

I find it easier to say Cinemax is the poorest value. :)

Cheers,
Tom

Tom Robertson

07-02-07, 03:05 PM

BTW, I updated the poll to reflect the STARZ count of 12.

Cheers,
Tom

man_rob

07-02-07, 03:09 PM

BTW, I updated the poll to reflect the STARZ count of 12.

Cheers,
Tom

Thanks!

Paul Secic

07-02-07, 03:22 PM

mcbeevee

07-02-07, 03:24 PM

For movies only, I think Starz! is the best. :)

davidrumm

07-02-07, 03:34 PM

I have all of them. However I watch mostly Starz. They seem to have the best new movies and I like some the older ones on Encore.

waynebtx

07-02-07, 03:41 PM

Got them all. looking forward to getting the HD stars.

aramus8

07-02-07, 04:02 PM

I rarely watch anything but Showtime and HBO HD channels. Starz has the best movie selection, but we may watch one or two movies a month from them since they are not in HD. Boy am I wasting money having all the premium channels!!

ansky

07-02-07, 04:14 PM

IMO they are all a waste of money. They all repeat the same movies daily. The best value for movies is Netflix. Right now I have 3 months of free HBO and Starz and I still never watch either of those. Some of the original series are ok but not worth 12 bucks a month. Again, just my opinion. If I had to choose 1 I would take Starz.

code4code5

07-02-07, 05:47 PM

I also record a lot of Starz because they have several exclusive movies that you won't see anywhere else, but I hate SD. I have all the premiums in case they suprise us with some new HD channels at some point.

RobertE

07-02-07, 06:08 PM

Currently none of them. I like HDNet Movies. More variety in movies. Matter of fact, the original Blues Brothers is on in a week or two. :)

Ken S

07-02-07, 06:30 PM

I used to have them all. We are down to HBO not so much because of the cost...but the quality of the programming. Maybe, we're getting old...but it seems the number/variety and quality of movies shown on the premiums is dwindling.

We keep HBO because of some of their own shows.

Part of the problem relates to the number of premiums and the "exclusive" deals between the studios. Used to be with one channel of HBO or TMC you'd have a much, much wider variety of movies to choose from.

I think the beginning of the end was the release of "Three Amigos" to the premiums. Someone there figured it was much easier to show that movie 10 times a week every six months rather than get other movies :)

DCSholtis

07-02-07, 06:47 PM

I have em all in the Premier package but if I had to pick and choose Id say HBO and Showtime for boxing.

kevinturcotte

07-02-07, 07:51 PM

It would depend of what you like. If you're into sports, probably HBO. If I had to choose 1, I'd choose Showtime because they have Penn & Teller and Weeds (I only watch the show, I don't participate lol).
For pure value, Starz/Encore.

machavez00

07-02-07, 07:52 PM

HBO and/or Showtime. I also like boxing and that is the main reason I have HBO. The also tend to have the better fights, and rebroadcast the PPV fights a week later. I had Skinamax for free as part of the 2 for 1 promo. I had it set up for auto cancel because I can't see paying full price for three channels. If I were going to get a second package it would be Starz

bidger

07-02-07, 08:19 PM

I voted Starz! in anticipation of the HD they'll be offering after the launch and the fact that they seem to have a better range of movies. Years past I would have said HBO for the original series, but I tend to buy the DVD sets of the ones I really like anyway.

twistedT

07-02-07, 09:05 PM

Starz is the best deal, but I watch Starz and HBO about equally. Cinemax is third, they play the reruns from HBO. Showtime is fourth, the don't seem to have that good of movies. Last is the Moviechannels but they are part of Showtime. IMO HBO and Cinemax should be together as one. Unless with the new birds they add more Cinemax channels. Its a little much for just 3 channels.

Steve Mehs

07-03-07, 12:50 AM

I have them all, but I find myself watching HBO the most. Between the original series, and while it doesn't apply to D* subscribers, I couldn't live without HBO Comedy. Top notch standups late night and great movies during the day.

#2 would be Showtime. Between Penn & Teller and Dexter and I like their movie selection and at any given time usually 10 out of the 13 SHO channels I get (including TMC and Flix) have Doby 5.1 soundtracks not Dolby 2.0, making movies I already like much more enjoyable.

lflorack

07-03-07, 08:04 AM

I have HBO because of the original programing and better overall variety. If I were making the choice baed on movies only, I'd pick Starz (if thyy were in HD) because they have the best selection. However, since they aren't in HD and since I am a Blockbuster Total Access Customer, I don't have Starz.

Drew2k

07-03-07, 08:47 AM

I have the Premium package, so I have all, but I was torn choosing between HBO and Showtime, because currently they are the only ones with HD. I ultimately voted for HBO, because I like their original programming and history just a bit more than Showtime. (Also, Showtime had the nerve to cancel Dead Like Me. Boo Showtime!)

nick1817

07-03-07, 08:58 AM

Any more than 2, and you might as well get them all w/ premier

Nuzy

07-03-07, 09:35 AM

My vote is for Starz. To me, they have the biggest selection and best variety of movies. Biggest down side is no HD offering yet. I'm not into all the premium channel series stuff or boxing, so for movies only I think Starz is the way to go.

carl6

07-03-07, 09:42 AM

I have premier. Not considering HD, I would absolutely say Starz/Encore. When HD is considered, I watch movies on HBO and Showtime HD. I do not care for any of the other programming (original shows on HBO, boxing, etc.) that others have noted. If I were to drop back from Premier, I would probalby only get Starz/Encore.

Carl

Sixto

07-03-07, 09:46 AM

Have Premier and currently would say HBO, mostly because I only record HD.

When Starz has multiple HD on D* then may change vote.

Ext 721

07-03-07, 10:28 AM

sopranos is over.

dexter and tudors rock.

yay, showtime!

Sirshagg

07-03-07, 11:32 AM

Too bad we can't vote against one, becasue I'd certainly put a vote against Cinemax. $12 for 3 channels - yeah right! This should be included with HBO just like TMC is included with Showtime.

jasonblair

07-03-07, 11:33 AM

I noticed everyone is voting Cinemax last because of the fewest channels... Interesting that no one is admitting they like Cinemax the best because of the boobies!

morphy

07-03-07, 11:38 AM

Why is Cinemax $12 for only 3 channels?
Which do folks here prefer?

Tune in at 11pm to find out the answer to that question. :grin:

BWiggin

07-03-07, 11:53 AM

I have Showtime and Starz. I like the type of movies Showtime has, plus Dexter is a really great new show. Starz is the best value for movies. I migh pick up HBO is the fall for Inside the NFL, and when Curb your Enthusiasm comes back.

joed32

07-03-07, 11:55 AM

Too bad we can't vote against one, becasue I'd certainly put a vote against Cinemax. $12 for 3 channels - yeah right! This should be included with HBO just like TMC is included with Showtime.

I had everything except Cinemax and at that point to add it would be $7.00. For the extra $7.00 I moved up to premium where they don't charge the DVR fee so minus that to add Cinemax Cost me $2.00. I like boxing a lot both on SHO and HBO but if I could only have one premium package it would be Starz. They seem to get new movies ahead of HBO.

ansky

07-03-07, 12:45 PM

man_rob

07-03-07, 01:18 PM

I noticed everyone is voting Cinemax last because of the fewest channels... Interesting that no one is admitting they like Cinemax the best because of the boobies!

It just that when that occurs to them, their hands aren't free for typing...

pez2002

07-03-07, 01:22 PM

hbo/shotime/starz and love them all

I also love WEEDS

MizzouTiger

07-03-07, 03:21 PM

I voted for Starz. You get a pretty good selection of movies and Starz gets all of the Disney movies which the kids really like to see (again and again and again....). Used to subscribe to HBO before we had kids and we really liked it - especially HBO's original programming show/movies. I think they do a great job on those. But, I don't think HBO is as kid-friendly as Starz. Also tried the Showtime package for a very short while, but I think their program offering sucks compared to Starz and HBO.

spartanstew

07-03-07, 04:29 PM

HBO.

But we never watch the movies. We subscribe to it for the original series only. When there's a couple of months lull in new shows (like there was from Jan - March IIRC), I usually cancel it and then start it again when one of our shows is about to start airing again.

finaldiet

07-03-07, 04:54 PM

Are you sure Starz isn't in HD also. When I had the freeview week-end, I belilieve it showed StarzHD. I recorded several movies and they were HD, I'm sure.

Michael D'Angelo

07-03-07, 04:56 PM

Are you sure Starz isn't in HD also. When I had the freeview week-end, I belilieve it showed StarzHD. I recorded several movies and they were HD, I'm sure.

HBO and Showtime are the only two that Directv has in HD right now. That will change in September.

TheRatPatrol

07-11-07, 08:07 AM

Besides the original programing and sports both HBO and Showtime have, do you think that with VOD coming online it will hurt the movie channels in the future?

donshan

07-11-07, 10:44 AM

I have all the movie packages, but find the problem is how to find the "good ones" in a sea of mediocre to "awful" movies. A number of years ago I started using Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide and took the time to look up each movie for his review, especially noting any *** to **** movies I had never heard of. I discovered each of these movie packages have older movies that are just great, many of them Oscar winners in their day and still great entertainment.

What I am suggesting is if you just keep watching the same titles, actors, directors, styles you already know about, you are missing some of the best movies of all time.

Go to the American Film Institute Web site and download their lists, especially the top 100 movie list. Watch for any of these movies coming back around. Some are dated, but you don't really know what are "great movies" until you see every movie of this top 100 list! At a minimum you will see the history of the movie industry.

http://connect.afi.com/site/PageServer?pagename=100YearsList

Take the time to set your DVR for these and try the top 100s and I think you will get better value of any movie package assortment you decide you can afford.

braven

07-11-07, 11:21 AM

We currently have HBO/Cinemax free for 3 months due to the new customer special. When our 3 months are over I'm going to cancel it (No more Soprano's). When D* starts airing the extra HD channels, I'm going to pick up Starz.

man_rob

07-11-07, 11:56 AM