[heidic]

Haven't seen this mentioned here, but I read on another site that HBO and Cinemax are running another free preview next weekend. Presumably this is to promote the premiere of Boardwalk Empire.

 

[ThomasM]

Haven't seen this mentioned here, but I read on another site that HBO and Cinemax are running another free preview next weekend. Presumably this is to promote the premiere of Boardwalk Empire.

Yup, it was included in the insert in my last bill. From 9-14 thru 9-17 both HBO and Cinemax are free. The insert also says "Watch the season premiere of Boardwalk Empire on 9/16 at 9pm ET" (on HBO) And also "Don't miss the Saturday night movie premiere of Johnny English Reborn on 9/15 at 10pm ET" (on Cinemax).

 

[mitchflorida]

They have so many free showings of HBO/Cinemax, why even bother to pay for it?

 

[Dude111]

Yes DirecTV is much better than Time warner!!! (Who is too greedy to have hardily ANY free previews)

 

[kkl]

When does the ability to schedule recordings through DirecTV's online guide generally become available? As of now, I can schedule HBO, but not Cinemax, movies for recording.

 

[dcowboy7]

They have so many free showings of HBO/Cinemax, why even bother to pay for it?

So many ?

Theyve only had 1 since february.

 

[jimisham]

When does the ability to schedule recordings through DirecTV's online guide generally become available? As of now, I can schedule HBO, but not Cinemax, movies for recording.

I've been able to schedule them before, although it tells me they "may not record as scheduled". They always do record, tho.

 

[skoolpsyk]

When does the ability to schedule recordings through DirecTV's online guide generally become available? As of now, I can schedule HBO, but not Cinemax, movies for recording.

lol, I just came here to check the same thing! It's 7:45am pacific time here and can schedule hbo but still not cinemax...

edit: 4:30pm and still can't schedule cinemax

 

[retired flyer]

501-516 channels aren't lit up, 517-523 are lit up on the guide & all won't record/play at 5:30 AM Sept. 14, Friday. Directv doesn't answer phones till 8 AM.

 

[jimisham]

501-516 channels aren't lit up, 517-523 are lit up on the guide & all won't record/play at 5:30 AM Sept. 14, Friday. Directv doesn't answer phones till 8 AM.

I believe they usually start at 6 AM EST.

 

[skoolpsyk]

So frustrating to see several great widescreen movies that I'm going to skip because these idiots insist on zooming them in to where it's like you're sitting in the front row of the theater...

 

[NewForceFiveFan]

Is there even anything airing on the Cinemax channels that hasn't already been run to death on the HBO? I went through the online guide for friday and the only movie I didn't recognize was The Eagle. I sure hope there is some better movies come saturday and sunday night primetime.

 

[kryscio23]

I see the free preview but have a question for you guys ... if one doesn't normally subscribe to HBO, does the OnDemand portion of the service come with and be available during the freeview weekend?

 

[bookwalk]

I see the free preview but have a question for you guys ... if one doesn't normally subscribe to HBO, does the OnDemand portion of the service come with and be available during the freeview weekend?

Just checked on the same question--the answer is no.

 

[Satelliteracer]

They have so many free showings of HBO/Cinemax, why even bother to pay for it?

There are 3 free previews during the year accounting for a total of 9 days out of 365.

That's 2.5% of the time it is free.

It's also a nice gesture by D* and that premium to allow for everyone to tap into some additional programming every once in awhile that normally folks don't get.

 

[NR4P]

There are 3 free previews during the year accounting for a total of 9 days out of 365.

That's 2.5% of the time it is free.

It's also a nice gesture by D* and that premium to allow for everyone to tap into some additional programming every once in awhile that normally folks don't get.

Well put. And thank you SR for dropping in now and then to provide helpful info.

 

[hdtvfan0001]

Well put. And thank you SR for dropping in now and then to provide helpful info.

+1 (I haven't used that in quite some time )

 

[PrinceLH]

There are 3 free previews during the year accounting for a total of 9 days out of 365.

That's 2.5% of the time it is free.

It's also a nice gesture by D* and that premium to allow for everyone to tap into some additional programming every once in awhile that normally folks don't get.

I just wish that their price structure, was something similar to Starz and Showtime. At times, you can usually get a 3 month package, for under $10.00 per month. I'd tap into that, a couple of times a year, but their price is prohibitive, the way it's currently set up.

 

[dcowboy7]

There are 3 free previews during the year accounting for a total of 9 days out of 365.

That's 2.5% of the time it is free.

The freeviews are actually 4 days each time.

So 3 freeviews x 4 days = 12 days / 366 (leap year) = 3.3%.

 

[RACJ2]

There are 3 free previews during the year accounting for a total of 9 days out of 365.

That's 2.5% of the time it is free.

It's also a nice gesture by D* and that premium to allow for everyone to tap into some additional programming every once in awhile that normally folks don't get.

Although it is a nice gesture, you have to admit its mainly a marketing tool to lure in more subscribers to those premium channels. I suppose the preview coinciding with the premier of a Boardwalk Empire could just be a coincidence. Although I would bet that the hope is that you watch the free episode and you like it. Then you have to subscribe to HBO to know what happens next.