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3 Things HBO is Aware of And What They Can Do

In this follow-up to last week's post on HBO,new news has shifted how HBO should approach the ever-changing landscape of television entertainment.

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3 Things HBO is Aware of And What They Can Do
Last week this post on our blog, HBO Should Look Forward to Childbirth, detailed a big change for HBO: How the media giant should approach John Stankey’s charge to create more and broader content to compete with Netflix. Then more news came out that will provoke even more change for the Home Box Office network.

#1 The Justice Department Has Appealed

The Justice Department decided to appeal the merger, as it’s entirely within their right to do so, and go with a decision made by a lower court. An appeal like this doesn’t completely nullify the merger, but it does make it uncertain as to whether HBO will still answer to AT&T, and by extension, John Stankey. The point made in the last post may end up being moot if the Justice Department succeeds in canceling the merger. This doesn’t mean HBO will be free and clear to keep doing what it’s doing.

#2 Netflix Has More Nominations

The Television Academy, The National Academy of Arts & Sciences, and International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences all get together once a year and decide which content on TV is the best. This is commonly known as The Emmys. Last year, in 2017, HBO had a success rate of 26%, the highest of all the other networks and streaming services. This year, however, it looks as though their dominance has ended. Maybe not ended completely but shifted ever so slightly downwards. Netflix has garnered 112 nominations to Home Box Office’s 108. The winners will not be announced until September, so HBO still has a chance to snag more wins. The number's don't look promising fur HBO. Yet, surprises can always be counted on.

#3 HBO Has to Start Thinking Differently

With or without AT&T and Stankey, HBO must think differently. A wise man once said; “The worst place to be is the same place that you’ve always been.” If HBO continues to operate the same they’ve been for the last five years, then it will be the beginning of the end for them. On the other hand, this year may be just an off-year for HBO, it happens.

What Home Box Office Can Do About It

Richard Plepler, the CEO of Home Box Office, is likely thinking strategy right now. Netflix, though newer, has finally beaten them when it comes to awards. And being the leading provider of choice, Netflix appears to be chipping away at HBO’s throne. They’ve done this through investing a lot, to the tune of $8 Billion, and heavily campaigning for Emmy Nominations. HBO also campaigned. Given the number of nominations though, they didn’t seem to do as well this year as in previous years. Plepler could shrug it off as an off-year and double-down on better entertainment and campaign harder for next year—or—he could think of a new strategy. The new strategy need not be earth-shattering. He doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel after all. But he does need to take this new news seriously. Whether Stankey is going to remain his new boss or not seems largely irrelevant at this point.

The Real Question

How will HBO change their game? It may be as simple as launching a new show that appeals to a wider audience. It could also involve charting a new course for the content provider. Or somewhere in between. The first strategy requires them to put a lot of pressure on just one show. This has worked for other networks in the past. It's also failed and caused networks to go into a massive downturn. The second strategy, though necessary, is not without its risks. For HBO to try a new direction, they must first deal with entrenched ideas that have led to their success already. The old adage “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” will get mentioned along the way, but it won't apply here. The network is not broken, but they run the risk of becoming that way by shrugging off Netflix and refuse to change their approach to entertainment. The last strategy is a little bit more sound and spreads out the risk. As previously mentioned in the last post, they could tap into different bestsellers and create content that’s not chockfull of nudity and violence. They can still make those type of shows but round out their schedule with more offerings. There are other ideas for how HBO can compete. But they would fill up a book, so we won’t get into them here. But know that HBO has a chance to surprise us in the coming years as they seek to compete against streaming services. HBO could also disappoint, but given how long they've been around, that shouldn’t happen. HBO has earned recognition for its creativity and bold stories. Viewers will never stop wanting that. The trick is figuring out how their preferences are changing and to adapt. And if they can adapt to that, then Netflix, Amazon- or any other content provider- will get left behind. That’s the true goal Plepler needs to keep in mind.
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HBO Should Look Forward to Childbirth

HBO is not looking forward to the childbirth jokes. John Stankey,CEO of Warner Media,said they’ll be working harder in the coming year.

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HBO Should Look Forward to Childbirth
Home Box Office is not looking forward to the childbirth jokes. John Stankey, CEO of Warner Media, spoke to 150 HBO employees at a company townhall event. The short version is Stankey said they’ll be working harder in the coming year. "You will work very hard, and this next year will — my wife hates it when I say this — feel like childbirth…You'll look back on it and be very fond of it, but it's not going to feel great while you're in the middle of it." Stankey, believing that HBO isn’t profitable enough, has hinted that they need to increase their content to compete with streaming giants Netflix and Amazon. HBO, considering itself a boutique network, is not creating enough content to match the number of hours watched on other streaming services. To compete with Netflix and Amazon, Stankey desires an increase of hours watched per day as opposed to hours per week. Stankey wasn’t talking about a real pregnancy and childbirth. He was really calling for HBO to produce more content that appeals to a broader audience.

Can Home Box Office Produce?

Many of the biggest TV shows have found their home on HBO. The Sopranos, for example. Known for its gritty style, graphic violence, and nudity, The Sopranos landed 118 wins and 301 nominations over its six seasons. The show was more than mob violence, but a poignant portrayal of personal growth in maddening circumstances. If The Sopranos had been Home Box Office’s only hit then the argument would be easy. HBO didn’t stop with The Sopranos, however. Game of Thrones, Tru Blood, Sex in the City, WestWorld the list goes of examples of HBO putting out programming that consistently draws in a dedicated viewership. For Stankey to call for an expansion of their content offers is a dicey move. HBO has long enjoyed its position of “premier content” provider. The network fought to that spot by offering bold and edgy programming that one would only see in movies. Instead, HBO brought onto the small screen, for a monthly fee, every night. When HBO became known for their content, they spawned a host of other networks offering similar programming. Of course, they also charged a premium for it. If a viewer didn’t like the content, they simply didn’t have to pay to watch it. Problem solved. This tactic has sustained HBO…so far.

Are Netflix and Amazon Producing Something Better?

At the 2017 Emmys HBO had 111 total nominations. Netflix and Amazon had 91 and 16, respectively. When the awards ceremony was over, HBO walked away with 29 wins. Netflix? Twenty wins. Amazon? Two. Crunching the numbers, that means HBO had a success rate of 26% to Netflix’s 22% and Amazon’s 13%. Based on these numbers alone, there’s little argument that HBO is doing well compared to Netflix and Amazon. It’s not the number of awards that executives like Stankey are looking at. According to a 2017 survey by Morgan Stanley, respondents were asked; “Which service provides the best original programming?” 33% of respondents answered- Netflix. Amazon doesn’t seem to be in the fight much. They may just be biding their time. If HBO and Netflix are busy slugging it out, then Amazon could sit back, relax, and wait to pick off the exhausted winner when the fight does finally end. For now, HBO needs to contend not just with Netflix, but what they stand for – streaming original content, and lots of it. Although not all shows Netflix and Amazon offer end up being winners, they seem to be playing a numbers game; the more shows produced should eventually lead to a big hit, like Stranger Things. If HBO tries to play the game Netflix is playing HBO would lose. What HBO should be focusing on, instead, is to find a way to build upon their brand.

How can HBO win?

The childbirth metaphor is fitting given the amount of work that HBO is likely to take on in the coming years. A better metaphor for “winning” would be “Can HBO capture more attention than Netflix and Amazon?” Making a breakout show and keeping viewers aren’t always the same thing. There have been great shows that were rated poorly by critics. There have been terrible shows that critics loved. There have been shows that had one good season and then they die off soon after like Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom. For HBO to live up to Stankey’s request of creating content for a broader audience, the network will have to find a way of connecting to a much more diverse audience. Not every show can have gratuitous violence and nudity. They’ll have to watch their language as well. A challenge for sure, but not impossible. HBO has already found success by tapping into books. Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies, and Sharper Objects were all based on best-selling books. This tactic has worked for them so far. After all, if people like reading a book, they’ll likely want to watch it as a show. By expanding on this logic, Home Box Office can go a few steps further by looking beyond their usual picks and try different genres. What about a limited series based on books like The Dresden Files, Soon I Will Be Invincible, and Scot Harvath? It may be as simple as visiting the local Barnes & Noble and going to a different section.

HBO is About to Get Bigger

To fill Stankey’s order, as well as compete with Netflix and Amazon, HBO will have to expand. How they expand is entirely up to them. HBO can be as creative in this endeavor as they are with their content. The road ahead is uncharted. HBO should view this as an open invitation to really push the envelope and not a decree to create babies. And if Home Box Office is good at one thing- it’s pushing the envelope.
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Who Killed Your Wi-Fi?

It's Friday night,you turn on your favorite streaming service. Only to find your TV is stuck on the loading screen. Someone has killed your Wi-Fi. But who?

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Who Killed Your Wi-Fi?
It’s Friday night and you’re simultaneously turning on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu to catch the most recent binge-worthy show. This week’s flavor is...crime dramas. Yet, the TV is stuck on the loading screen. Someone has killed your Wi-Fi. The screen will only show the spinning wheel that never stops. Instead of loading your show it simply taunts you. Thanks to having watched a few police shows already, you’re confident in your detective skills to assess the evidence, round up suspects, and deliver the perpetrator to justice. It’s the Internet Service Provider. Plain and simple. Cue the end credits, no need for further investigation. Right?

Bring It Out Into the Open

Your badge isn’t on the line, but admit it, you jumped straight to the conclusion that your ISP killed your Wi-Fi. Stop and look around the room. Locate the Wi-Fi router. Is it tucked away in the corner? Set high up a shelf with books? Hidden behind your TV because you’re ashamed that it doesn’t fit with the overall aesthetic? Now is the time to move it somewhere closer to the middle of your house or apartment. Wi-Fi, like a sprinkler, does its best when it’s in the middle of the space and can be seen from each corner easily. An optimal location for it would be to install it on the ceiling. Obviously, this isn’t an option for everyone. There’s also the concern of having your Wi-Fi router hanging from the ceiling like a bat. While this option may not be feasible for most, work to locate a spot near the middle of your living space. Be it an apartment or home, there should be a spot near the center that you can use to set your router. Also, try to get it up as high as you can. Going back to the sprinkler metaphor; sprinklers cast the water out and it falls to the earth. So the higher the sprinkler, the greater the coverage of the lawn. Same with a Wi-Fi router, though the signal doesn’t fall like water, you’ll notice better reception when it is placed higher.

Appliances Are An Accomplice

Your Wi-Fi router, while sitting still and unassuming, is constantly being accosted as it tries to do its job--send and receive signals. Some of these suspects may be surprising to you.

Home appliances

This may seem obvious. Most appliances plug into the wall and are made out of metal. All that metal and electricity interfere with a Wi-Fi signal. In a way, they create their own little signals. They don’t mean to do it as they’re just doing a job as well. The problem can be exacerbated further with appliances now coming with their own Wi-Fi signals in an attempt to make homes “smarter.” Think of the refrigerators with touch screens and cameras inside. While these are meant to work with your personal Wi-Fi network, they can also end up taking more of the bandwidth and leaving you sitting there staring at the pinwheel of boredom.

Blinds

Some blinds are made of plastic or compressed board. And a lot are manufactured out of metal. Again, the metal is what will affect your Wi-Fi signal. On the flipside, there may be a new market here- “Interior Design that is both stylish and won’t kill your Wi-Fi!”

Mirrors

The reflective coating that gives mirrors their...mirror-ness, also bounce Wi-Fi signals off in haphazard directions.

Reinforced Concrete

The rebar inside of reinforced concrete will affect the Wi-Fi signal, as well as the dense nature of the concrete itself. This time it's not just the metal, but the concrete too.

Fish Tanks

Yes, there are comprised of metal too, but also a lot of water. So while Nemo is taking laps and plotting his escape, the water he’s swimming in is also making it difficult for your Wi-Fi signal to get through. Of course, you can’t take out all the metal in your home, nor can you leave the windows uncovered and tear down any walls. There will be obstacles to your Wi-Fi, but you can eliminate or lessen them by placing your router somewhere up high and near the center of your abode. There are also ways to extend your Wi-Fi signal.

The Butler Did It!

Those smart home devices mentioned earlier? Yeah, they could be the ones who killed your Wi-Fi, or they may be taking up a lot of the bandwidth. Earlier this year, it was revealed that these smart home devices were actually bogging down your home's Wi-Fi signals. A bug in the system caused a lot of data to be sent at once, impeding the Wi-Fi. Most of the kinks are being resolved right now, but don’t be surprised if your Wi-Fi is slow after you plug in your newest smart home device. There is good news; patches have been sent out in updates to fix the problem. So if you haven’t updated yet, this may be the reason. Or maybe those little boxes just got tired of you shouting at it? Maybe.

It's an Open and Shut Case

Thanks to buddy cop movies and police procedural shows we can solve the case of "who killed your Wi-Fi?" with confidence. But do not, and this is important, start trying to solve murder/arson/robbery cases on your own. Leave that up to the professionals! What it all boils down to is understanding the technology you use and how its affected by items in your home. This knowledge will ensure a proper solution to these “crimes.” The next time you see the spinning wheel of doom, take a moment to assess the room and figure out if the router just needs to be moved or if you have an appliance in the way? 
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4 Ways to Keep Rising Prices from Burning Up Your Wallet

Since a few streaming services have decided to raise their rates, this also creates optimal fire conditions in your wallet.

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4 Ways to Keep Rising Prices from Burning Up Your Wallet
With summer in full swing, temperatures rise. It’s not uncommon to see forest fires in more rural parts of the country. As the heat and the dry winds cause perfect conditions for fires to start. Since a few streaming services have decided to raise their rates, this also creates optimal fire conditions in your wallet.

Temperature Rising

Within the last week Playstation VUE, DirecTV have announced a price increase of at least $5 to their streaming services. It doesn’t help that Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Netflix have also announced price hikes in the last six months.

It’s not all bad

Despite no clear explanation for the price increase, Playstation VUE and DirecTV are still going to deliver the same great shows and live TV they always have…just at a little bit more of a price tag. These streaming services provide cable channels without the actual cables, which is a definite plus for some people. For example, FIFA’s World Cup is garnering lots of attention, even though it's already half-over. Since it’s being held in Russia, which is on the other side of the globe, being able to stream games live is a necessity. Come August we’ll see this happen again when the NFL kicks into high gear with their 2018-2019 season.

Fire Risk

With so many streaming options available, there’s a significant portion of the population with more than one streaming membership. Now, what may be just a $5 increase for one streaming service, is becoming a $10, $15 increase per month. Some people are faced with the choice of deciding whether that price tag is worth premium access, even if it is for the World Cup and the NFL.

Rising Prices

Prices go up, that’s one thing we can all rely on with certainty. Therefore, there are those who will simply pay the increase and find ways to cut costs somewhere else in their budgets. Then there will be those who decide it’s not worth the extra five, ten, fifteen dollars a month to have multiple streaming services. Yet, the decision will be difficult as to which streaming service to cut and why. Take heart, as there are other options.

Reduce Your Internet Bill

To keep your streaming services, you can find ways to reduce your internet bill, thus absorbing the cost of the price increase that way. Before you dial the customer service line, realize that this isn’t a life and death negotiation. It’s just business. The customer service rep on the other end of the line won’t take it personally that you’re trying to reduce your bill. They will still get paid at the end of the day. Come into it as though you’re simply talking dollars and sense. Knowing this you can confidently dial the customer service line for your ISP. Start by giving them your cancellation date. This lets them know you’re serious. Once you have their attention, request a lower rate, possibly the introductory rate. If they can’t give you the introductory rate, don’t settle for “the next best thing.” Set a price and stick to it. If they won’t play ball with you, then hang up. It’s as simple as that. If they still want your business, then you’ll be getting a call back from a retention specialist. It’s this person’s job to keep you as a customer for the company. When they’re calling you, you’re the one calling the shots. From there you can set the tone of the conversation and demand a lower rate. If they’re still not going to budge on their price, let them know you’ve already set your cancellation date. If the retention specialist is wise, this person will at least entertain the idea of a lower rate. When this happens, you can even offer to buy the modem and router your ISP provided to bargain for a lower price. This way you’re no longer paying the monthly rental fee!

Skimpy Bundles

If negotiation isn’t your thing, then you can cancel your streaming services and go with a Skimpy Bundle. The trade-off with a skimpy bundle service is a sacrifice of access to unlimited content in exchange for a select number of channels for a cheaper price. You’ll still get a good picture and ad-free content but on a smaller scale.

AT&Ts Watch TV

AT&T’s cheapest live TV streaming service, Watch TV comes in at $15 a month. With this, you can stream 31 channels to your smartphone, tablet, or set-top box, but only one at a time.

Philo

Backed by cable TV content providers, Philo offers a base package of 37 channels that includes a lot of the big-name channels. You can also stream on multiple devices at the same time. There are other packages that offer more channels, but of course, they’ll cost more. The base package only costs $16 a month. Unfortunately, there are no sports channels offered.

Fubo TV

Fubo TV does have a nice introductory package of 70+ channels that includes a healthy sampling of sports channels! After a seven-day free trial, your first month will be $19.99. The drawback is after that first month, the price goes up to the normal amount of $44.99. This would be a great way to enjoy your sports for a short time then cancel once the season ends.

Extinguish the Fire

With these suggestions in mind, you don’t have to let the streaming services dictate how much you’ll be paying. There are ways around the higher prices. All it takes is a little research, a little time, and you’ll find the right viewing options for you at the right price. This will keep the money in your wallet from burning up this summer!
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DirecTV Now is the Future of Television!

The future of television is here.  No more missing work for installations; no more long contracts; DirecTV Now is here! It is the future of television!

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DirecTV Now is the Future of Television!
What a wonderful time to be alive!  The future of television is here.  No more missing work for installations; no more long contracts; no more clunky TV boxes and tangled wires; and most importantly, no more overspending.  DirecTV Now is here!

The state of cable television today

Live TV streaming services are the future of television, and you can expect that every cable TV monopoly (err… I mean, company) in America will be creating their own version of it.  Dish Network was the first to pioneer this trend with Sling TV.  As with Netflix and Hulu, all you need is a good Internet connection (preferably 5 Mbps per device streaming) and a smart device.  Presently, there are only a handful of these live TV streaming services.  We’re going to take an in-depth look at DirecTV’s lovechild, DirecTV Now. Four years after purchasing DirecTV, AT&T has seen the writing on the wall.  Mainstream America is becoming less and less smitten with satellite installations, two-year contracts, and $7 leasing charges for each TV box per month.  A household with four TVs on a middle-of-the-pack channel package with DirecTV averages around $150 per month.  After the first year, new customer promotional pricing expires.  If you have unlimited data, streaming services like Netflix ($8/month) and Hulu ($7.99/month) are proving more economical to the family piggy bank.  DirecTV is not the only cable company suffering to this new trend in America.  Everyone is.

The deets

AT&T’s answer to the problem is DirecTV Now. Popular TV channels, along with local and regional sports networks, can all be broadcast live from any device that can connect to the Internet (tablets, smartphones, laptops, PC’s, smart TVs, etc.).  Don’t have a smart TV?  No problem.  Turn your dumb TV into a smart TV with Google Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Firestick, or Apple TV.  DirecTV Now is currently offering a promotion that will give you a free Roku, valued at $49.99, if you prepay for one month of service at full price, which can be as low as $35. If you aren’t happy with the service, you can cancel after the first month with no penalty and get a $15 discount on a Roku.  Not too bad if you ask me!  They have another promotion for you Apple-lovers where if you prepay for 3 months at full price, which can be as low as $105, you get a free AppleTV.  That’s a retail value of $179. If you’re already up-to-date with today’s technology, then the above promotion probably means nothing to you.  So, DirecTV Now’s promotion for $10 for the first 3 months on the “Live a Little” package will probably tickle your fancy better.  At $10 a month, you get 60+ channels which includes your local channels and pretty much all the top channels that most people would want to watch.  After three months, the price reverts to the regular rate of $35.  I can handle a $35 cable bill, and I’m pretty sure you can, too.  And did I mention you can cancel or start back up at any time? There’s also one more promotion you can take advantage of where you try the service free for a week and see if it’s worth paying the full retail price for whatever channel package you choose, but I feel like the two promotions I mentioned above are much better.  I mean, I could easily blow $10 on a McDonald’s drive-thru lunch session, so why not get TV for a month instead? Below are the lineups showing the most popular channels for all the packages offered by DirecTV Now. Pretty much every main channel is covered in these packages.  And did you notice that it’s just $5 for HBO?  Pretty sweet deal for all you Game of Thrones fans.  I’d bend the knee to that (that reference will only make sense to GoT fans).  Seriously, though, this is where DirecTV Now really wins: their premium channel pricing. Setup is easy, but you do need to be mindful that whichever promotion you settle on, your credit card will be set to auto-charge itself whenever a payment is due; if you plan on canceling, you will need to do it manually.

Working out the kinks

Not everything is all peaches and cream with DirecTV Now. It’s still in its early stages, so there are still bugs.  Reports of On Demand shows appearing as available when they really aren’t is the most often reported bug.  It’s highly annoying when the latest episode of “The Bachelor” is not even available to view and you can’t find out who got the rose tonight! The DVR service is still in its beta form.  Beta is already a warning sign that you can expect issues.  Right now, the service only offers 20 hours of cloud storage space for recordings and will hang onto them for 30 days. That’s not horrible but 20 hours I could fill up in less than a week if I’m adulting enough and not watching television.  There was an announcement that 100 hours will be available later this year as an add-on feature.  Another drawback to the DVR is that you can’t at this early stage of the app rewind live TV.  And pausing live TV will only freeze the current programming, and when you press play, instead of picking up where you left off, it plays what’s live again.  So, there’s no real point in pausing anything live if it’s only going to play what’s live when you press play.  Recordings will play, pause, rewind, and fast forward like any other DVR you’ve ever used. DirecTV Now as of right now will only allow you to stream on 2 devices at a time.  As with Netflix, you can add one more device to stream at the same time for $5 more.  I’m sure once Live TV streaming services become more prevalent, the competitive market will force this to increase at little to no cost.  Time will only tell with that one.

The future of television

Other than these minor setbacks, DirecTV Now looks like it’s going to be a staple in many households for years to come and it’s only going to get better just if the pricing doesn’t start mimicking its satellite pricing.  Offering more TV channels for your money than its main competitor, Sling TV, a great HD picture quality (4k on its way), and a user-friendly interface, DirecTV Now looks destined to have a bright future within the Live TV streaming market. Here’s a bold prediction but I feel it in my bones: DirecTV Now and its Live TV streaming competitors will be the norm in America within the next 10 years.  Receiving your cable TV from a cable line or satellite will become ancient technology like the car phone. The only thing coming in on that cable line or satellite will be high-speed internet.  This is a good thing and we just need to embrace it with fatter wallets and purses.