How many DUers subscribe to HBO?

[TahitiNut]

I'm curious. While I can afford basic cable, and have it bundled with the lowest cost broadband service (at 112kbps), I can neither afford nor did I ever subscribe to HBO, even when I had the disposable income (after making political and charitable contributions). I often see DUers affirming TV's role in the Dumbing Down of America - and I respect that viewpoint. I've gone TV-free many times and found my sanity well-served. (It's one of the things I love about Tahiti - I'm 100% TV and telephone free when I'm there.)

[LeftNYC]

1. HBO is one of the few channels that has quality TV Shows

Unless your anti-quality writing, acting, and fiction. The Wire and The Sopranos are as good as any novel.

[AlCzervik]

3. don't forget "Extras" i love that show.

[Chiyo-chichi]

7. Me, too.

The more I think about it, the more great shows I think of. The Comeback.

[AlCzervik]

9. i like that too, she disappears into that role, also like Entourage.

[AlCzervik]

12. oh hey check whats on tomorrow night--looks good!

http://www.hbo.com/films/elizabeth/?ntrack_para1=feat_main_title

[Chiyo-chichi]

19. I've been looking forward to that.

Thanks for the reminder!

[LeftNYC]

18. Deadwood, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, etc...

Other then HBO I watch The Shield, Thief on FX and sports. PBS. Thats it.

[MADem]

23. I agree, and their documentaries aren't shabby either

And their stand-up comedy specials are right up there, too.

I really enjoyed ROME, CARNIVALE, and DEADWOOD--the acting, sets, costumes, the whole package--all top of the line.

Since I avoid movie theaters like the plague, I get my films from cable. I may have to wait a bit, but by avoiding the hype of a new film, and the crush of the crowds, I can usually get a better idea as to if it's a good idea to sit down and waste a couple of hours on a film, as well.

[Atman]

29. HBO is about the only channel I watch for "entertainment"

Except for The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

I only watch news channels otherwise, specifically KO, CSPAN, an unfortunate amount of Cabal News Network (my wife lives here, too, y'know!) and some Sunday morning talking heads.

I'm am absolutely pissed at the price of my teevee viewing. I've tried to lessen our exhorbitant cable bill, but there is really no way to do so without going totally basic (which doesn't save enough to make it worthwhile) or no teevee at all. But I get my broadband service with my cable, and if I get digital cable, it's only a few dollars more. In fact, w/o digital, ONE HBO channel costs as much as getting digital with seven HBO channels. If I drop the digital, revert to one HBO, then I lose the discount for "multiple services" and my net savings is literally about $1.75 a month. I am not kidding. The pricing structure is designed to make it make more sense to just buy the whole package. And for my $100-plus cable bill, I get seven HBO channels, ON-DEMAND (which is pretty cool), digital cable, broadband internet -- but I also get a dozens of religious and sports channels, neither of which I have any use for (although I do watch FUEL a lot -- "action sports" like snowboarding and surfing). It's a fucked up system.

However, summer is coming, and every Friday I'll take off to the yurt, where we have no nothing. A small tele with a little dvd player in case it's raining, but there is no over-the-air television signal available, so I go teevee-free from Friday evening to Monday morning. It's a nice break!

[marbuc]

35. The Yurt? eom

[AlCzervik]

52. yurts-----

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://www.highroad.org/ranch/ranchpages/yurt.htm&h=600&w=800&sz=129&tbnid=kkbmyZVaeaKbdM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=142&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dyurt%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN

[Chiyo-chichi]

2. I subscribe for the Sopranos, Bill Maher, & Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Also like Entourage & Extras.
But when gas prices go up a little more, I may have to add it to my "can't afford" list.

[AllieB]

8. My husband & I were thinking of getting rid of HBO

then we realized that aside from Keith Olbermann and the Daily Show, the only things we watch are on HBO. We don't watch that much TV, at least compared to the average American.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Not worth it to me until I can get a la carte cable...

... Fuck if I wanna do any more to subsidize jesus freaks than I absolutely have to.

HBO has some good stuff, but (a) there are other avenues to get it, and (b) there's other good stuff in the world.

My $.02.

[dysfunctional press]

31. a la carte cable, if it ever happens- won't be any cheaper.

if anything, it'll probably be pricier.

[RoyGBiv]

75. Exactly so ...

There will also be less specialization and variety except in some proven, widely popular areas such as sports.

A la carte may be coming in the future, but the only people that are going to like it are the ones who really and truly want 1 or 2 channels and will be satisfied with channels that are made as generic as possible so as to appeal to the largest audience. A lot of people say that's all they want; relatively few actually mean it. What's more, those who get the 1 or 2 channels won't be satisfied either because in order to make al la carte pricing cost effective, providers will require some sort of converter box, which they'll rent to you for some ungodly price. It's sad, too, because consumer advocates spent years trying to force cable companies into not requiring a box for at least the "must carry" stations, and they succeeded in doing that. A la carte pricing will either reverse that or result in even higher pricing for the channels to make up for the costs of turning those channels on and off without a box. (The only way to turn the channel on and off without some sort of receiver is through physical trapping of the signal with a filter, which requires a field technician to visit the home.)

And speaking of "must carry" channels, a la carte pricing will likely do away with that, which a lot of people are really not going to like.

[SammyBlue]

5. I don't have HBO for another reason

Back in the 1980s, the President of that shit-work claimed that those with satellite dishes were thevies and refused to let us subscribe.

Fuck him. . .that bastard hasn't gotten a dime out of me.

[marbuc]

38. The 80s? He's probably gone by now n/t

[H2O Man]

6. HBO Boxing.

I have few bad habits at this point in life. Watching boxing is about it these days. It's pretty much the only time when my friends stop by. We have a small group that gets together about once a month.

[TahitiNut]

34. Once upon a time ...

... (and I'm old enough to remember) folks didn't feel a need to have one-of-everything themselves. If a neighbor had a TV, others in the neighborhood would be invited over for "TV night" - to watch the special shows. If a neighbor had a boat, he'd loan it to others. If a neighbor had a power saw, he'd loan it to others. Same for gas mowers, trailers, ladders, and a host of other stuff. In any particular neighborhood, it'd balance out and people interacted a lot more.

[H2O Man]

45. Very true.

It's fun for our group, because we span several generations -- including several who can remember the era you refer to. There are a few "old-timers" that boxed, others that did corner-work. And there are a couple young guys, just starting to get interested in amateur competition.

[TahitiNut]

53. "Look sharp! Feel sharp! Be sharp! Now, listen mister ..."

Gillette sponsored the Monday Night Fights back around 1948-1949 ... the reason my dad bought this HUGE(!) 17" Motorola TV. Monday night was fight night ... and usually saw several neighborhood guys in our lving room sucking down beers and arguing.

On Wednesday night, I'd sneak out of bed to watch Uncle Miltie - sponsored by Texaco.

[H2O Man]

56. Sure.

Gillette was still sponsoring them when it became the Friday Night Fights in the early 1960s. When Emile fought Benny Paret the third time, it hurt televised boxing. Of course, then ABC Wide World of Sports put on Howard C and Muhammad Ali. It was nice to be able to watch fights without paying an arm and a leg!

You must remember when Rubin was on the FNFs?

[TahitiNut]

66. Yep. I've never been much of a fan, but middleweights have been

... favored in our family. Graziano, Robinson, and later, Carter ... all have been favorites. Even though not a fan, I have to admit appreciating Sugar Ray's style. He was a beautiful fighter.

Of course, Ali became a favorite, too. He was (in my family's view) the only heavyweight to fight like a middleweight.

[H2O Man]

68. Sugar Ray Robinson

at age 50, in an exhibition with my friend Mike Nixon (formerly of Binghamton, NY). Robinson was like a ballet dancer who could knock an opponent out, moving backwards.

[Mabus]

50. Klitschko, Klitschko, Klitschko, Klitschko!

I've told my husband I'd leave him for Wvladimir (or Keith Olbermann) if I get the chance.

He's really improved since Manny took over and Americanized the training. Although I've also enjoyed the staid technical European style that both he and Vitaly were trained.

[H2O Man]

54. He should do well

against Chris B; he's too big, too strong, and Chris has faded. His speed and defensive skills have been reduced by time and inactivity.

[Mabus]

59. I'm just hoping they've toughened his face some

Both he and Vitaly seem to cut easily and deeply. I still remember the fight the Vitaly Klitschko-Lewis fight and that deep cut that Vitaly had above his eye.

I miss Lewis. I loved to watch that man fight. Not as much as Ali, but I liked watching Lewis fight.

[H2O Man]

60. I thought Lewis

did a good job working ringside at the (HBO) Mayweather-Judah match. I was very favorably impressed.

[movie_girl99]

10. i have it for Sopranos, Big Love & Bill Maher

and the comedy specials are pretty good too.

[LeftNYC]

14. You should check out The Wire...Great Show...nt

[dysfunctional press]

24. those are my main three shows too...

and they alone are enoughto make it worth the money.
(plus curb your enthusiasm)

"...social club??? He's gotta GO!!!" -the Vito thing has been a GREAT storyline. last week's show ROCKED.

[AzDar]

48. True dat! And boxing....... n/t

[Freedom_Aflaim]

11. Just during Sopranos Season

Best show on tv

[spindrifter]

13. We don't have cable.

I have too many other distractions.

[Deep13]

15. No cable, choose not to pay for commercial TV.

[Mythsaje]

16. I prefer Showtime's shows, myself...

One of my wife's favorite shows of all time was Queer As Folk.

We also watch the L Word.

Weeds is amusing too.

[H2O Man]

27. Showtime boxing

has been better than HBO's for the past 18 months.

[Mythsaje]

32. Dunno... I stopped watching boxing

when the gentlemen boxers retired. Sugar Ray Leonard, Alexis Arguello, Boom Boom Mancini...etc.

I don't know any of the current crop and never cared to.

[H2O Man]

37. The vast majority

of boxers are "gentlemen." I would not include Ray Leonard in that group. But boxers are by far the most interesting people in sports. However, no matter if a person likes boxing or not, my comment was on the quality of Showtime's schedule.

[Blue_In_AK]

43. We watch the Showtime boxing...

I'm not sure why I'm so weirdly fascinated by it. Terribly brutal sport, but it does get the adrenaline pumping.

[H2O Man]

46. It can be.

More people die every year in almost every sport. But boxing does pose potential long-term difficulties. No doubt about that.

[conflictgirl]

67. I love L Word. Can't wait until season 4!

I accepted the cable package with the movie channels when we moved almost solely because I wanted to watch The L Word.

[Mythsaje]

73. Damn good show....

Man, this season was sure a shocker, wasn't it?

[underpants]

17. I chose the Chapel one

because having no life seems so depressing.

I like some shows on HBO (I am about to list them here) Curb, Entourage, Bill Maher (it is eh okay). I have watched ONE episode of the Sopranos-no real reason just that I didn't start watching at the beginning so I never really go into it (I am probably the only white boy in America who doesn't watch it but then I've never been a wannabe).

They have some good boxing on if you like that. Bryant Gumble's show is fairly okay even though it employs the guy who wrote that "Bias" crap.

The movies are still the same. Crocodile Dundee was actually on last week yep they still play that one. Somethings never change.

[TahitiNut]

28. I sometimes aspire to that - especially when I see the HDTVs at Costco.

There's something very seductive about having a 50" plasma TV, progressive scan DVD, digital cable, surround sound, leather recliner, refrigerated draft tapper, popcorn machine, and a geisha to massage my feet. (Let the poor people eat cake!)

:evilgrin: Then I rush outdoors and breathe deeply.

[underpants]

57. Wow I just have a 36" TV and a comfy chair

But hey if you want the Sistine Chapel go for it!

:bounce:

[The HL]

20. No, All TV sucks.

Except John Stewart, don't even have cable.

[maveric]

21. HBO is in the "Digital" package. I refuse to watch commercial TV...

for the most part, only watching for sports, local news and "some" MSM news (CNN. I love to be outraged I guess).
Sadly, with the digital package, 202 channels, there's hardly anything good to watch that I havent seen before.

[elfin]

22. I LOVE HBO

Sopranos, Deadwood, Curb and now Big Love - also subscribed to Showtime to get Weeds - and now am hooked on Huff. Original programming on these channels is worth the cost for me - I HATE to drive at night and so my social life outside the home is most always before sundown - unless I entertain at home or go with someone else who doesn't mind driving at night.

"Regular" TV is far too bland to me for the most part apart from some BBCA offerings such as Wire in the Blood etc. and some PBS ala Masterpiece and Nature.

[MamaBear]

25. To get HBO ...

I'd have to get a TV. I'm a radio junkie.

[mapatriot]

26. Big Love

God help me, but I'm totally addicted to Big Love. Curb your Enthusiasm and Bill Maher also rock!

[UTUSN]

30. No. But I'm salivating over "Elizabeth I" and before that "Rome"

Am checking out the site to see how much the DVDs are.

[Cleita]

33. It's an extra $10 a month for me, a little more tha price of

going to see one movie. It has some of the best original programming on TV, with excellent writing and acting. I feel it's the best entertainment bargain around.

[NYCGirl]

40. Movie tickets in NYC are $10.50-$11.50 each. NT

[Cleita]

44. Wow, ours average $6.50 to $8. By the time you throw

in refreshment you have your $10 spent.

[NYCGirl]

47. Here you can rack up $20 for the movies (each person) very easily.

Of course, you can skip the snack bar and go to dinner, but that'll be much more. It's an expensive place, but I love this city!

[NNN0LHI]

36. I almost got it a while back. Glad I didn't. I don't watch what I got

Though I am going to watch Catch 22 tonight.

Don

[Marnieworld]

39. If I could only have one channel it would be HBO

In fact for about 4 months my vcr was on HBO and I lost the remote and I couldn't change it. I was too extremely busy at the time to get a new one for a while. Now I love it so much for The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire,America Undercover documentaries, Bill Maher, all of the original movies and specials everything! The total lack of censorship and the free spirit of the creativity are incomparable. So yah, I gots my HBO.

[Mandate My Ass]

41. I used to subscribe but can't afford it anymore

Almost the entirety of my viewing consumption was their original series because the movies just plain sucked.

I got rid of my land line telephone and only have a cell with limited calling.

Still, I carried balances on my utilities this winter for the first time ever. :-(

[napi21]

42. I have a complete digital pacakge including the internet service.

I don't watch much on HBO, but my hubby does. He always likes the new movie each week. I priced getting just basic plus & the internet service v/s the complete package, and the discount was such that it was dumb to go with anything other than the total package.

I must admit however, sometimes there is NOTHING on any of the 300+ chanels that I want to bother with! BUT...I always have DU!!!!

[wryter2000]

49. Other

When I had it, I didn't watch it enough to make it worth the extra money.

[RubyDuby in GA]

51. I have HBO, but they pissed me off when they cancelled Carnivale

Bastards!

[Lefty48197]

55. The cable television industry blows ass.

At least the providers such as Comcast. It's bad enough paying $45 bucks a month for basic cable service, let along paying MORE for HBO or some other pay channel.

[TahitiNut]

71. Well, that's for sure.

After energy and big pharma, cable companies are about the most corrupt and predatory around. I wish more communities followed the Ashland (Ore.) model and made the local cable infrastructure a public utility - fiber to the curb - and then outlawed 'exclusive' service provider contracts. Let 'em compete head-to-head with the same customer base instead of these insane 'corral/herd' trading practices. Happily, I get WideOpenWest in a "Comcast territory." If it were Comcast, I'd really be stressed out.

[Mabus]

58. Rome, Deadwood, Big Love, Carnivale, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos,

CYE, Extras, the boxing, The Wire, CostasNow, the original movies (Mrs. Harris) and the documentaries. Other than CNN, MSNBC, Comedy Central, the History & Discovery channels and National Geographic I watch little commerical television. I've got the complete premium movie package otherwise I'd never get to see movies.

[Suziq]

61. Main Reason for Having HBO

Curb Your Enthusiasm! Gotta love Larry David.

[MrSlayer]

62. I'm a big fan of HBO.

Deadwood, Rome, Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Bill Maher, Undercover, boxing and more. The best channel on TV for sure.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. I can't imagine Sundays without HBO

Best programming on TV. Oh and there's Bill Maher on Fridays. Best political talk show ever. HBO definitely does NOT dumb down America. If all networks were that good, we'd be living in a dream world.

[Ksec]

64. No. Its too expensive

and not worth it, imo.

If everyone would dump the high cost movie channels the price would drop, but that aint happening.

[conflictgirl]

65. I have HBO because I got a special bundled package

Cable internet is a must for me because I work online from home (tax-deductible, yeah!) and it's not that much more expensive to get cable tv channels with it because then I get a discount for the multiple services. HBO comes with that and there are a few shows on there I like - The Sopranos and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I'm a huge fan of HBO's Real Sex specials.

I don't watch a lot of tv so I often feel guilty about having the cable. I might watch one movie a month on one of the cable channels. The majority of nights, I don't watch tv at all. But there are four other people in my family, so I figure between all of us we get our money's worth. I didn't like any of the options about having HBO because I don't have a life, though. I'm also not terribly invested in having cable, and it's one of the first things to go when we really have to tighten our belts financially.

[mondo joe]

69. Don't see the big deal. I like the HBO original series

and it doesn't hurt to hae a few movies. I pay for it.

[joefree1]

70. C%*$&@#kers!

Love Al on Deadwood. Can't wait for the new season to start.

[Mabus]

72. Hoopleheads. I'm surrounded by hoopleheads!

:rofl: I love Al.

[nonconformist]

74. I have HBO - right now I'm getting it free

along with all the other movie channels... introductory period on Direct TV. The Sopranos is my favorite show ever, and I didn't have HBO during season 5 and would have to wait for each episode to appear on torrents. It was torture.

Sadly, we'll probably drop it when the season is over, but I would love to be able to keep it. Personally, I think watching movies results in far less "dumbing down" than the fare on basic TV. Plus, I'm a huge movie buff and it's my entertainment, my guilty pleasure. I can't afford to go to the theater that often, and I don't really go out or have any expensive hobbies, so it evens out.

[Jack_DeLeon]

76. Cable is too expensive for what it offers...

If I had to I would rather spend money on my internet connection before my cable bill.

However right now my internet connection and phone line together are cheaper than expanded basic cable.

Any shows that the "premium" networks show that I want to see well I just download it.

[fujiyama]

77. I used to get HBO

but don't any longer. I kind of miss it.

IMO it's probably the best premium station. I have TMC now, but it's not very good.