• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

HBO and Cinemax

R

russhaney

Guest
So, my local cable company has a nice promo package for these 2 channels.. so I decided to purchase the package (about a month ago).

What is the deal with these 2 channels?

Im not a huge movie guy, but going through both channel's line ups... it seems to me they play movies that I have never heard of, and cinemax plays lame ass porn movies.

I remember having HBO a few year's ago... and if I remember correctly, the quality of movies that they played back then were a lot better than now.

Is it me, or is HBO and MAX a waste of money?



<P ID="signature">______________
www.1club.fm</P>
 
> So, my local cable company has a nice promo package for
> these 2 channels.. so I decided to purchase the package
> (about a month ago).
>
> What is the deal with these 2 channels?
>
> Im not a huge movie guy, but going through both channel's
> line ups... it seems to me they play movies that I have
> never heard of, and cinemax plays lame ass porn movies.
>
> I remember having HBO a few year's ago... and if I remember
> correctly, the quality of movies that they played back then
> were a lot better than now.
>
> Is it me, or is HBO and MAX a waste of money?

So this is the first time you've actually viewed a Cinemax schedule huh? LOL Cinemax has been known for their late-night airings of adult fare almost since they signed on. All movie channels air "lame a**" stuff...to each their own. You don't have to watch them. Personally, I think Showtime is the absolute worst of the bunch. I mean REALLY bad! They had a free preview a month or so ago and I thought it was a joke. Usually when you want to attract new subscribers, you air your best stuff (just like any other business would do). Not Showtime. But, I digress.

Starz has been getting alot of the better movies since they signed on. IMO, HBO is second fiddle. But, HBO has more original programming. I like Cinemax because they air alot of older titles that I haven't see on cable in many, many years (i.e. over the summer, they were airing "National Lampoon's Vacation" and for as long as I can remember having cable/sattelite, I can't remember the last time this was on). I remember a decade or so ago, Cinemax was a joke, but it's gotten alot better. In fact, they'll premiere many movies before they get to HBO.

Since HBO and Cinemax are "sister" networks (like Starz/Encore and Showtime/TMC), you'll see movies crossover between the both of them. But if you're not a huge movie guy, why would you pay for MOVIE channels??
 
I heard of that promo on DirecTV as well. Is that promo just for a couple months of service and then you have to pay the regular rates, or is it for as long as you want to keep the package?

I have tried most of these movie packages and have found the Starz pack to be the best, although there is a TON of repetition of movies on all these channels. Last month Starz aired 'Ladder 49' about 10 times a day.




> So, my local cable company has a nice promo package for
> these 2 channels.. so I decided to purchase the package
> (about a month ago).
>
> What is the deal with these 2 channels?
>
> Im not a huge movie guy, but going through both channel's
> line ups... it seems to me they play movies that I have
> never heard of, and cinemax plays lame ass porn movies.
>
> I remember having HBO a few year's ago... and if I remember
> correctly, the quality of movies that they played back then
> were a lot better than now.
>
> Is it me, or is HBO and MAX a waste of money?
>
 
> So, my local cable company has a nice promo package for
> these 2 channels.. so I decided to purchase the package
> (about a month ago).
>
> What is the deal with these 2 channels?
>
> Im not a huge movie guy, but going through both channel's
> line ups... it seems to me they play movies that I have
> never heard of, and cinemax plays lame ass porn movies.
>
> I remember having HBO a few year's ago... and if I remember
> correctly, the quality of movies that they played back then
> were a lot better than now.
>
> Is it me, or is HBO and MAX a waste of money?
>

I haven't subscribed to HBO and Cinemax since they started playing all these strange movies.


As for Cinemax, they have become well known for the lame porn. I can remember them playing it 10 years ago.

I prefer Starz and Showtime<P ID="signature">______________

AIM: JeremyA1069</P>
 
HBO is all about the original programming now. They don't concentrate on movies anymore. Cinemax is a bit better when it comes to movies, but if you're going to get a premium channel FOR movies, it should be Starz, although I don't think even that is worth it.

The other premium channels are actually much worse when it comes to movies though. I was a Showtime subscriber for a while, back when they still carried Dead Like Me, and I don't think I watched more than 1 or 2 movies on it, ever. That was with 5 or more digital Showtime channels too.

Flipping through the listings, I don't think I've ever seen anything appealing on TMC either. I've come to the conclusion that all premium channels are a waste unless you like the original programming.
 
> > Cinemax has been known for their late-night airings of adult fare almost since they signed on.

I think Cinemax aired "Lord of the G-String" a few months ago. Classic twist on the Lord of the Rings...

..or so I heard.
 
> I have tried most of these movie packages and have found the
> Starz pack to be the best, although there is a TON of
> repetition of movies on all these channels. Last month
> Starz aired 'Ladder 49' about 10 times a day.

Starz/Encore does have a better selection of movies among its three-billion (or so it seems) channels, but I object to their squishing the credits to air interviews, promos, etc. When they aren't doing that, they put a little bar at the bottom which conveys little useful information other than "you are watching Encore (whatever), one of nine Encore channels".

I know Showtime does a lot of the former as well, but at least they confine it to their main channel and don't infect TMC, Flix, etc. with the same.

My main complaint about HBO and Cinemax is that they refuse to run the widescreen version of older movies letterboxed. At least TMC and Flix do that.<P ID="signature">______________


</P>
 
> I've come to the
> conclusion that all premium channels are a waste unless you
> like the original programming.
>

I think these networks are starting to realize that they need to have original programming in order to stay competitive. There are so many better choices for watching movies - Netflix, On-Demand, PPV...I wonder how long these networks will be able to survive as "premium" channels. There is so much repetition in their movie selection that it's almost unbearable to watch. And DirecTV advertises that you can get 7 HBO's and there is something for everyone. Well 3 out of those 7 are just west-coast feeds of the other HBO's. So you really are not gaining much.
 
> > > Cinemax has been known for their late-night airings of
> adult fare almost since they signed on.
>
> I think Cinemax aired "Lord of the G-String" a few months
> ago. Classic twist on the Lord of the Rings...
>
> ..or so I heard.
>

Not to mention "Playmate of the Apes" and "Spiderbabe".
 
My cable company has a feature called "On Demand" which basically takes the monthly movie lineup and the HBO shows and places them as if you were watching pay per view....it comes with the HBO, Starz, etc subscription....i like it just for that. I get my Real Time, Rome easily ontape...

One gotcha, the DVR offered by the cable company does not allow you to record the ondemand selections.......but tivo works



> I heard of that promo on DirecTV as well. Is that promo
> just for a couple months of service and then you have to pay
> the regular rates, or is it for as long as you want to keep
> the package?
>
> I have tried most of these movie packages and have found the
> Starz pack to be the best, although there is a TON of
> repetition of movies on all these channels. Last month
> Starz aired 'Ladder 49' about 10 times a day.
>
>
>
>
> > So, my local cable company has a nice promo package for
> > these 2 channels.. so I decided to purchase the package
> > (about a month ago).
> >
> > What is the deal with these 2 channels?
> >
> > Im not a huge movie guy, but going through both channel's
> > line ups... it seems to me they play movies that I have
> > never heard of, and cinemax plays lame ass porn movies.
> >
> > I remember having HBO a few year's ago... and if I
> remember
> > correctly, the quality of movies that they played back
> then
> > were a lot better than now.
> >
> > Is it me, or is HBO and MAX a waste of money?
> >
>
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom