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HBO on Demand (via box) Suddenly Has Ads
Folks:
I get my Spectrum TV via cable box and have paid extra for Prems like HBO for many years. Tonight when I went to watch an HBO on Demand movie (channel 500 from menu), I suddenly started getting ads during the movie. The bill presentation in the PDF looks a bit different, but I clearly am subscribed to Ad-Free for the extra fee.
I spent 30 arduous minutes with a Rep where we rebooted my box (of course, the seeming remedy to all ills), he sent some signals out to it, and we tried again only to get commercials during the movie again.
Frustratingly, he said that was it and the next step had to be a home visit for a technician. The box was replaced 6 months ago and is new, this problem suddenly popped up as it was not present last week watching an on demand HBO movie, and it really does not sound like a problem that a technician visit is going to solve.
The bottom line is I am paying for Ad-Free HBO but getting ads when watching HBO movies on demand served from the cable box service. Does anyone have any insights to this issue and/or have experienced themselves? Thanks.
Comments
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Hello @Nexus
I apologize for the confusion. On your bill when it says that HBO should be ad-free, that is referring to the HBO Max app/website. Normally this would be a separate subscription service they offer, but you can link your Spectrum ID to the app and you will not receive ads when watching through their app or website. On Demand content is different and may have ads or limit your ability to rewind/fast forward depending on the network's preference.
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I do not and have never accessed my HBO service through an app or website. ONLY served through my cable box and channels therein. So I don't think your response has any applicability to what I am experiencing and have reported tonight.
I do NOT stream my Spectrum cable service. I receive it via cable box as I cited in my original post.
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Hey there Nexus, I do apologize for the confusion, and I'd be happy to investigate this further. To confirm, is this happening during for movies, shows or both?
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I have figured this out and it is so disappointing. This is all on Spectrum. The Spectrum guide shows HBO on Demand as channel 500. After scrolling down to the HBO Movies section and then expanding to the full movie list by invoking More on the 21st tile, you are presented with the A-Z list of HBO movies on demand. This is the same interface that's been in place for a long time.
Looking at the list, it appears as and we rightfully assume that this is a list of HBO MOVIES. When I clicked into the movie in question, I just noticed that it references TBS rather than HBO. So in what can only be considered a CHEAPENING OF SERVICE, this movie was NOT being served from HBO but rather TBS on demand (which has commercials of course). There is NO reference to TBS in the list, and just the the one reference on the movie detail page. This movie is being offered on channel 500 which is HBO ON DEMAND. So the cheaper TBS version of the movie was swapped into the HBO on Demand list rather than serving the movie from HBO without ads.
This is sleazy at best. If I wanted a TBS movie with ads, I would have gone to the TBS on Demand channel and served it up there. What you guys are doing is slipping in TBS w/ads movies into the HBO on Demand movie list that has always been a clean dedicated list of HBO movies — ad free — on demand. But now you guys are commingling TBS movies with ads with HBO ad free movies in one list called HBO Movies on Demand where we have always accessed our ad free HBO movies.
It really is a shameful thing you've done here and I assume it's done to save money by diluting your ad free HBO movie list with TBS movies w/ ads. If you're going to resort to this shady business practice…
…RENAME Channel 500 to HBO & TBS (w/ads) Movies on Demand and show in the list of movies which ones are real HBO movies and which ones are TBS movies addled with ads.
Someone in Management needs to know…We your customers noticed your unsavory trickery and don't appreciate having our intelligence insulted by this unethical ploy.
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Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I can assure you that we apologize for any frustrations this has caused you. Perhaps I can provide some clarification on what may have happened. Our HBO channels run from channels 511 - 520. On those channels you can find any movie the network is currently playing. Our on-demand channel runs a little differently. On demand can be found on channel 1000 via the Spectrum TV app, as well as, on your cable box and it is not specific to one particular channel. On-demand has all network platforms available to watch with different price options for rental with the exception of any content from a channel you are subscribed to is free. We have been transitioning in the direction of keeping specific things together and all on demand channels lead back to our general channel 1000. If we can be of any further assistance, please know we are here for you 24/7.
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I have figured this out and it is so disappointing. This is all on Spectrum. The Spectrum guide shows HBO on Demand as channel 500. After scrolling down to the HBO Movies section and then expanding to the full movie list by invoking More on the 21st tile, you are presented with the A-Z list of HBO movies on demand. This is the same interface that's been in place for a long time.
Looking at the list, it appears as and we rightfully assume that this is a list of HBO MOVIES. When I clicked into the movie in question, I just noticed that it references TBS rather than HBO. So in what can only be considered a CHEAPENING OF SERVICE, this movie was NOT being served from HBO but rather TBS on demand (which has commercials of course). There is NO reference to TBS in the list, and just the the one reference on the movie detail page. This movie is being offered on channel 500 which is HBO ON DEMAND. So the cheaper TBS version of the movie was swapped into the HBO on Demand list rather than serving the movie from HBO without ads.
This is sleazy at best. If I wanted a TBS movie with ads, I would have gone to the TBS on Demand channel and served it up there. What you guys are doing is slipping in TBS w/ads movies into the HBO on Demand movie list that has always been a clean dedicated list of HBO movies — ad free — on demand. But now you guys are commingling TBS movies with ads with HBO ad free movies in one list called HBO Movies on Demand where we have always accessed our ad free HBO movies.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I can assure you that we apologize for any frustrations this has caused you. Perhaps I can provide some clarification on what may have happened. Our HBO channels run from channels 511 - 520. On those channels you can find any movie the network is currently playing. Our on-demand channel runs a little differently. On demand can be found on channel 1000 via the Spectrum TV app, as well as, on your cable box and it is not specific to one particular channel. On-demand has all network platforms available to watch with different price options for rental with the exception of any content from a channel you are subscribed to is free. We have been transitioning in the direction of keeping specific things together and all on demand channels lead back to our general channel 1000. If we can be of any further assistance, please know we are here for you 24/7.
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Good comments!
I want to add additional feedback. @Nexus , what was the name of the movie that does this? I agree with you that if you watch a specific HBO On Demand Channel, designated as such by the guide listing, those movies should only be HBO on Demand. If you have any Spectrum Select plan, and you pay for the ad-free upgrade, the channel in question should not have ads on the boxes, Spectrum app, or websites.
I also agree with @Jilliana_M that the consolidation of On Demand Services is an excellent idea! The main base on Demand channel will bring all On Demand Programs to that channel. The stations themselves are responsible for ads on On Demand and some do not allow fast forwarding through them. Remember, Spectrum has no control over programing content. They provide the equipment, the lines, the networking. But ads and programing are the sole responsibility of the broadcaster. These ads can help decrease rising program costs as they bring revenue for the stations.
It is also possible that the movie that Nexus watched on HBO on Demand with ads was a listing error and really was a TBS feed (with ads.) Nielson-Gracenote does the listing ads for the guides and sometimes there will be a database error that happens.
Satch
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There are currently a couple of movies from TBS's on-demand library also showing up in HBO's, e.g. "the Goonies" and "House Party" and, as Satch alluded to, i think it's all Warner Bros. Discovery's bag rather than any TV provider's.
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