Re: ROKU, HBO GO

I have heard. Comcast already allows AppleTV to play HBOGo, but not Roku. This new deal will give AppleTV faster access to all channels, not just HBOGo if Apply pays for it.

The HBOGo issue is separate.

When you try to run HBOGo on the Roku you have to authenticate on the HBOGo web site first. At this stage Roku has no interaction with Comcast. It's HBOGo that interacts with Comcast to authenicate and HBOGo can authenticate Comcast accounts, just not for the Roku devices. HBOGo can authenicate for Roku devices, just not Comcast accounts. There is zero technical reason HBOGo could not run on Roku for Comcast accounts except of a legal agreement that I am sure Comcast is blocking, deliberately.

So why AppleTV but not Roku?

My speculation is Comcast views Apple users differently than Roku users. Apple users will pay a premium for Apple products. They will stand in line for days to be the first to get a new Apple product. And, push come to shove, Apple users will choose Apple over Comcast. Denying Apple users HBOGo access would cost Comcast subscribers, but allowing AppleTV users HBOGo access would probably not hurt Comcast bottom line. Comcast views Roku users differently. We're cheap and might drop set top box rentals if we can get content without the box rental.