Home » HBO: The World’s 11th Most Innovative Company

HBO: The World’s 11th Most Innovative Company

by Jacob Klein
4 comments 207 views

Try Max Now
HBO-Fast-Company-300x201FastCompany magazine has released it’s yearly list of innovative companys and HBO has claimed it’s place in the top 11! Coming in just after companies like Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Square, the premium cable network is leading the way in digital innovation and is the only television network on the list. Here’s what they had to say about HBO:

“As Netflix flip-flopped on DVDs and boosted fees, and Hulu failed to land a buyer, and cable providers hyped long-promised streaming, only HBO actually put together a digital hit.

It’s HBO Go, the first comprehensive mobile TV service. Channel subscribers can stream any episode in its library for free–from Boardwalk Empire to Oz–to computers, tablets, and smartphones. That’s 1,600 hours of programming (and growing), 10 times more than digital cable’s HBO On Demand. HBO’s goal is to reduce the churn that typically follows a season finale. “More is more,” says, yes, Alison Moore, HBO’s senior VP of digital platforms. “On the iPad, all you have to do is [swipe your finger] and you see everything else HBO has done,” she says. “That’s a pretty powerful reason not to disconnect.” Early surveys show just that–nearly three-quarters of HBO Go’s 5 million subscribers stick around, and 85% of them say they watch more HBO programs because of the service.

Moore’s team keeps seeking ways to deepen fan engagement. Viewers of the medieval fantasy series Game of Thrones can access a ticker with maps, family trees, and other bonuses. It works: Fans often rewatch episodes using the feature. HBO is also developing social connections online, including interactive tools that display fans’ profile pictures and filter comments by show or even word (killed was big in Boardwalk posts). “It’s important for us to make people feel they’re entering a special place,” Moore says. The Wire’s Omar Little knew why: “The game’s out there, and it’s play or get played,” he said. “That simple.”

We certainly agree and here at HBOWatch we’re happy to be a small, unoffical blip on the digital HBO radar! Congratulations Alison, you deserve this! Now if HBO would only release a version of HBOGo that didn’t require a $100+ / Month subscription to a cable company…hint, hint? Check out the rest of the list here.

Try Max Now

Related Posts

4 comments

Sam Smith Music February 18, 2012 - 4:31 pm

Wouldn’t say HBO are innovative but they allow innovators a much needed platform. Long live HBO!

Reply
Dreamlife February 18, 2012 - 3:05 pm

That last paragraph sums up my thoughts on HBO Go. I wish I could just pay $10/month for HBOGo rather than signing up for a digital cable package (which is $60-70) + $10-$15/month for HBO. If we could bypass that digital cable package requirement (I don’t even watch most of those extra channels), more people would sign up.

Reply
Fog February 18, 2012 - 5:19 pm

It is a federal law that you can order the basic cable package and still order premium channels. I read it in an article in the Wall Street Journal a few months back.

Reply
Jefd February 17, 2012 - 9:11 pm

Great shot of her on the throne…excuse me – The Throne

Reply

Leave a Comment


Adblock Detected

Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker extension from your browsers for our website.