HBO Orders Bar To Stop Showing Game of Thrones

[lcpiper]

This is what I was thinking. The ability to enforce their terms of service and the willingness to do so are two distinct matters that are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Some terms of service may not be legally enforceable while others may be, but the rights holder simply doesn't care to push the issue.

Well, as several have shown, this is a mistaken belief.

 

[RanceJustice]

Bad moves all around, HBO. This won't win them any fans and will likely piss off existing ones. Assuming the bar owners have a legit subscription to some HBO/HBO Go/HBO Now package, then treat it like sporting events - yes, its technically not licensing friendly to show the game at a bar or have a large sporting event party, but rarely is this ever enforced because its 1) foolish and 2) antithetical to profit, if you can open your mind enough. Much like how many sports bars buy the "big giant sports packages" specifically because they know their patrons want to watch, maybe these venues are subscribing to HBO specifically for Game of Thrones and/or other premium content? Those who are likely to come to a Game of Thrones night at a bar are either A) already fans, and probably are watching it via another method (ie have a HBO subscription most likely) or B) are potential viewers who are interested enough in the phenomena and if they enjoy the show in a public setting enough, will probably subscribe to continue to watch it when they don't feel like going out.

If nothing else, perhaps bar should stop advertising they're "showing" Game of Thrones in compliance with HBO's foolish letter Instead, still have "Game of Thrones Night", which just happens to fall on Sunday and is named as such for all the food and drink specials inspired by the show. Ensure that something else is showing on at least one TV in the business, and then its just patron demand that would request viewing GOT, the same way someone may say "Hey, can you turn on the hockey game and up the volume?".

Oh and as an aside, it seems really strange for HBO to do this given their own history. For YEARS, there were exorbitant "Sex and the City" viewing parties, advertised and held in public venues (spas, salons, and clothing stores, in addition to more conventional locations) and were a huge draw. HBO had a major upturn in female subscribers for this show alone; they had to know some of it was because of the community aspect of these "unofficial" public showings. It was a different time, but I don't remember HBO's legal team being so upset about smaller public viewings of that show, back then.