Comcast Blocking Access to HBO Go App, Says Stop Mega Comcast Coalition

The FCC should reject Comcast's planned buy of Time Warner Cable because it threatens competition and goes against antitrust and communications laws, said the Stop Mega Comcast Coalition in an ex parte notice filed at the FCC in docket 14-57 Friday and not posted at our deadline. Comcast takes advantage of the device market by depriving customers of access to competing services, including blocking access to authenticated HBO content on Sony PlayStation devices via the HBO Go application, it said. The coalition said Amazon Fire TV launched the HBO Go app in December, which still remains unavailable for Comcast customers because of ongoing negotiations between the companies. It also said Comcast customers with Roku boxes were denied access to HBO Go and Showtime apps until December. Comcast’s X1 Platform would be the default streaming system for many broadband subscribers if the deal is approved, which would give Comcast/TWC “extraordinary power” over content available to consumers and force competing devices to follow its terms to enter the market, the coalition said. Comcast didn't abide by its commitments under the NBCUniversal deal, so the Comcast/TWC should be rejected, the coalition wrote in a blog post Friday. Comcast didn’t comment. Stop Mega Comcast Coalition members include Dish Network, ITTA, the LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition, National Consumer Law Center, NTCA and Public Knowledge.