Community discussions

[PeteCharles]

Isn't this a sticking point between HBO Max and Roku?  Anyway, I've always preferred to subscribe, cancel, resubscribe, to a service like Netflix, Prime, Starz, etc., via the service's website.  I'm in control whether I'm using Roku, my p.c., Fire, Chrome, and other platform.  Whenever Max and Roku sign their deal, I'll simply go to hbomax.com and reactivate my subscription there.  

[atc98092]

I honestly don't know if this has much to do with the HBO Max issue. But I too just subscribe directly with the provider. In my case, that's only CBS All Access and Prime Video. I don't pay for any other provider, although someone else in my household also has Netflix and Disney+. But those too are directly with the providers. 

I'm not certain what subscriptions are available through Roku themselves, but I would most likely subscribe directly with the provider if there was something I wanted. The only exception might be if there were a substantial discount by going through Roku. But since I'm not really interested in any other provider, I probably won't even consider it. 

[JMM1]

I also subscribe directly to streaming services. I had a billing problem with Roku probably 4-5 years ago and customer service was awful. I don't know if it's any better now.

When there is an agreement with AT&T I may use Roku to subscribe to HBOMax. I trust Roku with billing and my information considerably more than AT&T.

I have plenty to watch so I'm not in a hurry. HBO is not what it used to be.

[RokuDanny-R]

@PeteCharles 

Thanks for the inquiry.

If you are planning to use a subscription across multiple devices (Roku, mobile device, computer, etc), then we would highly recommend subscribing through the channel provider directly and simply authenticating your account when on a Roku device.

However, I've noticed that there are many customers who prefer to subscribe to channels (apps) through Roku Pay for a couple of reasons:
1) they only use a Roku device and don't watch content on any other devices
2) some customers prefer to have all of their billing/account tied to one entity (their Roku account) for easier tracking/safekeeping so they don't have to have multiple subscriptions across multiple accounts.

So as they say, "to each their own".

Thanks,
Danny

[PeteCharles]

Thank you Danny for offering the positive side of using Roku Pay, makes sense.

[GoHawks]

When I signed up to HBO Now (back when it was called that) I didn't realize I even had a choice and should have signed up through HBO Now instead of Roku.