The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 418

COVER STORY PayTV chsuincls wi for iriswers Movies are uncut, uninterrupted and often uninteresting HBO and Starcase each send their subscribers program guides for the month's features. During the month of September HBO will offer feature films such as "10," "Americathon," and "The Main Event." Starcase offers the same titles. In fact, the primary offerings of each service are practically the same. Some months Star-case will show a film that won't be screened on HBO until the following month while HBO sometimes airs a film prior to Starcase. Even bringing the annual cost to $255.

Since the cost of each service Is competitive, customers often decide between them based on reception and the quality of the programming. HBO operates on an MDS system, a microwave transmission directed to a receiving dish installed at the customer's residence. It Is a direct Hne-of-slght system Girl." "Le Sex Shop." "The Great Texas Dynamite Chase." "Lady Chatterly vs. Fanny Hill" and Russ Meyer's "Vixen." "We are planning to do more local specials," says Bob Williams, spokesman for Starcase. "We also believe that we would rather pay more for quality movies than spend It on quantity." Both Williams and Wayne agree on their policy of repeating programs.

Since people watch television at different times of the day, they both feel that repeats are an advantage. Many pay-tv businessmen believe that once cable television arrives In Boston, over-the-alr subscription systems will die. "I believed that a few months ago." says Williams, spokesman for Starcase. "But I don't anymore." "The television pie Is getting bigger and bigger and we think that our product will be around for a long time. Viewers will have more disposable income and there will be more room for everyone." The best way for a consumer to decide which service Is better Is to call Star-case at 894-6310 and Home Box Office at 933-8327 and ask the representative to send you a guide.

Also, If you live In an apartment complex, ask your subscribing neighbors for information on how each service handles complaints and technical problems. For residents, ask the representative for the names of other customers in your area so you can make a more informed decision. In either case, you are making an Investment in sub-run films, most of which will show up on commercial television within 18 months. Until the quality of the films on subscription television improves, you might want' to wait. Currently, the battle between Starcase and HBO is a draw.

By Michael Blowen Globe Correspondent The battle lines are drawn. HBO (Home Box Office) and Starcase, the two major Boston-area over the air subscription television systems, are fighting for supremacy in the waning days before cable television buries transmission broadcasting. Each system is a purgatory for feature films. They offer movies that have left first-run theaters and are on their long, commercial-filled, censored way to network television. Starcase currently has 42,000 subscribers in the metropolitan Boston area.

When the system began on January 2. 1979 it cost $90 to Install the de-scrambling box plus a $25 refundable deposit to insure the box against mis-use and breakage. Last April 15, Starcase had a sale. They reduced the initial charge to $49.95 ($69.95 outside Route 495) and business quintupled. The monthly service charge remains at $17.50.

Consequently, a year of Starcase programming will now cost $259.50 without factoring In the security deposit. HBO, the nation's oldest and largest subscription tv service, has over 4 million subscribers nationally. Locally, it's a different story with Just over 5.000 customers. Colony Productions, the local outlet for HBO. divides its service into two segments apartments and residential.

If a subscriber lives in an apartment complex with over 30 units and a master antenna, the installation rate Is $29.95 followed by a monthly charge of $12.95. Residential customers are now charged $49.95 (a reduced rate sale from the original Installation and a monthly rate of $15.95. For apartment dwellers that means an annual cost of $180.35, for home owners $241.35. Preview, an over-the-alr movie subscription service that began Sept. 8 over WSMW-TV in Worcester, charges $45 for installation and a monthly fee of $17.50 2 Pay TV without the payments? See story on Page 10.

tually, the majority of films will be shown on both services. The differences occur in the fringe areas. HBO currently programs more specials, documentaries and sports. Variety shows such as "Sammy: The Golden Years" with Sammy Davis, Jr. and "Don Rickles and His Wise Guys;" Sports programs such as "Inside the NFL" and "Race For the Pennant;" and a series of documentaries featuring the staff of Consumer Reports.

HBO has also added selected foreign and cult films "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" and "Harold and Maude" but they're both scheduled at 2 a.m. Starcase has added late night weekend programming for adults In a series called "Private Screenings." The titles are typical R-rated drive-in fare "Maid In Sweden," "Crazy Mama," "Pom Pom Girls," "Nashville from the transmitter on top of the Prudential Building to the home and it can be interrupted by Interference from other sources. "It's a flashlight phenomenon," says Jeffrey Wayne, manager of MDS operations for Colony Productions. "The signal Is like a beam of light that can be blocked If something's in its way. But we won't install a system in an area that can't receive a clear picture." Starcase operates over traditional television airwaves on Channel 68.

Inside Route 495. individual reception depends on how clearly a residence receives the channel. Outside Route 495, subscribers benefit from a transmission booster. If the reception Is similar from each service then the consumer's decision rests on the quality of programming. Predictably, both HBO and Starcase claim superior movies.

In actuality, there Is very little difference..