Amid rumors that Apple is in negotiations with cable and content providers for a TV streaming service, a new report claims that HBO will come to the existing Apple TV set-top box later this year.
Apple and HBO are reportedly in negotiations to make the premium channel a dedicated app on the Apple TV, like Netflix and Hulu Plus. The experience would be like that of the HBO Go app that currently exists in the iOS App Store.
Bloomberg reports:
Apple Inc. is in negotiations to start carrying Time Warner Inc.’s HBO Go application on Apple TV by mid-2013, according to two people familiar with the plans.
Cable and satellite subscribers who pay for HBO will be able to watch more than 600 hours of films and television shows on Apple TV, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Apple TV is a set-top device that streams content purchased on iTunes and via other online services to consumers’ televisions.
From the tone of the report, it looks like you’ll still have to pay for HBO through your cable/satellite provider. So this isn’t the pay-per-channel TV subscription model we’ve all been waiting for. But it’s a step in the right direction.
The HBO Go app has allowed you to stream episodes, but you haven’t been able to send them to the Apple TV with AirPlay.
It will be interesting to see what kind of deal Apple strikes with HBO. Will the Apple TV get shows at the same time as cable, or will there be a delay in availability? Here’s to hoping that Apple can convince content companies like HBO to unshackle themselves from the cable providers.
Source: Bloomberg
