HBO is finally going to let people pay to access its content without a cable subscription, and according to a new report, Apple TV could be the company’s first major partner.
The International Business Times reports that HBO is in talks with Apple to make Apple TV one of the launch partners for its highly anticipated streaming service that is expected to debut next month alongside Game of Thrones Season 5.
Apple TV already supports HBO GO, which is only available to users who have a cable subscription. The new service — confusingly titled ‘HBO Now’ — is aimed at cord-cutters as a standalone service, built in partnership with Major League Baseball Advanced Media’s streaming team.
Consumers will be able to subscribe to HBO Now directly from HBO without having to go through a cable company when it launches. The retail price is expected to come in around $15, making it cheaper than Sling TV, but pricier than subscriptions to Netflix and Hulu.
Other launch partners for HBO Now could include Roku, Xbox, Playstation, Amazon FireTV, and others who could help HBO tap into the estimated 10 million U.S. broadband subscribers who don’t pay for cable TV.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
9 responses to “Apple is in talks to launch HBO streaming service next month”
I thought HBO already had a steaming service
Read the first sentence: “_without_ a cable subscription”.
great news but $15 a month??? crazy. Still, a move towards the right direction. Let’s hope Fox, SyFy, NBC and CBS follow and I’m set :)
fox nbc cbs are already free
Through the Apple TV? Fox has some episodes unlocked but the majority of their content is locked.
Well, it’s cheaper than subscribing through my cable provider.
~Lets hope it comes to the UK… :P big ask right enough…
I hope they go worldwide like Netflix.
TAKE MY MONEY!