
HBO, no cable required?
Every year, the Game of Thrones trailer comes out, and people lose their minds. It’s one of the most popular shows in the world, and year after year it breaks records as being one of the most illegally-downloaded shows ever. That doesn’t look to be changing any time soon, and as more people cut the cord and eliminate cable from their expenses, more people are going to have to look for other ways to get their hands on HBO programming. Looks like the Time Warner subsidiary is going to make it a lot easier. HBO is going to offer a stand-alone streaming option for those that don’t have (or want) cable.
“That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped,” said HBO CEO Richard Plepler of the 10 million broadband-only homes in the United States. “It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO. So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.”
HBO is exploring three options for delivery. One is simply working with cable companies to provide HBO streaming for a separate fee from the cable package. After all, these companies control the home lines and already have experience in selling HBO, so that would be easy. Another idea is working along a streaming partner, like an Amazon or a Google. The third possible delivery system is a Netflix-like streaming video service whereby HBO cuts out the middleman entirely and just streams online (like an untethered HBO Go).
Tags: hbo, home box office, hbo streaming, hbo to offer streaming plan, hbo streaming, hbo go, hbo go streaming plan, television, home entertainment, richard plepler, stand-alone hbo streaming package, hbo without cable, time warner, hbo go