Apple and HBO today announced HBO NOW is premiering next month, making an HBO subscription available directly to Apple customers for the first time ever. iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app as a standalone service to watch every episode of every season of the best of HBO’s original programming, as well as the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, groundbreaking documentaries, sports and exclusive comedy specials—for just $14.99 a month.
“HBO NOW is the next phase of innovation at HBO,” said Richard Plepler, Chairman and CEO, HBO, in a statement. “With this new partnership, a natural evolution for the network, we have access to millions of Apple customers who are used to getting their favorite apps immediately. Now, they can do the same with an HBO subscription.”
“HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, in a statement. “Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO NOW and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air—this is huge.”
More hours of HBO video are streamed to Apple devices than all others combined and now customers can subscribe using the HBO NOW app on their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or directly on Apple TV for instant access to all the programming they want. For just $14.99 a month HBO fans can enjoy hit series ranging from Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and VEEP to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and VICE. At launch HBO will offer a 30-day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple.
Source: Apple Inc.
He had me “Game of Thrones 5.”
Haven’t had HBO in years. Now, how much of the past few years of programing can I binge on in the first free month?
I must say, $15/mo. seems reasonable. I hope it works out economically for HBO because, if it does, it will completely neuter the cable companies (finally!).
HBO has been charging slightly less through the cable companies ($12 or so, with frequent discounts). With cable companies getting their share, HBO’s share was even lower than that, so I’m sure this deal works probably as well as the existing one did, financially.
I can see many more cable cutters bailing on cable monopolies with this one.
Let’s hope so. I can see many cable-cutting pirates saying “$15!? Why pay that when I can get it for free? I might be willing to pay $5 for it.”
I, for one, will be putting my money where my mouth is.
He had a nice tan. Too bad he couldn’t look up while speaking/reading.
Give me ESPN for $15/month and let me purchase it month-to-month so I can use it for college football season.
It’s already here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/01/espn-is-the-heart-of-the-cable-bundle-and-now-you-can-watch-it-without-cable/384228/
That’s a bigger blow to cable than HBO
Even better yet, Look at the channels you get for $20
With this and HBO for $15, you pretty much have a cable killer for $35 a month
https://www.sling.com/package
Bah! USA only. Apple is forgetting its global audience. Local companies are a plenty. Companies that can bring the same experience/services globally are the ones that are truly impressive.
$15 imo is to much. Netflix also offers original programming (though not on a scale that HBO does, yet) for $7.99. IF HBO had a truly awesome library of movies past and present then maybe yeah $15 a month. Last time I had HBO the movie selection was crap…… One or two current hits, a handful of past hits that I have seen multiple times and a lot of filler.
Netflix streaming also has one or two current hits, a handful of old hits and a lot of filler but it is only $7.99.
HBO needs to pop the Cable/Sat tittie out of its mouth and get real. Pff $15 a month for one or two programs that I enjoy and some filler movie crap; no way.
I feel the same way.
I would go for this but sadly not available in Canada. Lets hope with this deal we will finally get Game of Thrones on iTunes at the same time it is on TV rather than 1 year later.
HBO doesn’t offer a very large library and some features are only offered for a limited time. Live events like boxing aren’t posted until several days later. Overall my experience with HBO has confirmed that my decision to cut cable three years ago was a good one. A lot of the content is just mind numbing crap.