HBO Announces Standalone Streaming Service

No more stealing your friend’s HBO GO password, no more illegally downloading the latest Game of Thrones episodes -  it’s finally happening! 

HBO announced Wednesday that it will be launching a stand-alone streaming service in the United States in 2015. That means, sometime next year, you’ll be able to get HBO without a cable subscription!!!! The premium cable network, known for its exclusive membership and original programs and movies, will be opening up its doors to OTT viewers who do not have cable subscriptions. Online TV service, known as over-the-top, or OTT, lets customers stream their favorite shows online. Operating like Netflix or Hulu, OTT will allow users to watch their favorite shows online through HBO. 

The move away from cable is a bold move for HBO, which is currently only available to subscribers of pay-TV packages. In the past, this has made HBO a small and exclusive, yet highly sought after, community. 

According to Richard Plepler, CEO and chairman of HBO, however, “It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO…  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.” Although the company has not released any other details about HBO’s stand-alone streaming service, it also outlined its plans to make more money domestically and grow internationally. 

The announcement of an HBO stand-alone streaming service comes as more and more people are moving away from cable, instead using services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon. In fact, about 10 million people in the United States alone pay for broadband connections instead of a traditional cable service. As a result, cable companies have been losing valuable customers and money.

Instead of letting this new technology ruin the company, HBO has embraced consumer demand and is hoping to capitalize on this new generation of viewers. HBO’s move highlights its ability to compete with technological giants like Netflix and Amazon. Other cable companies, like Dish, have also recently announced the launch of streaming services.