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Potential Game Changer: HBO CEO Says the Company’s Streaming Service, HBO Go, ‘could evolve’ to Serve Non-Cable TV Subscribers

Mar 21, 2013  •  Post A Comment

"HBO could widen access to its HBO Go online streaming service by teaming up with broadband Internet providers for customers who do not subscribe to a cable TV service, HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler said," Reuters reports.

The story continues, "Plepler told Reuters on Wednesday evening [March 20, 2013] at the Season 3 premiere of HBO’s hit TV show ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘Maybe HBO Go, with our broadband partners, could evolve.’ "

We first saw the story at Deadline.com.

The Reuters story adds, "Plepler said late Wednesday that HBO Go could…be packaged with a monthly Internet service, in partnership with broadband providers, reducing the cost. Customers could pay $50 a month for their broadband Internet and an extra $10 or $15 for HBO to be packaged in with that service, for a total of $60 or $65 per month, Plepler said. ‘We would have to make the math work,’ he added."

The story continues, "HBO, owned by Time Warner Inc, relies on large financial support from its cable and satellite TV partners to help distribute and promote its shows. Plepler said in January that it would not make business sense to provide an Internet-only product that circumvents its existing distribution network."

HBO Go has about 6.5 million users, compared with !00 million subscribers worldwide for HBO’s primany pay service. HBO Go is HBO’s multi-device streaming service wherein HBO subscribers can watch thousands of episodes of HBO original programs, including such library product as "The Sopranos" and "The Larry Sanders Show" to current HBO programming such as "Girls" and "Game of Thrones."

One Comment

  1. Given the choice I would absolutely forgo HBO on cable TV for a totally separate monthly fee for HBO-Internet access to their library of past shows and currently airing series. The thought of having to manage separate monthly channel subscriptions isn’t particularly attractive.
    The reality is consumers will only be offered whatever our corporate overlords think will make them the most money. They define the dimensions of the pools in which we swim.

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