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Cable Provider Breaks Rank, Will Offer HBO Now to Broadband Subscribers

Mar 16, 2015  •  Post A Comment

The first cable provider has entered into an agreement with HBO to offer HBO Now. HBO and Cablevision announced the arrangement in a press release, which you can read by clicking here.

Writing on Deadline.com, David Lieberman notes that the move comes amid uncertainty over whether cable operators would support the service and fears that it might promote cord cutting.

“Those who see HBO Now as a threat could, if they wanted, return fire by promoting other premium channels such as Showtime and Starz over HBO, or by messing with parent company Time Warner’s Turner networks, which include TNT, TBS, CNN, and Cartoon Network,” Lieberman writes.

HBO chief Richard Plepler took the wraps off plans for the over-the-top service HBO Now earlier month. The service is being rolled out as an option for Apple TV users, carrying a price tag of $14.99 a month.

“Apple has a three-month exclusive period for digital-only services, but HBO said that traditional pay TV providers could also offer HBO Now from the start if they want,” Lieberman’s report notes.

Long Island-based Cablevision will stream HBO Now to its Optimum Online subscribers.

Said Cablevision Chief Operating Officer Kristin Dolan: “We are well-positioned to support HBO Now and, as technology advances, Cablevision will continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Lieberman notes: “Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes told investors last week that while some undisclosed pay TV distributors were ‘on board,’ others ‘believe it’s competitive with them and that they should have maintained their ability to be the sole place to get HBO.’ He added that he expects them to ‘come around because it’s in their interest to take this powerful product and sell it.’”

Please click here to read the press release from Cablevision and HBO.

Also, please click on the link to Deadline in the second paragraph to read Lieberman’s full article.

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One Comment

  1. Apparently, Cablevision has decided that it’s better to get a small piece of the pie, rather than none of it.

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