HBO announced details of its new HBO Now stand-alone Internet streaming service, including its price tag of $14.99 a month, The New York Times reports.
The service is set to bow in early April, in time for the season premiere of the hit HBO series “Game of Thrones.” One catch is that the pay cable channel said the service will initially be available only on Apple devices.
“Called ‘HBO Now,’ the offering does not require that people subscribe to traditional cable or satellite service. It will offer all of HBO’s original programming, past and present, as well as its movie offerings. HBO also is in talks with other distributors and digital partners to offer the streaming service,” The Times reports.
Customers who sign up in April will get the first month free, the report notes.
The HBO announcement came during the Apple event today in San Francisco.
Announcing HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler, Apple CEO Timothy D. Cook said: “We love HBO. Over the years they have created groundbreaking shows that have really become a part of our culture and helped shape our culture.”
Plepler commented: “This is a transformative moment for HBO.”
The Times report adds: “Anticipation for HBO’s new digital streaming service has been mounting since October, when the company first announced plans to start an Internet offering. The new service steps up its rivalry with digital-first streaming outlets like Netflix and Amazon. It also puts more pressure on the established television business, which takes in $170 billion a year in revenue.”
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