HBO Reveals Cost and Details for Standalone Streaming Service, HBO Now
UPDATE: HBO just announced that HBO Now will be available only on Apple devices and confirmed a price of $14.99 per month. (Apple also announced that they'll be dropping the price of the Apple TV from $99 to $69.) There will be a 30-day free trial in April for any new subscribers who want to get started on Game of Thrones.
What do we want? A standalone HBO streaming service! When do we want it? Now! And that’s what makes the name of HBO’s highly anticipated and long-promised standalone service so appropriate. HBO Now is officially on its way, and the company has revealed new details, including a very reasonable subscription price. But those of you with cable who already pay for an HBO subscription may find that switching over would be a tad useless.
HBO is partnering with Major League Baseball Advanced Media for the new streaming service, called HBO Now, according the International Business Times. Subscribers will pay a $15 monthly fee for the service, which will offer film and premium television titles already available to those with HBOGo.
The service will reportedly launch at the beginning of April—a smart move considering that Game of Thrones Season 5 debuts on April 12, which should bring in a large amount of new subscribers who have been desperate for the service. Although the price is almost twice that of a monthly Netflix Instant subscription, it may be worth it to those without a cable package.
However, those with a cable package who currently subscribe to HBO generally pay around $15 a month for the service, which also includes access to HBOGo. If you want to keep your cable, it’s probably not worth it to switch from your HBO subscription to HBO Now, but if you’ve been considering cutting the cord entirely, this may be the final kick you need to do so.