HBO and Apple Announce 'HBO Now' Exclusively for Apple TV and iOS Devices

MacRumors · Mar 9, 2015

Today at Apple's special media event, HBO CEO Richard Plepler took the stage with Apple CEO Tim Cook to announce HBO Now, HBO's new standalone streaming service. The announcement comes just under a week after it was first reported.

The new service is exclusive for Apple TV and other Apple devices for $14.99 a month. The service will be ready in time for the series premiere of HBO hit show Game of Thrones on April 12, and users who sign up for the service in April will receive the first month of HBO Now for free.

HBO Now will feature all of HBO's original content, past and present, as well as its entire movie catalog. It appears to available only for customers in the United States, and, according to John Paczkowski, will be exclusive to Apple devices for three months.

Article Link: HBO and Apple Announce 'HBO Now' Exclusively for Apple TV and iOS Devices

rctlr · Mar 9, 2015

Pity it sound like it's only in the USA

locoboi187 · Mar 9, 2015

MacRumors said:
The new service is exclusive for Apple TV and other Apple devices for $15.99 a month.

It's $14.99 a month, not $15.99.

HSumra · Mar 9, 2015

locoboi187 said:
It's $14.99 a month, not $15.99.

Thanks!

I am Sampson · Mar 9, 2015

rctlr said:
Pity it sound like it's only in the USA

Aye. I'd get an Apple TV instantly if this was in the UK but it won't be. Stupid internet boundaries.

Four oF NINE · Mar 9, 2015

It begins

The day of cable / satellite subscription tyranny is over.

TsMkLg068426 · Mar 9, 2015

HBO customers who subscribe through cable have to pay for another service? They must be drunk, hold I got Charter Communications and they blame Apple for no access.

Going back at drinking some kool aid.

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Four oF NINE said:
It begins

The day of cable / satellite subscription tyranny is over.

Yeah great and now they will ruin internet streaming soon like cable thanks for this.

seamusk · Mar 9, 2015

I wonder if it works in web browsers? Or if it's specifically app limited.

JDee · Mar 9, 2015

I've a feeling Apple & HBO are going to be disappointed with the uptake numbers of this new service.

There's only so many services people can afford... music service (Spotify), cable service, Office 365 service... the list goes on. And it can only last for so long.

But then again, I'm probably wrong.

bpeeps · Mar 9, 2015

Hey cord cutters, you want HBO content independent of a cable subscription? Well we've done that for you, but you have to buy an Apple TV because we can't have you being a part of another company's ecoysystem. HBO And Apple are master trolls. Jesus.

rhett7660 · Mar 9, 2015

Out-freaking-standing.............. and the price is nice!!!

seinman · Mar 9, 2015

I hope there's no contracts. I only watch two shows on HBO currently, so it would be nice if I can subscribe for one month after a season ends, watch all the episodes, and then cancel. I'm currently pirating all the episodes after a season ends, but I would rather do it legally if it's easy and cheap.

bpcookson · Mar 9, 2015

rhett7660 said:
Out-freaking-standing.............. and the price is nice!!!

I'm happy to see it happen, but I can't say I'm happy with the price. Doesn't stand up well against Netflix's huge library for $9.99 or other competitors.

I understand that HBO has original content, but there is also so much less of it by comparison that I have a hard time justifying the additional premium. It just isn't a one-stop shop, y'know? HBO Now will always be in addition to another subscription if their content breadth doesn't improve.

Tankmaze · Mar 9, 2015

Really can't wait for game of thrones!!

Gasu E. · Mar 9, 2015

bpcookson said:
I'm happy to see it happen, but I can't say I'm happy with the price. Doesn't stand up well against Netflix's huge library for $9.99 or other competitors.

I understand that HBO has original content, but there is also so much less of it by comparison that I have a hard time justifying the additional premium. It just isn't a one-stop shop, y'know? HBO Now will always be in addition to another subscription if their content breadth doesn't improve.

It includes a fairly large and constantly rotating selection of mostly recent, mostly popular movies. Not as big as Netflix, but a selection some people prefer. Netflix does give you a great selection of TV though. But I see very little overlap between Netflix and HBO.

utazdevl · Mar 9, 2015

bpcookson said:
I'm happy to see it happen, but I can't say I'm happy with the price. Doesn't stand up well against Netflix's huge library for $9.99 or other competitors.

I understand that HBO has original content, but there is also so much less of it by comparison that I have a hard time justifying the additional premium. It just isn't a one-stop shop, y'know? HBO Now will always be in addition to another subscription if their content breadth doesn't improve.

See, I think the price point is great. I have DirecTV and having HBO, which is how I get access to HBOGo, costs me over $20 a month based on the premium channel and the bundling.

Here the ultimate thing, this price point and accessibility isn't going to lead me to cutting the cord, but what it is going to do is light a fire under DirecTV (and all providers) to move to a la carte packaging and more aggressive pricing overall. Basically, I am going to take this new option of HBONow to DirecTV and get my bill cut by a 1/3rd, all to they can keep my business (which they'd likely never lose).

More ways access to HBO = more competition for my business = lower prices on all option.

faizoff · Mar 9, 2015

If I didn't have Amazon prime I'd definitely get this. There's quite a bit of crossover of selection of shows esp those that were done 3 or more years ago so the Prime selection will do for now until I exhaust them all.

TsMkLg068426 · Mar 9, 2015

bpeeps said:
Hey cord cutters, you want HBO content independent of a cable subscription? Well we've done that for you, but you have to buy an Apple TV because we can't have you being a part of another company's ecoysystem. HBO And Apple are master trolls. Jesus.

Last I heard HBO Now will also be on Google Play so your comment makes no sense.

dgalvan123 · Mar 9, 2015

The first month is free.

So, does that mean I can binge watch all of Game of Thrones in that first free month, then cancel the service before incurring a fee?

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TsMkLg068426 said:
Last I heard HBO Now will also be on Google Play so your comment makes no sense.

The HBO CEO said that Apple is HBO's "exclusive partner at launch".

So I'm guessing it's only available on Apple TV at first, though I'm sure it will probably migrate to other devices eventually.

Apple must have paid HBO a pretty penny for exclusivity up front. And with their decision to drop the Apple TV price by $30, it's clear Apple still wants to compete in this arena, even if they are lagging on hardware updates.

TsMkLg068426 · Mar 9, 2015

dgalvan123 said:
The first month is free.

So, does that mean I can binge watch all of Game of Thrones in that first free month, then cancel the service before incurring a fee?

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The HBO CEO said that Apple is HBO's "exclusive partner at launch".

So I'm guessing it's only available on Apple TV at first, though I'm sure it will probably migrate to other devices eventually.

Apple must have paid HBO a pretty penny for exclusivity up front. And with their decision to drop the Apple TV price by $30, it's clear Apple still wants to compete in this arena, even if they are lagging on hardware updates.

Apple TV is lagging more than just in Hardware compared to Roku such many missing streaming service or the options like Roku playing games.

Apple TV is probably the only hardware for some reason Apple really doesn't give attention much.

bpeeps · Mar 9, 2015

dgalvan123 said:
The first month is free.

So, does that mean I can binge watch all of Game of Thrones in that first free month, then cancel the service before incurring a fee?

I wish. GoT airs an episode a week. With ten episodes, it will span into early June. So you're paying at least 30 bucks.

TsMkLg068426 said:
Last I heard HBO Now will also be on Google Play so your comment makes no sense.

HBO Now is exclusive to Apple TV at launch. No word on how long the contract lasts.

C DM · Mar 9, 2015

bpeeps said:
I wish. GoT airs an episode a week. With ten episodes, it will span into early June. So you're paying at least 30 bucks.

Or you get the service in June or so and watch them all then.

bpeeps · Mar 9, 2015

C DM said:
Or you get the service in June or so and watch them all then.

Well the first month is only free if you sign up in April. If you sign up in June to binge watch, you're paying $15. Either way, you can't watch GoT free.

C DM · Mar 9, 2015

bpeeps said:
Well the first month is only free if you sign up in April. If you sign up in June to binge watch, you're paying $15. Either way, you can't watch GoT free.

Ah, overlooked that part of it.

jlyanks85 · Mar 9, 2015

Nothing is happening to HBO go I hope. Since I have a cable subscription with hbo already.

HBO and Apple Announce 'HBO Now' Exclusively for Apple TV and iOS Devices

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