Enjoy HBO shows like Game Of Thrones and Girls but don’t want to pay for a cable bundle with a bunch of stations you don’t want? Don’t fret, the network has you covered by announcing it will offer a streaming standalone service in 2015.
With other popular streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others, there has been a growing culture of “cable cutters” – people who want original content and entertainment without the commitment to cable stations they may or may not use. Sensing the shifting of the tide, HBO wisely joined the fray and will give the people what they’ve been asking for for the past few years.
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At a Time Warner investor meeting today, HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced that the company would flip the switch on a web-based streaming service next year. The over-the-top option will leverage HBO’s current partners and offer access to its content without the need for a full cable package. During his remarks, Plepler mentioned that there are 10 million homes that only pay for internet rather than a bundle, and the figure is only expected to grow. Of course, there’s no word on pricing or any of the finer details right now, but we expect to hear much more in the months to come.
HBO isn’t cutting its ties with Big Cable, as that remains one of its more lucrative connections. However, this trend of major cable networks going the standalone route is tipping in the direction of growth of the next several years.
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Photo: HBO
