HBO was once an exclusive streaming service that everyone online fought to get access to. While cable providers could give users access to HBO Go's streaming service, cord cutters either had to wait for more than a year to get access to the latest HBO content or pirate it online. However, in a surprise 180, HBO announced its new service that would allow customers without cable to pay for a subscription.
Now HBO has released details about their subscription service called HBO Now, which will cost $15 a month. The service will be available on most streaming devices upon release, including Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, etc. Cable providers have also mentioned creating packages that combine an HBO Now subscription with an internet-only service package.
HBO Now's $15 subscription fee is significantly lower than what most expected. According to some analysts, it's about the same cost as what the difference between an HBO-enabled and HBO-disabled cable package would cost. However, it isn't clear how this subscription service will hold up when compared to Netflix or Amazon Prime, which cost significantly less. HBO does have access to more exclusive content than any other creator at this moment. However, it's likely that Netflix will eventually be able to take on HBO in the original-content provider market, as its most popular programs have been compared to the quality of past HBO shows and cost less. Netflix also has more exclusive streaming content.
HBO did not reveal when HBO Now would be available. However, sources inside HBO revealed that the service will be released before the April 12th season premiere of "Game of Thrones."
