Much to the delight of many Game of Thrones fans, HBO Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced today that the company will offer stand-alone streaming service in the United States beginning in 2015.
Although neither the exact date nor the cost of the service or the amount of content that would be accessible was included in the release, this was an obvious step in the right direction considering the amount of cable cords being cut (not to mention pirating and the stealing of grandma’s HBO Go password).
See the full press release after the cut…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2014
HBO CHAIRMAN AND CEO RICHARD PLEPLER ANNOUNCES HBO TO OFFER A STAND-ALONE HBO STREAMING SERVICE IN 2015
Speaking at the Time Warner Inc. Investor Meeting today, Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO, announced that the company will offer a stand-alone HBO streaming service in 2015. Following a portion of his presentation focused on HBO’s domestic business, during which he cited significant growth opportunities inside the pay-TV universe, Plepler then turned to the current ten million broadband-only homes, which is projected to grow.
Plepler then added:
“That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO.”
“So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.”
Oz of Thrones: Better late than never. If you assume that GoT will be streamed at the same time as the original television air time, what would be a fair price for the service per month?
And by the way, how the hell is everybody?
“Unbowed. Unbent. Unsullied.”
Find me on the twittersphere here.
Ned is not feeling it.
Still some questions, if it is US only will that leave international viewers in the same situation they are now? How much will it cost? When will content be released, day and date as the broadcast shows?
We shall see Renly, come the morning we shall see.
DonalNoyesArm,
US only, but they intend to make it international in the future.
DonalNoyesArm,
I noticed the same thing in reviewing the PR (U.S. only), and echoed your sentiments at the bottom of the release. Much to be determined.
Yay Deadwood!
Just wish it was also being rolled out for international markets at the same time. Guessing SkyBSky will block any chance of HBO giving away their golder cash cow as most of their original programming (ie shite reality programs) aren’t worth paying for! (yes I am bitter but then again I no longer subscribe to their awful programming anymore – OD all the way!)
Most likely not. If HBO doesn’t put same serious effort into shutting international viewers out (and since it’s there content in the first place, I don’t think there will) you can just use VPNs or smart DNS to get to the content. You can do that with the streaming service of HBO Nordic right now, problem is yo need a Nordic credit card to pay…
Love the choice of photo.
Oz – we’ve missed you!
Ned, like me, clearly doesn’t live in the USA either….. Congrats to you guys though! *claps with frowny face*
Mine is the Furry,
You are the last person I thought would be excited over dead wood.
Awesome!
I would guess the cost to be around $15 dollars per month. I expect HBO to launch the standalone service with the start of GOT’s 5th season. Also, I’m sure it will be available internationally within a year or so of the US launch date.
Tyrion Pimpslap,
I just noticed that you had linked this in the Guest Actress post, so many thanks for the heads up, Ser.
Mine is the Furry,
Okay okay, shut up about it. I’ll watch.
Abyss,
Good one
Dany, Jorah and Missadei in Seville http://pbs.twimg.com/media/B0AdZaTIEAEMXvc.jpg
jentario,
Dooooo eeeeeet! Group thing, no spoilers? lol
Nicely done. Next rounds on me.
Hey, Comcast, how do you like these apples?
Oz, everything’s perfectly all right now. We’re fine. We’re all fine here, now. Thank you. How are you?
Sweet baby Jesus, it’s about time.
As for price, how much is it to add it to a cable package, $12, $15 dollar a month? I’d like it to be less but I’d still probably pay it. No contract though.
Love that Ian Glen is wearing flip flops when it looks like it just rained. 🙂
Why the fuck ain’t TK 421 at his post?
Cumsprite,
Mine is the Furry,
Outstanding, other than a slight weapon malfunction.
Sounds like one cool grandma with HBO. I steal my mother’s, but this is completely worth it.
Just wanted to point out that HBO partners with several companies around the world for distribution of their programming. Depending on the contracts, it may or may not be possible for them to distribute the shows online in certain parts of the world based on said contracts. The distribution companies pay a considerable premium for what I’m sure from their point of view is “exclusive access” rights in their territory.
I’m not defending the wisdom of these sorts of contracts in an age of readily available digital distribution, but rather acknowledging that they exist. I’m sure HBO has people doing complicated math to figure out a way to distribute the show that reaches the most people and creates the most revenue, without alienating business partners or creating difficult legal situations for themselves.
It’s a step in the right direction.
So does this mean Ned is still alive?
DonalNoyesArm,
VPN works for me! Hopefully they realize how much they’re missing out on with International audience. As long as it doesn’t compete with national channels which own the distribution (sky, canal+ for example) hopefully they will give those of us outside the US a fully legal option soon!
Great news, but oh that picture made me sad. And look how young Sophie is!
Yeah VPN’s are wonderful.
I do wonder how the service will hold up once it goes live, last season HBO GO crashed and burned when folks were watching GOT and True Detective. They better bump up the servers big time when the huge influx of new online viewers pour in!
Erinyes,
Yeah unfortunately in the UK there is no way Sky will go for this so it looks like it is still a case of streaming each episode then buying the box set when it is released to compensate HBO , no way Im subbing to Sky to just watch one programme and no , they don’t currently screen anything else I want to pay to watch…
Mine is the Furry,
You can already get Deadwood from Amazon Prime! No need for HBO GO. :p
It works fine with HBO-nordic in Norway at least! So hope other countries outside US will do the same (and be allowed to). It’s nice to be able to watch it legally right away instead of having to wait six months! (Red Wedding would have been spoiled for everyone!)
Please bring the service to the UK!
We missed you Oz! I’d definitely pay for standalone HBO, I don’t have cable.
OZ!! Hope all is well in your realm!
I would LOVE this! Our cable subscription is costing us a fortune. It would be great to get rid of my annual subscription and just get HBO for 3 months. Now I just need Starz to do the same…