I don’t get the chance to watch a ton of television, largely because sticking with various shows over the course of an entire season is a huge commitment. I gave up on “Game of Thrones” after its first eight season-one episodes for this very reason, and now I look up from my work wondering how far behind I am and it seems I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. It’s a struggle, I tell you.
Even so, between “True Detective“, “Silicon Valley“, and “The Newsroom“, I’m comfortable calling HBO one of my favorite networks in the business, and what’s more, the company consistently has a variety of new films and classics to view in its on-demand catalog. As of now, I mooch off my parents’ premium cable subscription to watch shows on HBO GO since I don’t have cable at my house (thanks, Mom and Dad), but come next year I and millions of others across the country will be able to purchase streaming-only subscriptions to HBO’s vast array of programming, according to a press release today from parent company Time Warner.
Speaking at an investor meeting today, HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced the company would offer a standalone streaming service in 2015 in an effort to reach the many homes — 10 million and counting, according to Plepler — that have converted their cable-plus-internet package to an internet-only setup, which I assume likely use some combination of Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime Instant to get their TV fix. From the press release:
“[This] 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.”
I’d say this is a great business move for HBO considering “Game of Thrones” is the most-pirated TV show right now, with downloaders torrenting the show’s season three finale some 5.9 million times last year. Offering streaming-only options to viewers ought to vastly increase the company’s customer base, especially since its original programming is considered among the very best by both the public and critics alike. I do wonder, however, exactly what Plepler means when he says HBO will “explore models with new partners”, as that statement makes me think he may try pitting his company directly against Netflix for streaming service supremacy.
