A new report from the Internal Business Times claims HBO’s standalone subscription service will be $15 per month when it becomes available this spring. That’s more expensive than most similar subscription-based services, and about $5 cheaper than Dish’s exciting Sling TV service. Suddenly cutting the cord doesn’t seem all that cheap when you start subscribing to multiple services.
HBO is supposedly aiming to launch the service, dubbed HBO Now, in early April, just in time for Games of Thrones season 5. That’s something we’ve heard rumored before, so the timing was never really in question. It is notable, however, that the service will cost customers more than competitors like Netflix and Hulu Plus. HBO has always created premium content, and it seems the channel is ready to ask a premium price for standalone access. Over the course of a year, a subscription to HBO Now would cost you $180.
When the service does launch, Apple will reportedly be one of a few, if not the only, launch partner, making HBO Now available to Apple TV users; it’s unclear if Apple will have exclusive (timed) dibs on the service, but the company has apparently made overtures to HBO about being involved from the get-go.
Early April is just around the corner, so we should see an official announcement drop relatively soon. Would you pay $15 per month for access to HBO’s entire catalog?
Source: IBTimes