Coming Next Year: 'Stand-Alone' HBO Subscriptions

Streaming-only service coming in 2015
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 15, 2014 2:45 PM CDT
Coming Next Year: 'Stand-Alone' HBO Subscriptions
This file publicity image released by HBO shows Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in a scene from "Game of Thrones."   (AP Photo/HBO, Keith Bernstein, File)

Finally, the moment many would-be cord-cutters have been waiting for: HBO says that next year, it will offer a "stand-alone, over the top" version of its service. Those are the words used by CEO Richard Plepler at an investor presentation; a press release after the fact called it a "stand-alone HBO streaming service," but the company hasn't said much beyond that. Re/code uses the words "Web-only offering" and "a digital version of its service that won’t require a pay-TV subscription" to describe what's coming.

But no other details are yet known, including exactly how HBO will market and deliver the new version. Some industry sources have suggested it could partner with a service like Amazon or Hulu rather than building its own tech. Also unknown is how similar it will be to the existing HBO Go; some have suggested HBO might prefer to roll out a version that offers only new shows months after they premiere on traditional TV. (In other streaming news, click to see what's coming to Netflix.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X