HBO to launch over the top streaming

HBO is well known for it’s wide variety of programming that is not normally seen on basic cable such as risqué shows like True Blood or Game of Thrones. Now their audience could include a lot more Americans as HBO announced at the beginning of the month that they will be launching a stand alone video streaming service, also known as over-the-top streaming, to anyone in the United States for a low cost.

HBO is set to provide services similar to Netflix or Hulu Plus, which can run through broadband internet and costs less than $10 a month. For users who have a satellite cable provider, such as Direct TV, the starting consumer service cost is about $20 a month which includes 130 channels, or for local providers such as Eagle Communications, a starting consumer price is $19.95 a month and includes basic cable channels. Consumers are then spending an additional $15 a month for HBO channels and getting the HBO GO service included. HBO GO can be downloaded to any game console or stream through a computer if you have a cable provider and are paying for HBO.

Now that HBO is about to stream like Netflix, it isn’t clear yet on how much you would have to pay, but The Wall Street Journal cited that a “person familiar with the plans,” reported that the streaming service wouldn’t cost less than what TV subscribers already pay to watch HBO.

With that being said, it’s a win for broadband only households, but for cable providers they are about to lose millions, if not billions, of dollars from cable cancellations.

HBO is the first programming station to go around cable providers and offer full time streaming. For anyone that is willing to get HBO GO they will be able to access the full library anytime. HBO will launch their stand alone service for streaming of their programs starting in 2015.