Pretty soon everyone will be able to get HBO GO, whether or not you have cable.
During the Time Warner Inc. Investor Meeting today, HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced that the premium cable network would be offering a streaming-only service next year, giving potential cable-cutters another reason to ditch the box.
“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,” said Plepler.
What does this mean for companies like Time Warner Cable and Comcast? Nothing good, that’s for sure. With
cable companies losing subscribers to digital distribution companies like Netflix, and more people using streaming services like Hulu, HBO GO’s streaming-only option could be the push potential cable cutters need to go over the edge.Next year, HBO is set to “launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States,” according to HBO CEO Richard Plepler.
As for streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, it could swing either way. HBO’s back catalog is extensive, and chock full of shows like The Sopranos, and The Wire, not to mention its current lineup of Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, True Detective, and Girls (yes, Girls). And with HBO GO being in demand, there’s no doubt it’ll eat the lunch of its competitors.
Then again, with more people potentially leaving their cable for streaming services, the number of people using HBO GO and a combination of Netflix or Hulu could increase.