AppleInsider Staff
HBO's cable-free subscription service, HBO Now, launched with a free trial on the Tuesday with a new dedicated Apple TV channel and an app on the iOS App Store , ahead of this Sunday's hotly anticipated premiere of "Game of Thrones."
The new HBO Now channel will automatically appear on second- and third-generation Apple TV hardware. The universal iOS application is a free download on the App Store
After the free window expires, HBO Now will run customers $14.99 per month. That's comparable with what traditional HBO customers pay through cable providers.
HBO Now is a major addition for cord cutters looking to ditch traditional cable subscription services. Requiring juts an Internet connection, HBO Now allows users to watch HBO on-demand content from anywhere.
At launch, HBO Now will be exclusive to Apple hardware, including the Apple TV and iOS devices. The partnership was announced last month at Apple's "Spring Forward" event.
Through the exclusive window, HBO Now will be free for subscribers for the month of April. The service uses streaming technology from MLB Advanced Media, which also powers the existing MLB app on the Apple TV.
Subscriptions to HBO Now include all acclaimed original programming from the network's past, present and future. Though it doesn't include a traditional linear channel to stream, content is available to watch on-demand the moment it begins airing on the standard cable HBO network.
The launch is timed to coincide with this Sunday's premiere of the fifth season of "Game of Thrones," HBO's most popular original program.
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32 Comments
Sweet. Need to try it out on my A4 ( :( ) based Apple TV tonight and sign up for the free trial.
Did this replace HBO GO? Can you still use this app with your normal HBO log in?
[quote name="j1h15233" url="/t/185629/hbo-now-streaming-subscription-channel-launches-on-apple-tv#post_2705367"]Did this replace HBO GO? Can you still use this app with your normal HBO log in?[/quote] No. I do however wonder if a subscriber to HBO Now can use their sign on info to get on HBO Go on another platform.
No, HBO Go is part of a cable subscription. Device access is limited to registered devices. HBO Now has the same content at the same time, but it's a standalone service you can use on any device capable of logging in. Comparison here:
http://help.hbonow.com/app/answers/detailHBO/a_id/125/session/L3RpbWUvMTQyODQyMTU3Ni9zaWQvMk44UFlnam0%3D
HBO Go works like many other network video apps: You need to sign in with your cable or satellite system credentials.