Today is one of the most important days in HBO’s history. For decades now, HBO has been a premium cable channel, available via a traditional subscription and access to a coaxial cable in your living room wall. A few years back HBO launched HBO Go, a streaming app that allows you to watch HBO shows on the go. But there was just one problem: you still needed a traditional cable package from a corporation like Comcast, Time Warner Cable or DISH Network. Not a problem for everyone but for some, it was everything.
Effective immediately, the game has changed forever. HBO Now, the new streaming service similar to HBO Go is available to anyone with an internet connection, no cable subscription required. No, I’m not kidding: you can subscribe RIGHT NOW by visiting this link.
You can even begin a free trial just in time for Game of Thrones (which premieres this Sunday, by the way, oh, you already knew that? Of course you did.)
You’ve probably already stopped reading to go out and subscribe to this life-affirming, world-changing service to say you’ve been a member since DAY ONE. But if you’re still reading, don’t take my word for it: let John Oliver describe the epicness that is HBO Now:
Pirates, your day of reckoning has come. There are few excuses left. If you care about quality program like The Wire, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City or Boardwalk Empire you should consider subscribing to HBO Now. It’s time to become an adult and start paying for your own entertainment. First it was your cell plan, then it was car insurance, now it’s time to pay for your own HBO. Here’s a step by step guide to redeeming yourself:
Subscribing to HBO NOW Through Apple
STEP 1: Apple customers can subscribe to HBO NOW by downloading the app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch or directly on Apple TV using their iTunes account.
STEP 2: Customers purchase an HBO NOW subscription directly in-app through Apple for $14.99 per month, following the limited time, introductory 30 day free trial period.
STEP 3: Upon registering with Apple, subscribers will set up HBO NOW login credentials, enabling them to watch their favorite HBO programming on their iOS devices as well as on HBONOW.com via PC or Mac.
For those of you who said you’d purchase HBO outside of a cable subscription for $100,000, please reply in the comments below with your thoughts:
I would pay $100,000 a month for a standalone @HBOGO subscription @HBO http://t.co/jVu99ndf #takemymoneyHBO
— Jonathan Sharp (@jdsharp) June 6, 2012
15 comments
A person walks into a shop:
Person: I’d like to watch Game of Thrones on my computer please!
Vendor: Sure, that will be $15
Person: Awesome!
Vendor: Do you have an iPhone or Kindle Fire?
Person: No I don’t
Vendor: I can’t sell it to you then, sorry!
Person: But I want to watch it on my computer, take my money!
Vendor: No, you need an iPhone or Kindle Fire
Person: Fine!
The person then leaves the shop and goes to The Pirate Bay next door:
Person: I’d like to watch Game of Thrones on my computer please!
Vendor: Of course, here you go!
Dear HBO: If obtaining the show legally takes a lot more effort than pirating it, then you’re part of the problem! Don’t complain that the piracy rate is increasing because this is all on you, all about you are dedicated fans of the shows who don’t have cable or don’t want to commit to HBO all the time who are willing to give you their hard earned money but you are basically shooing off potential subscribers; if there is no reason for this business model (which there clearly isn’t!) then you should get rid of it immediately!
THIS IS LOONEY TUNES, LUDACRIS IF YOU ASK ME. HBO NEEDS TO GET WITH THE TIMES AND QUIT FORCING PEOPLE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR A DEVICE SO THEY CAN WATCH SHOWS LEGALLY WITHOUT CABLE. THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT PIRACY BUT MAKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUT A SECOND MORTGAGE IN ORDER TO WATCH THEIR SHOWS! IT’S 2015 HBO, WAKE UP!!!
Scr3w Apple…and all its bloatware and overpriced devices.
This is ridiculous, I had to create and iTunes account, then try to get a hold of an Apple device, and (once I had the Apple device) then I had to sign up for HBO NOW. It’s only AFTER going through all of this that I can finally use the damn thing (no matter the device) using the web. Talk about hassle.
I just got the apple tv, and see HBO Now at the iTunes store, but I can’t figure it out. It says I downloaded it (on 3 computers for some reason?) and see the icon on the itunes app on my PC, but clicking it does nothing.
I tried to fire it up on the apple tv, but it asks for my login ID, but I don’t know where to set that up. Any help?
I agree with Jef. Also another thought, cable and satelite companies already charges $14.95-$17.95 for HBO and other premiums alike. HBO NOW also charges the same fee, what saving do you get from that? I agree to cut the cords of cable companies to watch premiums without spending and arm and a leg but logically speaking I dont see any savings there. On top of it, they dont even include Max on it where cable and satelite often does for the price of one. My thought is that it is cool to have a stand alone but bring the cost to a level that dont cost more then cable or satelite. Make it affordable not the same.
UH NO. with cable you cant pick and choose what you want to watch, when.
Yes you can. Its called On Demand
Well first off you don’t need cable to access HBO Now. That’s a savings right there. And second… Is anything ever gonna be good enough for you?!? Geezus
You mean I can pick and chose what I want on HBO lol not worth the price for me. I already have satellite. I would just add it I wanted HBO. I can watch Game of Thrones on a free streaming site. Yeah there are a couple out there.
Umm… Ok.
For those likely to be so damn impatient consider this first phase as the Beta version. Let the Apple and Optimum users face all the possible glitches, crashes or problems that may surface. I’d wait for a later version when all the kinks are worked out. But then again, I’m a moron when it comes to tech stuff.
Android versions before Sunday, or GTFO.
I’m so happy!!!