HBO CEO Is Considering Offering HBO Go Without A Cable Subscription

HBO Go is a streaming video service from the HBO premium cable network that has been around for a while now. HBO Go allows users who subscribe to HBO via a cable or satellite TV company to stream on-demand programs over the Internet from HBO. The available content includes movies and HBO's popular original series such as Game of Thrones.

Rumors have swirled for a long time that HBO was considering offering access to its Go service without customers needing a cable subscription. Many fans of HBO have been clamoring for this feature as well. The CEO of HBO, Richard Plepler, recently stated that the premium movie channel was considering teaming with broadband Internet providers to offer HBO Go to customers that don't have cable TV.

Both standard and premium cable TV networks have considered this over the years, but have been worried about offering their services without a subscription for several reasons. Those reasons include cannibalizing traditional profits from cable TV services by enticing viewers to switch to the Internet. Plepler recently stated that HBO Go could be packaged with a monthly Internet service in partnership with broadband providers to reduce the cost.

Customers would pay $50 a month for broadband Internet and an extra $10 or $15 monthly the package HBO Go with the service. Pepper noted that "we would have to make the math work." Whether or not HBO Go will be offered as a broadband only service remains to be seen. Increasing pressure from Netflix and other providers of online streaming content will certainly place additional pressure on HBO to make a decision.

[via Reuters]