Our Prayers Are Answered: HBO Plans Netflix-Style Service
Are you the kind of person who would like to pay for HBO and not, like, everything else on cable?
Then today’s a good day for you.
Good news for Game of Thrones fanatics who don’t have a cable subscription: HBO says it will offer a standalone streaming video service some time next year.
HBO Chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced the plans for a standalone service during an investor meeting on Wednesday. “That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped,” Plepler said. “It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO.”
Just in case it’s unclear: This means HBO will offer a Netflix-style service that gives you access to the channel without having to bundle it with the rest of your cable subscription.
Pepler didn’t say when the service would be available, nor how much it will cost. (Our guess? Expensive.)
One prediction, though: This will make the folks on the cable side of Comcast’s business very unhappy. The Internet side? You’ll just be sending more data down their pipes. Does it all even out? We’re about to find out.