‘HBO NOW’ Standalone Streaming Service To Launch Before ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5—DETAILS

It’s official: HBO will launch a standalone premium streaming service named ‘HBO NOW’ to anyone willing to pay the $14.99/month, AND who owns an Apple product.

HBO has just sent out a press release regarding the new ‘HBO NOW’ and on the one hand we’re all very excited that we’ll be able to stream HBO without being tied to a cable provider, and people hoping to catch the premiere of ‘Game of Thrones‘ Season 5 will be able to purchase HBO NOW. But on the other hand it’s really going to piss off a lot of people who don’t own Apple products.

HBO’s Press Release for ‘HBO Now‘:

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2015 – Home Box Office announced today the name of its standalone premium streaming service – HBO NOW – and that the service will launch this April, bringing the highly anticipated new product to audiences in time for the fifth season of Game of Thrones. HBO and Apple also announced that for the first time an HBO subscription will be made available directly to Apple customers through HBO NOW.

HBO NOW provides instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming. Watch every episode of every season of the best series programming, more of the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, original HBO Films, groundbreaking documentaries, sports and comedy and music specials. To subscribe to the streaming service HBO NOW, consumers only need the internet.

Apple will give viewers the ability to enjoy HBO programming via HBO NOW. Upon launch, customers can subscribe using the HBO NOW app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or directly on Apple TV for instant access. Users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app for $14.99 a month. Upon registering, subscribers will also be able to watch at HBONOW.com. HBO will offer a 30 day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple in April.

HBO continues to be in discussions with its existing network of distributors and new digital partners to offer HBO NOW. At launch, HBO NOW will be available on iOS devices and on PCs.

“HBO NOW is the next phase of innovation at HBO,” said Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO. “With this new partnership, a natural evolution for the network, we have access to millions of Apple customers who are used to getting their favorite apps immediately. Now, they can do the same with an HBO subscription.”

“HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO NOW and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air – this is huge.”

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones®, True Detective®, Silicon Valley®, Girls®, Veep® and The Leftovers®, as well as classics like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, True Blood®, The Wire® and Deadwood®.

For those wishing to order ‘HBO NOW’ you can do so by signing up on their website HERE. But that’s if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV….and I don’t think I’d be wrong in guessing that many of you don’t, and rely on Android.

You will be able to stream ‘HBO NOW’ in your browser if you’re a PC user, but not on your other devices (yet).

For me this is one of those moments where I’m rather pleased that I’ve drank the Apple Kook-Aid as I do in fact own an iPad, iPhone, AND Apple TV. So I’ll be able to ditch cable and still stream HBO on all my devices.

And if like me you’re super excited for the ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 5 premiere you REALLY need to check out this trailer that just dropped featuring a pissed off Daenerys!