HBO To Stream Exclusively On Apple Devices From April

(RTTNews) - HBO will partner with Apple Inc. (AAPL) to make its new streaming video service available exclusively on Apple devices, making an HBO subscription available directly to Apple customers for the first time ever.

The two companies said Monday that HBO NOW will debut in April 2015 and will not require a cable or satellite subscription.

HBO's current streaming channel, HBO Go, is already available on Apple TV, but only to pay-TV subscribers. But HBO Now would let consumers watch the channel via Apple TV and other Apple devices without paying for a cable subscription.

iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple TV users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app as a standalone service. The service, costing $14.99 a month, will offer all of HBO's original programming, as well as the biggest and latest Hollywood movies, documentaries, sports and exclusive comedy specials.

Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services said, "HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription. 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."

HBO fans can enjoy hit series ranging from Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley and VEEP to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and VICE. The fifth season of "Game of Thrones" starts on April 12.

At launch, HBO will offer a 30-day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple. The exclusivity deal with Apple will last for three months.

Home Box Office or HBO is the television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (TWX). It provides two television services - HBO and Cinemax - to about 127 million subscribers worldwide.

Media reports in early March indicated that HBO was in talks with at least five companies including Apple and Google Inc. (GOOGL) to distribute its Web-only service.

Apple was touted to be the first company to agree to distribute HBO's Web-only service, because HBO's negotiations with its longtime cable partners are more complex.

By offering its channel outside the cable bundle, HBO could prompt more consumers to cut the cord and threaten the TV ecosystem. The move pits HBO directly against online streaming service Netflix Inc. (NFLX), which has more than 57 million subscribers worldwide.

In February, Dish Network (DISH) rolled out its Internet video service Sling TV nationwide and said it will soon add AMC channel to the service that costs about $20 a month. The launch of Sling TV comes at a time of increased live streaming preferences.

CBS has a streaming service called All Access that went live in late 2014.