(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/03/hbo-go-ipad.jpg) (http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/hbo-go-monthly-subscription-access-broadband/)
HBO's president and COO Erik Kessler stated just last month (http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/12/hbo-airplay-support-hbo-go-max-go-airplay-apple-ipad/) that having à la carte access to HBO isn't going to happen in the near future, but it seems that the channel's CEO has been mulling a compromise. According to a new Reuters report, Richard Plepler believes that while HBO "has the right model today," HBO Go (http://www.engadget.com/tag/hbogo/) -- its standalone app -- "could evolve." In what way, you ask? Presently, HBO Go only shows content to folks who subscribe to the channel via their pay-TV provider, but Plepler seems to think that there's potential to sell monthly access to the app itself so long as buyers are also subscribed to a broadband internet connection.
In other words, this wouldn't provide HBO access via one's cable box or DVR, but considering that HBO Go just recently gained AirPlay support, an iPad + Apple TV combo could effectively accomplish the same thing. Well, outside of the whole "live viewing" thing. Still, the concept of paying $10 or $15 per month for HBO Go (alongside broadband) could be quite compelling for up-and-coming cord cutters -- after all, these folks are used to watching shows after they air (http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/17/hulu-2012-results/). Now, here comes the part where you wait for these thoughts to translate into reality. If we had to guess, we'd say that HBO's oh-so-friendly cable partners aren't going to be inclined to let such a solid idea actually happen.
Filed under: Home Entertainment (http://www.engadget.com/category/home-entertainment/), HD (http://www.engadget.com/category/hd/)
Comments (http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/21/hbo-go-monthly-subscription-access-broadband/#comments)
Source: Reuters (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/hbo-go-without-cable_n_2926926.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003)
Via: Engadget