HBO’s new standalone streaming service called HBO NOW has officially launched on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. HBO NOW allows subscribers to watch the premium network’s movies and TV shows online. The service is similar to Netflix as it’s delivered over a high-speed Internet connection rather than cable or satellite and doesn’t require long-term committments through contracts. Here’s how to get HBO NOW works:
HBO NOW is available at launch exclusively through the App Store and Apple TV. This means movies and TV shows can be watched through the channel with the HBO NOW app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch or on your HDTV with a connected Apple TV using the HBO NOW channel. Once you subscribe to HBO NOW through Apple from any of those devices, you can also watch content online through hbonow.com with your Mac or presumably any other PC.
HBO NOW differs from HBO GO, which has long been available on the App Store, Apple TV, and web. NOW subscribers pay a platform partner like Apple a monthly access fee, while GO is HBO’s complementary streaming service available to cable or satellite subscribers that pay for the HBO package as an add-on service.
The Apple TV channel for HBO NOW is a separate channel from the previously available HBO GO channel. Accessing the channel prompts you with a 1-month free trial offer. an HBO ID is created based on the email address you choose. After the free trial, iTunes will bill you monthly for $14.99.
After you create an HBO NOW account and start the service, you can view HBO NOW online from your Mac at hbonow.com. HBO NOW can be viewed from multiple devices for viewing simultaneous streams.
Original series available on HBO include popular shows like Game of Thrones, Girls, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Real Time with BIll Maher, Silicon Valley, Veep, and VICE. HBO also features dozens of recently released movies and a large catalog of other popular movies.
The standalone subscription to HBO NOW goes for $14.99 per month, and Apple is providing a 1-month free trial to new subscribers at launch as part of the promotion. HBO NOW for Sling TV is coming while Optimum broadband subscribers can also order the standalone service through their Internet service.
HBO says the standalone subscription service will be available from more partners on more platforms (presumably Android) in the future. The HBO NOW channel is available on the latest Apple TV, and the HBO NOW app is now available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch through the App Store.
