Since the long-ago announcement from HBO that a standalone version of HBO GO may be coming, there has been plenty of speculation about the in-demand app.
Now, sources are saying that HBO NOW may add other Time Warner brands to the lineup in order to bolster its programming options and to help it compete in the streaming race.
Ad Age reports that while the plan still stands that HBO NOW will launch sometime in April to fall in line with the Game of Thrones premiere, sometime after that the service could add programming from other Time Warner-owned properties such as TNT, TBS and Cartoon Network.
Because it will cost more than its Netflix and Hulu counterparts, boosting the lineup could help it secure subscribers.
Compared to Netflix’s $8.99 and Hulu Plus’ $7.99 per month, rumors have circulated that HBO will be priced at around $15 per month. The price point certainly gives it a competitive edge for those who don’t want to pay the growing cost of a cable subscription, but HBO NOW still has to compete against the Web-only options, especially as many will stand side-by-side on Apple TVs.
HBO NOW previously announced that it will launch exclusively with Apple TV, and earlier this week confirmed that HBO’s VICE brand will be a part of its lineup in the form of a daily newscast. Other content, including Time Warner brands from other parts of the company, are still being sorted out.
Read more at Ad Age.
Brief Take: HBO NOW is an exciting platform to be a part of, especially with all of the buzz going into HBO’s spring season. Adding Turner shows (such as Conan and Rizzoli & Isles) could certainly help HBO NOW with its content plans and Turner with visibility, but the brands have to make sure they can distinguish who owns what on the app.
[Image courtesy of TBS]
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