During the Time Warner Inc. Investor Meeting today, Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO, announced that the company will begin offering a stand-alone streaming subscription service in 2015, which will provide programming from the Pay TV network to non-cable/satellite subscribers for the first time. Currently cable/satellite subscribers of the network are able to stream the network’s programming via the popular HBO GO service.
After a presentation focused on the domestic side of its business, Plepler cited the currently untapped ten million broadband-only homes as the reason behind the decision to create a new area for revenue growth.
“That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO.
“So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.”
Some of the popular shows HBO currently offers include “Game of Thrones,” “Veep,” “The Leftovers,” “Looking,” and “The Newsroom,” among many others. The network will launch a new season of “The Comeback,” starring Lisa Kudrow (“Friends”) next month. The series was canceled after only one season in 2005, but following a large growth in viewer interest via HBO GO, “Comeback” will be doing just that.