Lots of people who have cut the cord with cable and satellite providers have longed for HBO to drop restrictions on its HBO Go service. Without a subscription, there is currently no a la carte method of watching all of HBO's content on web-connected devices. But speaking to Reuters, HBO chief executive Richard Plepler says an alternative could be on the horizon.
Before you get too excited: Plepler's alternative still involves a subscription, of sorts. But instead of paying a monthly fee to a cable provider, HBO would apparently be happy with bundling its streaming service with internet service providers.
"Right now we have the right model," said Plepler to Reuters. "Maybe HBO GO, with our broadband partners, could evolve."
HBO has remained steadfast over the past couple years, stating HBO Go would continue to require not only a cable subscription, but a premium monthly fee for HBO. The world of television programming is ever-changing, though, and Plepler clearly sees the potential of streaming, a la carte setups in the future. The executive mentioned a proposed system where people could pay for broadband, plus an additional $10 or $15 per month for HBO Go.
Granted, none of this is evidence of such a plan being in the works, necessarily. Moving away from its long-standing relationships with cable and satellite providers could be a risky move for HBO. Ultimately, it seems as though the online-only model will have to evolve further before a massive comfortable organization like HBO would take the leap.
Matt Clark is a freelance writer covering the world of videogames, tech, and popular culture. Follow him on Twitter @ClarkMatt and MyIGN at Matt_Clark.
Source : ign[dot]com
No comments:
Post a Comment