HBO stealth-launched the HBO Now app on Xbox One earlier today. The timing of the launch makes sense, as the season six premiere of Game of Thrones is set for this coming Sunday. The season six premiere of Game of Thrones combined with the increased accessibility of the HBO Now app could result in an increase in HBO Now subscribers this week, especially when one considers the success of Netflix and other streaming services on home consoles.
Something else that consumers may find inconvenient is that it doesn’t appear as though HBO Now is available yet on PlayStation 4. This is unfortunate for PS4 owners, as Sony’s PlayStation Vue cable alternative streaming service doesn’t allow the option to sign up for HBO yet, whereas Xbox One owners could still have accessed the channel if they signed up for it through Sling TV.
Considering how long it took for the HBO Now app to come to any of the home consoles, there’s really no telling when it will appear on PlayStation 4. And since the app was stealth-launched on Xbox, there’s a good chance that when it does come to PS4, we won’t even know in advance.
Even so, the launch of HBO Now on Xbox One is big news for cord cutters that are looking to completely cut their ties to cable, as TV enthusiasts can now access most premium cable programming without actually needing a cable service provider. It will be interesting to see how big of an impact HBO Now has on the declining cable television market moving forward, and when the app will launch on other platforms, such as PlayStation 4.
Source: Engadget
