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Post: HBO Now Off to a 'Slow Start'

For years people clamored for HBO to provide a standalone streaming version of HBO, which the company finally unveiled in April of 2015. But despite HBO giving users what they want, the New York Post claims that the service is "off to a slow start" -- two anonymous "pay TV insiders" claiming the service had 800,000 to 1 million subscribers by the end of last year. Granted a million users in six months isn't really all that bad, with totals likely impacted by HBO's acceptance of password sharing, and the fact the service was an Apple device exclusive for the first three months of its existence. Numbers are likely to soar once HBO hit series "Game of Thrones" returns from vacation south of the wall.

Update: Time Warner confirmed HBO Now has around 800,000 customers, but executives state they're "very excited about where we are" and are "just getting started."

Most recommended from 26 comments



howsthis999
@charter.com

7 recommendations

howsthis999

Anon

what did they expect?

Made it an Apple exclusive in which most people couldn't subscribe until AFTER GoT was over for the year. What idiot genius came up with that? $15 price tag doesn't help either
rick0204
join:2009-05-20
North Bergen, NJ

6 recommendations

rick0204

Member

Too expensive

Except for the first month free, HBO Now is too expensive. It is the same price as HBO through a cable company. HBO Now does not include any live channels so it should cost less.
grabacon9
join:2013-08-21
Newark, OH

4 recommendations

grabacon9

Member

Buffering

You can't change the quality of the stream. Showtime is the same way. You can with Netflix and Sling. The price is expensive too. Sling and Netlfix doesn't buffer as much for sure.

Packeteers
Premium Member
join:2005-06-18
Forest Hills, NY
Asus RT-AC3100
(Software) Asuswrt-Merlin

2 recommendations

Packeteers

Premium Member

I will "GoT Now"

IMHO $15/mo is only worth it while new GoT episodes are coming out over the Spring/Summer.

in addition, many cabletv companies are offering cheap HBO addon to their basic TV bundles,
so while "Now" streaming numbers didn't grow much, overall HBO subs are probably healthy.