New York cable and internet provider Cablevision has announced that it will offer customers access to HBO Now whether or not they pay for the company's TV service.
HBO and Apple previously announced that the standalone HBO Now service will launch exclusively on Apple TV in April - in time for Game of Thrones season 5 of course - and it's unclear how the Cablevision partnership fits with that.
We've asked HBO to clarify how the standalone Now service will be made available to Cablevision internet subscribers, and we'll update you if we hear back.
It's also unclear when Cablevision's version of the platform will arrive and how much it will cost, but the companies promised to reveal more details down the road.
Forced separation
Most cable companies rely on HBO to attract customers to expensive TV packages, and Cablevision is the first to buck this trend and announce that it will offer HBO Now to internet-only customers.
"As New York's premier connectivity company, we are enabling Optimum Online [internet service] customers to enjoy content in any way they choose to receive it," Cablevision COO Kristin Dolan said in a statement. "We are well-positioned to support HBO Now and, as technology advances, Cablevision will continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Cablevision is a relatively small provider, but let's hope this bold move causes its bigger rivals - Comcast, Time Warner et al. - to follow suit.
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