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HBO in OTT talks with Apple

US cablenet HBO is in talks with Apple about the tech giant coming onboard as a launch partner for the planned release of its OTT service next month, according to a US report.

Games of Thrones

Games of Thrones

Branded as HBO Now, the service is said to cost US$15 a month, significantly more than rival OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon, and is likely to be available via the Apple TV set-top box, according to International Business Times.

HBO is keen to make the service available to non-cable subscribers in time for the premiere of season five of Game of Thrones on April 12, but is conscious that it must avoid the tech glitches that blighted its TV Everywhere service HBO Go during periods of high demand.

“We know there’s great anticipation around our stand-alone streaming service. And when we have details to share, we will do so,” HBO said in a statement. Apple declined to comment.

The premium cablenet announced plans for its standalone internet-based on-demand service in October last year, designed to target the estimated 10 million broadband-only homes in the US.

The HBO Go app, available to the channel’s cable TV subscribers, is currently available via Apple TV and features series such as Girls, The Newsroom, Game of Thrones and Veep, alongside a library of previous HBO hits such as The Sopranos.

HBO is one of numerous cable channels in the US lining up OTT offerings, with Viacom-owned Nickelodeon confirming its service last month and Starz also due to challenge Netflix and Amazon in the SVoD arena.

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