You Can Now Get HBO Without Cable for $15 Per Month... But on Apple Devices Only

Cord cutters listen up: Apple TV got a $30 price cut and exclusive rights to HBO's new streaming service, HBO Now. Is this enough to lure new customers?
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Louis Ramirez
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Contributing Writer
HBO Apple

Update: Various outlets are reporting that Apple's exclusive deal will only last for three months. Re/code also reports that existing HBO partners may have access to the service before Apple does. HBO's FAQ partially confirms the news in that it states other distributors may offer HBO Now at varying prices, but Apple hasn't made an official comment about when exclusivity will end.


At its Spring Forward event today in San Francisco, Apple made a bold attempt to court cord cutters. In addition to lowering the price of its Apple TV to $69 (down from its previous list price of $99), Apple also announced its set-top box will have exclusive access to HBO's new standalone streaming service, HBO Now.

HBO Now will offer access to all of HBO's current and past shows without the need for a traditional cable TV subscription. The service will cost $14.99 per month and will launch sometime in April, just in time for the premiere of Game of Thrones' fifth season. The first month will also be complimentary to subscribers.

Apple didn't say whether its less expensive Apple TV will receive any internal upgrades. Just last month, we listed the current-generation Apple TV for $69 from hhgregg, an all-time price low for the device.

The cheaper Apple TV will be on sale later today via the Apple Store.

Is the device's new lower price and HBO exclusivity enough to make you leave cable once and for all? Or if you're already a cable cutter, will you spend $15 per month for HBO Now? Let us know in comments below.

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Louis Ramirez
Contributing Writer

With over a decade of experience covering technology, Louis Ramirez has written for CNET, Laptop, Gizmodo, and various other publications. Follow him on Twitter at @louisramirez.
DealNews may be compensated by companies mentioned in this article. Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of publication (unless otherwise specified).

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6 comments
jcauthorn
So if they give you access to all their content, pay for one month a year and get all caught up. $15/month is steep, and most of their stuff is just trash anyway. I am totally not interested.
On the other hand, I'm delighted that one service has finally taken the plunge to direct-to-consumer marketing and cutting the cables out of the middle-man role. Here's hoping others follow suit.
March 19, 2015
Lindsay Sakraida (DealNews)
You know, originally I thought $15 a month wasn't that bad, despite being more than other monthly streaming services. But now that I've had time to mull it over, I don't think I really need HBO access year round, in which case $15 is kind of meh.
March 11, 2015
DurkinM
$15 a month doesn't sound like a smokin' deal to me. I like WDTV and Roku. WDTV is good because it allows DLNA streaming and Roku because it has Amazon Prime. I also have a sony streaming box that can do both....(SMP-N200)
March 9, 2015
Lindsay Sakraida (DealNews)
@RDouble So far I've only seen unproven claims about the 3-month mark, did you see that confirmed somewhere? Also, I don't doubt that it would have to eventually drop the exclusivity... I can't imagine HBO would limit itself forever. So it wouldn't surprise me.
March 9, 2015
RDouble
This is only a 3 month exclusive deal. Which thank god, because apple tv is awful compared to the rest.
March 9, 2015