Sony has announced that HBO’s on-demand streaming service, HBO Now, will be coming to the PlayStation 3 and 4. This will give viewers access to HBO's full library of movies, shows, documentaries and specials for $15-per-month. The service is currently available on other devices, including iPads, Roku players, Amazon’s Fire tablets, and more. HBO Now was released for both the Xbox One and 360 this past April.
HBO and Cinemax will also launch as standalone channels on Sony's PlayStation Vue platform, which can be added onto existing PS Vue subscriptions for an additional monthly cost of $15. Users who already have access to them through bundle subscriptions will be able to use the HBO Now service free of charge.
On a PlayStation Blog post, Dwayne Benefield, vice president and head of PlayStation Vue, said, "You asked, we listened! Today, we’re pleased to announce that one of your most highly requested channels, HBO, is coming soon to PlayStation Vue. We’re also adding Cinemax to give you access to even more Hollywood hits and action-packed original series."
Per Sony's website, PS Vue "is a TV service that streams live TV, movies, and sports on a variety of your favorite devices without a cable or satellite subscription.” Additional features of the service include the ability to record content and add premium channels to subscriptions without an annual contract.
Both platforms already offer HBO Go, but the services function differently. HBO explains, "HBO NOW is a paid streaming service that offers instant and unlimited access to the best of HBO. Unlike HBO GO, HBO NOW does not require a cable or satellite TV subscription." The site does note that both services have access to the same content.
The HBO Now service as well as the HBO and Cinemax channels for PS Vue will launch ahead of the October release of Westworld, HBO's upcoming sci-fi drama.
Source: PlayStation Blog | HBO via Engadget
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