Starting In 2015, You Can Finally Get HBO Go Without Cable

HBO Go is finally getting with the times. Starting in 2015, HBO will offer their on-demand service as a separate subscription unattached to the cable TV channel in the United States. The way it is now, you can only use the HBO Go on-demand service if you also subscribe to the channel through your cable provider. Many people who've stopped subscribing to cable were disappointed by the restriction, but it's finally going away. Read how to get HBO Go without cable below.

The chief of HBO, Richard Plepler, revealed the news at a Wall Street investors event. Variety was on the scene. Here's Plepler:

This will be transformative for our company....It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO.

Plepler said there are 10 million households in the U.S. who are now broadband only so, the company felt it was time to separate HBO Go and the channel.

Unfortunately for the rest of the world, this is only happening in the U.S. At least for now. You'd imagine if HBO sees millions of people sign up, they'll expand it. Also of note, no further details were revealed. Nothing about pricing, timing, possible restrictions or anything like that is ready to be announced because of "proprietary concerns." Basically, HBO has to make sure everyone who owns the content they'll be streaming is on board and getting paid.

Another quote from Plepler:

We will go beyond the wall and launch a stand-alone over-the-top service with the potential to produce hundred of millions of dollars in revenue. The international revenue possibilities could be just as large if not larger (with OTT). We have huge opportunity in front of us. We will use all means at our disposal to go after it.

This is a move that will surely get a lot of people to cancel their cable. Unlimited HBO shows and movies is a major, major get for the on-demand community. But how much would they be willing to pay? We'll find out next year.