HBO Now comes to Roku, closes cord cutter loop

By Stephanie Topacio Long Published October 8, 2015

hbo now roku streaming stick 40 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Roku platform now boasts HBO Now. Roku announced Thursday that customers in the U.S. can now add the HBO Now streaming channel to their Roku players and TVs. A subscription is required to use the HBO standalone streaming service, but Roku makes it easy: users can subscribe through the channel or take advantage of a 30-day free trial.

The addition of HBO Now to Roku closes a sort of cord cutter loop as the app is now available on all the most popular stand-alone streaming media devices, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick, the existing and future Apple TV, Chromecast, and Android TV devices. And with that, we’re sure gaming console owners hope the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will be next on HBO Now’s list of approved devices. .

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With HBO Now, Roku customers will find addicting content at hand, from award-winning favorites like Game of Thrones and Veep to fascinating documentaries to exciting sports programs. “The combination of the Roku platform and HBO NOW signifies a new era of streaming for our customers because they now have instant access to HBO and its incredible selection of entertainment, even without a traditional pay TV subscription,” said Steve Shannon, general manager of Content and Services at Roku in a press release.

On top of current seasons of TV shows, HBO Now features complete HBO classic series, including The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and The Wire. Fans can revisit old favorites and discover new ones. Plus, box office hits typically make their way to HBO, so the combination of Roku and HBO Now is perfect for movie nights and binge-watching alike.

HBO Go has long been available to Roku users, but a cable package that includes HBO is required to use the service. HBO Now, which launched in April, on the other hand, is perfect for cord cutters who want to be able to better pick and choose which content they pay for. The app has been slowly rolled out to additional players after initially being available solely on Apple devices.

The addition of HBO Now to Roku follows that of another premium network (Starz Play was added in September), so clearly both companies are seeking to grow their user base. Teaming up should be mutually beneficial, and it’s a win for viewers as well.

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Stephanie Topacio Long

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…

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