It’s a PlayStation kind of day for HBO.
The premium programmer announced Thursday that it has secured a deal to offer HBO and Cinemax via PlayStation Vue, Sony’s OTT-TV service, and will also launch HBO Now, its direct-to-consumer offering on PlayStation 3 and PS4 consoles.
Consumers who subscribe to HBO through PlayStation Vue will also be able to access HBO Now on all supporting devices at no extra charge, they said.
The premium programmer said the distribution on PS Vue is the first time that either network’s live feeds will be offered directly to consumers as a standalone offering without the need for a separate pay TV subscription.
PS Vue will sell HBO and Cinemax for $15 each.
HBO noted that the launches will come ahead of the October 2 premiere of Westworld, a reimagined version of the Michael Crichton story about a Wild West-styled theme park for adults that's inhabited androids.
“PlayStation has always been at the forefront of innovation and we are thrilled to build upon our partnership with them to meet the evolving demands of television audiences,” said Jeff Dallesandro, SVP, worldwide digital distribution and business development at HBO, in a statement. “By expanding the ways that PlayStation users can access unparalleled programming like Game of Thrones, The Night Of and Last Week Tonight, we’re demonstrating our commitment to flexibility and quality.”
“HBO’s award-winning content is a great match for the PlayStation audience, and the addition of HBO and Cinemax builds upon our commitment to bring the best of live and on demand TV to our users.” Added Dwayne Benefield, VP and head of PlayStation Vue. “PlayStation Vue continues to bring industry firsts to users who want a better way to watch TV, including being the first to offer HBO and Cinemax as live standalone channels. Our flexible subscription options offer more choices for consumers than ever before.”
