You will soon be able to watch HBO Now without requiring an iPhone. You will now be able to get the premium cable network with your Android device or Chromecast. The announcement came from Sundar Pichai this week during Google’s huge annual I/O conference.
If you have a Google device such as an Android phone or tablet, you will be able to get HBO Now on it starting as early as this summer. It could be July at the earliest. The cable network will also be available via Chromecast. Previously, HBO Now had only been viewable by Apple, who had exclusivity of it.
Adding the TV service to its portfolio, Google is continuing with expanding its scope of what it provides consumers. Its Android OS is a huge seller on the global market, so HBO Now is sure to do well. Prior to this announcement at the I/O conference, Apple’s exclusivity meant the TV service was only watchable if you had an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. HBO Now is a totally online TV service from HBO.
For Chromecast users, this ability to watch the streaming window previously exclusive to Apple is good news too. There are currently about 17 million Chromecasts. The exact date of when HBO Now comes to Chromecast and Android is not yet released. In addition, HBO Go will come soon to Android TV too.
The new platforms for the TV service are brought on by user demand, explained Bernadette Aulestia, VP at HBO. The news, therefore, is proof that even big companies like HBO do read user posts and respond to public feedback by altering their products and services to better suit consumers.
The subscriber base for HBO Now is likely to rise significantly once Android and Chromecast options are available this summer. The dimensions of the smart TV space continue to develop, and we will be watching closely for more updates.