HBO has found another pay-TV distributor for its HBO Now standalone streaming service in Consolidated Communications.
Consolidated, which offers residential and business broadband and video services across 24 states, will offer HBO Now to its streaming customers for $14.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. Consolidated’s residential service is offered in 11 states including California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Consolidated’s customers will be able to access the service via the HBO Now app on an Android phone or tablet, Amazon FireTV, Fire Tablet, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Chromecast or Roku.
“We’re very excited to build upon our partnerships with Consolidated Communications and bring the best HBO entertainment to their broadband customers,” said Cheryl Tuverson, director of domestic network distribution at HBO, in a statement. “This deal represents the commitment our companies share to evolve with our audiences, bringing them the very best programming in all the ways they want to access it.”
“The addition of HBO Now further enhances our streaming content offering giving customers instant access to all of HBO,” said Rob Koester, vice president of product management and consumer services at Consolidated Communications, in the statement. “We’re excited to be among the first cable providers in the U.S. to offer HBO Now giving our broadband customers even more in-demand content.”
RELATED: Half of HBO Now, most of Showtime and Starz OTT subscribers coming from Amazon Channels: analyst
At last count earlier this year, HBO Now was said to have surpassed 2 million total subscribers. In June, BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield said that perhaps as much as half of HBO Now subscribers are showing up via Amazon Channels, which he said presents a missed opportunity for the premium network.
“While it is phenomenal that premium channels such as HBO, Showtime and Starz are adding paying subscribers, they are not building a direct-to-consumer relationship. Amazon controls the data, consumers are using Amazon’s apps and maybe worst of all, Amazon is learning what shows interest consumers the most and is building their own video service utilizing that data to compete with the third-party channels they offer,” Greenfield wrote.