Home Box Office has teased their new service known as HBO GO on YouTube and will launch it for iOS, “laptops or smartphones” on May 2. It will be available over a 3G connection as well. If you’re an HBO subscriber, you’ll have free access to all the current series and movies as well as all of the back catalog of their hit shows.
HBO has been a big holdout in the iTunes store, so this should satisfy some pent up demand. The big downside though, is that for now it appears it’s only available to subscribers. Unfortunately, the only way to subscribe is through your cable company. A big downer.
Presumably the video will be accessible for streaming to your Apple TV via AirPlay. It could be used as an extender throughout the house in case there is only one TV, which is being tied up by the kids’ XBOX pizza party. Mom and dad will be able to chill in bed and get some use out of their expensive cable subscription.
You won’t be able to cut the cord from your cable or satellite provider yet, but it sure does give more options.