Cablevision on Monday joined Time Warner Cable’s move in adding support for HBO Go and MAX Go streaming. Those on iPads, iPhones, and some Android devices can watch every current and past episode from the “best” shows on either network, including some big-name movies. Viewers need to authenticate to an Optimum account with HBO access to watch the streams, which also include the web.
Both services and their related apps are free, but only on top of existing TV subscriptions.
The shift now lets about 98 percent of American HBO subscribers watch the Go service after including most other major carriers. HBO has so far been hesitant to offer its content outside of either traditional TV or through pay-per-show digital services like iTunes, leaving subscription services like Netflix cut out. Such services usually either don’t have high prices or rely on ad revenues that don’t yet compare to regular TV.
