Starting this week, Verizon customers will now be able to watch their favorite shows on HBO Now, a standalone video streaming service.
HBO and Verizon Communications announced an agreement that gives Verizonthe right to distribute HBO Now, HBO's internet-only service, to its digital platforms. This includes more than 100 million Verizon Wireless customers and other consumers with handsets and/or tablets, The Los Angeles Times reported.
"Our customers want choice in accessing premium content when and where they choose, on a variety of devices," Ben Grad, executive director of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon, said in a statement.
HBO Now, which was first announced in March, gives its customers instant access to some of the most talked about programming on television, including "Game of Thrones" and "True Detective." Users will also have access to all of HBO's movies, documentaries, sports programs and comedy and music specials.
This agreement also includes Go90, Verizon's upcoming mobile video streaming service which is slated to launch this summer. The mobile services will "include full episodes of TV shows from select networks plus music videos and other short form content, initially for free to users," Variety reported.
"This agreement with Verizon represents the commitment our companies share to respond to changing consumer behavior through innovation, bringing audiences the best in entertainment the way they want it," said Jeff Dallesandro, HBO's senior vice president of Worldwide Digital Distribution and Business Development. "We're excited to evolve our partnership with Verizon and bring HBO programming to a new generation of broadband-only customers."
All Verizon standalone broadband customers, including FiOS and high-speed internet customers, will have the option to begin a 30-day introductory free trial of HBO NOW. After the trial, the service will cost $14.99 a month.
