Much like Netflix and Hulu already do, HBO has plans to expand support of its HBO Go on demand service to videogame consoles (and web-connected TVs).
The news was revealed on an earnings conference call earlier today, as attended by Gigaom. No specific consoles or timeline was outlined, although Xbox 360 seems like a likely target given Microsoft’s emphasis on streaming media support. (I had hoped for an HBO Go announcement at E3 and was disappointed when one didn’t come.) The Wii or 3DS are also possibilities, as they each already have a Netflix app, so streaming video to the systems is possible. Sony already has a relationship with HBO, so PS3 and Vita are also in the discussion.
HBO Go is a video on demand service that is free to all HBO subscribers, provided they have a participating television provider (Comcast, AT&T, Cox, DirecTV, Verizon, and Dish Network all work with it, among others). It’s home to a great deal of content — comedy specials, documentaries, boxing, movies, and its long list of series (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones, The Wire, etc.) — that can be watched from your browser or, more recently, your iOS or Android device. It’s a great service based on my experience using it. The one thing that would be welcomed by many is the ability to subscribe to HBO directly without needing to go through your local television provider.
