HBO to launch standalone online service in US

HBO is reportedly set to launch its on-demand, over-the-top service HBO Go as a standalone service in the US next year. 

HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler announced the move at an HBO investor day in New York, according to various US reports.

HBO already offers HBO Go in the US as an authenticated, TV everywhere-style service for existing HBO cable subscribers.

The launch of the web service as a standalone subscription offer follows the rollout of HBO Go as a pay-monthly online service in the Nordics back in 2012.

The news comes in the same week that US pay TV network Starz was reported to be planning to launch an international version of its watch-anytime, over-the-top streaming service, Starz Play, in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.