People who love original and full-on dramatic programs turn their heads to HBO. It is the oldest playing subscription TV service in the history of American entertainment.
The home box office or also known as HBO, keeps on introducing new services to entertain its audience, of which HBO Go and HBO Now are a part.
Key Takeaways
- HBO Go is a streaming service available only to those with an HBO cable subscription, whereas HBO Now is a standalone streaming service that does not require a cable subscription.
- HBO Go offers access to all the content available on HBO, whereas HBO Now only offers access to HBO’s original programming.
- HBO Go is being phased out and replaced by HBO Max, which offers access to all the content available on HBO and additional programming.
HBO Go vs HBO Now
HBO Go offers on-demand access to HBO’s library and live streaming of its TV channel. HBO Now is a standalone streaming service and is available to anyone in the US with an internet connection. It offers on-demand access to HBO’s entire library of TV shows, movies, and documentaries and live streaming of HBO’s TV channel.
HBO Go is an American premium cable network launched on 18th February in the year 2010. It was solely created for HBO subscribers who stay outside America.
HBO Go allows subscribers to watch and stream HBO content, including old or new series, movies, events, etc.
HBO, now also known as HBO since July 2020, is an American subscription streaming platform owned by WarnerMedia. It was launched on 7th April in the year 2015.
HBO Now provides access to the vast library of HBO series, movies, and much more. HBO Now is just like Netflix and Amazon Prime you need no television subscription to work.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | HBO Go | HBO Now |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | HBO Go is an online streaming service that is pre-included with the HBO package. | HBO Now is a video-on-demand streaming platform that is a standalone platform and can be subscribed without any TV services. |
| How to use | It can only be used if the HBO subscription package is already existing. | It is an independent platform without any cable or satellite connections. |
| Cost | The cost keeps on fluctuating depending upon the cable service provider and the area. | Cost is the same for every HBO subscriber. |
| Device to support | HBO Go is supported on almost every device and platform. | HBO Now only supports a few major devices and platforms except for TiVo. |
| Authentication status | For accessing HBO Go, authentication is needed to be done from the service provider. | It does not require any authentication to access HBO Now. |
What is HBO Go?
HBO Go was launched as an American premium cable network in the year 2010, considering the HBO subscribers who do not live in America or nearby America.
When people subscribe to the HBO package, they can watch any oldest to the newest HBO content, including series, movies, events, etc.
The shows that are available to stream on HBO aren’t cheap to create, and this is what appeals to their audience the most.
This premium cable network comprises high-end quality reward-winning production movies and series. From the legendary sci-fi movies and fantasies such as “Game of Thrones” and “Westworld” to A-lister dramas such as “Big Little Lies” and “Sharp Objects”.
If the audience has HBO Go App on their cellphones, all these epic movies and dramas are made available for them to watch from the comfort of their home or even in the busiest lane back home.
When HBO Go was launched in the year 2010, it was only available to be accessed through personal computers and laptops through the HBO official website.
Applications for streaming HBO in Androids, smartphones, and tablets were made after one year of the launch, making it available to a huge mass of the population.
Because of this step that HBO Go took, there was over a million download of the app in the first week itself, and after two months of the mobile application being launched, the app was downloaded over three million times.
What is HBO Now?
HBO Now, also known as HBO Time July 2020, was launched as an American video-on-demand service by the WarnerMedia subordinate company Home BOX Office. Inc.
It was officially unveiled on March 9th but was officially launched on April 7.
In the same year, 2015. HBO Now subscriptions let their audience access the wide library of HBO original content, which includes original movies, dramas, series, etc.
HBO Now is an independent video-on-demand platform that does not require any cable TV connections to work.
HBO Now is similar to Netflix and Amazon Prime, which provides original content with monthly subscriptions on mobile phones or personal computers.
HBO Now had access to many original Libraries of HBO.
Contents but were restricted from many series like Tales from the Crypt, Tenacious D. The Ricky Gervais show, which was available all over the internet.
HBO Now is only made available for the people living in the areas of America and other species of the country.
Because of their regional rights restrictions, HBO was not allowed to offer its services to countries other than America.
The people outside the country, who used VPN to get access to the services HBO Now, their services were terminated because it was against HBO’s regional rights restrictions, and no refund was issued to them.
Main Differences Between HBO Go and HBO Now
- HBO Go is free of cost at its included in the HBO package, whereas HBO Now requires some specific payment to be done for providing their services.
- HBO Go requires a TV or satellite connection for streaming purposes, while HBO Now doesn’t need any connections to cable TV.
- HBO Go doesn’t need any subscription to access movies or series as it is pre-included in the pack, whereas HBO Now needs to get subscribed to assess anything.
- There is no need for authentication to access HBO Now, whereas HBO Go needs the cable service provider to authenticate for it.
- HBO Go is supported on almost every device and platform, on the other hand, HBO now only supports major devices and platforms where TiVo is an exception.
- https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=hJTFAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=hbo+go&ots=DtJd7-SiiR&sig=w660Iao6qvETXliJPTOsgkwCozs
- https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA528468565&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=21623171&p=AONE&sw=w
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The evolution of HBO’s streaming options over the years is quite impressive. Their adaptability to changing consumer needs is noteworthy.
The quality of original content on HBO Go and HBO Now sets a high standard for streaming. It’s commendable how they maintain their reputation for top-notch productions.
Agreed. It’s evident that HBO invests in quality productions, and it reflects in the appeal of their content to a diverse audience.
The history of HBO’s streaming services showcases their commitment to reaching a broader audience. Their strategic expansion into various devices has significantly impacted their user base.
The availability of HBO Go through mobile applications played a pivotal role in enhancing viewership. It’s a testament to their efforts in maximizing convenience for subscribers.
Absolutely, HBO’s ability to adapt and incorporate new technologies has allowed them to stay at the forefront of the streaming industry.
The comparison between HBO Go and HBO Now provides valuable insights into the evolution of streaming services. It’s evident that both platforms have contributed to shaping the modern entertainment landscape.
The transition from HBO Go to HBO Max is a significant change. It’ll be interesting to see how this affects current subscribers and the streaming experience as a whole.
Absolutely, the introduction of HBO Max brings a new dimension to content accessibility. I’m looking forward to further exploration of its offerings.
The regional restrictions and accessibility of HBO Now highlight the complexities of content distribution. It’s an intriguing aspect to consider in the context of global viewership trends.
The comparison table is indeed helpful in understanding the key differences between HBO Go and HBO Now. It’s crucial for consumers to make informed decisions about their streaming preferences.
Absolutely, having clear information about what each service offers allows users to choose the platform that best aligns with their viewing needs.
I particularly find the details about device support and authentication status quite insightful. HBO Go and HBO Now cater to different user experiences.
I appreciate the detailed comparison between HBO Go and HBO Now. It helps clarify which service is better suited for individuals based on their preferences.