HBO Now has finally launched on Apple TV, iOS products and on Cablevision's Optimum service, one week before the epic premiere of Game of Thrones.

The internet TV service comes first to Apple services and HBO manages to snag a deal with Cablevision, to provide HBO Now to Optimum customers. Dish Network's Sling TV will also offer HBO for $15 per month, which will include all live TV channels.

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There are plans to launch HBO Now on more services in the near future. We are sure HBO is in talks with Verizon, AT&T, Google and even T-Mobile to launch some kind of deal on the platform to get HBO Now in the hands of every TV watcher in America.

Richard Plepler, the chief executive of HBO, has shown the company is ready to compete against services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video by offering its top of the line exclusive shows alongside films and past series.

Game of Thrones is the biggest thing on TV right now, winning most of the awards and all of the stats for most popular TV show. Having HBO Now launch a week before the premiere could spike the number of subscribers to ludicrous numbers, although it will take some time for HBO Now to have as many U.S. subscribers as Netflix.

HBO has plenty of other TV shows like True Detective, Girls, Silicon Valley and a huge back catalogue of amazing shows like The Sopranos. Compared to Netflix's own original lineup, it's night and day as to who has the most content that people actually want to watch.

It's not just pushing out HBO Now to U.S. audiences but making sure international audiences get Game of Thrones at the same time as everyone else. Premieres will happen around the same day or week as it happens in the U.S., meaning nobody is left out.

HBO has stated it is not bothered about piracy rates for Game of Thrones, but this move clearly shows it will sacrifice potentially revenue from DVD or iTunes sales for the chance of everyone seeing the premiere at the same time.

Hopefully, HBO will continue to push HBO Now into other regions, although in the UK, France and Germany it already has deals with local content providers. If HBO is willing to break these contracts or not renew them, it would be a bold statement that the company is willing to risk it all for internet TV customers.

TagsHBO Now, HBO, Apple TV, Cablevision, Optimum, TV streaming