Google Fiber TV adds HBO & Cinemax to its programming lineup

Google has forged an agreement to bring premium TV channels HBO and Cinemax to its Google Fiber TV customers, the company announced today.

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The availability of HBO on Google Fiber TV is a big win for those that may have been skeptical of the service because it lacked the robust lineup of channels available from other cable and satellite TV providers. When it first rolled out to Kansas City, Google Fiber lacked a bulk of sports programming as well as staple cable networks owned by Time Warner, such as Cartoon Network, TBS, and TNT. It also didn’t even give you the option of adding on HBO until now.

Like other cable providers, if you want HBO you’ll have to tack on an extra fee every month. The rate is $20 per month for all the HBO bundle of channels (HBO, HBO 2, HBO Signature, HBO Family, HBO Latino, HBO Comedy, and HBO Zone). For another $10 you can get the Cinemax bundle (Max, MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, WMax, @Max, 5-StarMax, and OuterMax), too. You’ll also gain access to the HBO Go and Max Go streaming services, which are currently only available to those that subscribe through a cable service. Additionally, Google Fiber TV is offering a premium package for $40 per month that adds Starz and Showtime to the mix.

All rates are (I believe) slightly lower than what you’d be charged from other TV service providers, and at the end of the day it’s still probably cheaper to go with Google Fiber (with its blazing fast gigabit Internet package.) The greater Kansas City area customers will spend about $150 per month (not including taxes) to get HBO/Cinemax along with the standard bundle of over 150 cable channels and local broadcast affiliate stations. Pricing for Google Fiber in Austin, Tex. has yet to be determined, but Fiber employees at the city’s Google Fiber Austin event last week seemed to indicate that it wouldn’t be too far from what people are paying in KC. I’d imagine that would be true for these HBO and Cinemax packages, too.

Image via HBO