HBO Go to Launch Stand-Alone Streaming Service Sans Cable in 2015

Cord-cutters: it's time to rejoice!

HBO has officially announced that they will be releasing a standalone streaming service with their programming starting sometime in 2015.

Currently, the premium network's streaming service HBO Go is only available to those who already have a cable subscription. However, due to the changing market, HBO has decided to start offering HBO Go (or a similar service) to people without cable as well.

"That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO," said HBO CEO Richard Plepler. "So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them."

Pepler deoesn't refer to the standalone service by name, indicating that it might differ slightly from the current model of HBO Go. It's likely that HBO will have to do some negotiating with the likes of Comcast/Time Warner Cable in order to maintain a healthy relationship with them...offering every episode and current movie in HBO's library without needing cable gives people little incentive to pay the cable companies for the channel.

So, this new service might change things up by only offering current shows as opposed to an archive, or only offering TV and nixing movies. Or, HBO might go the Hulu route and not release new episodes until the day after, forcing those who need to watch live to subscribe through their cable. With a widespread and spoiler-heavy show like "Game of Thrones" going, there might be more of those people than you think.

Still, this is excellent news for cord-cutters who hope to move more and more of their experience online. We're guessing as well that HBO sees a significant dip in the number of people pirating "Game of Thrones" once this release happens.