Amazon just added two big names to its Channels offerings, an a la carte premium subscription streaming hub: HBO and Cinemax. HBO will cost subscribers $15 per month, similar to the pricing on other services, while Cinemax is priced at $10 per month. An Amazon Prime subscription is required for access to Amazon Channels.
The new additions do not include live streaming, unlike competing services such as HBO on Sling TV. HBO on Amazon Prime provides access to HBO’s on-demand catalog. This includes favorite shows like Westworld, Insecure, and Game of Thrones, as well as top movies like The Martian, The Revenant, and Batman vs. Superman (hey, I didn’t say they were all good movies).
Despite the current streaming craze Amazon’s Channels offering has largely gone unnoticed. That may be due to the fact that Amazon doesn’t offer any live TV streaming, though Amazon is pursuing such a service.
The impact on you at home: Nevertheless, Amazon’s approach is in some ways the ultimate approach for cord cutters. Instead of signing up for expensive “fat” bundles or lower priced “skinny” bundles, on Amazon Channels you only pay for the streaming services you want. Even with skinny bundles such as those from Sling TV you will inevitably receive channels you’re not interested in. With the addition of HBO and Cinemax to the Amazon Channels lineup, the retailer has yet another reason for Amazon shoppers to keep their Prime memberships up to date.