HBO Brings a la Carte Programming to iTunes

By Nick Mokey May 13, 2008

If you’re too cheap to spring for a $160-a-month cable package, but still want to catch Tony Soprano knocking off a few guys now and then, HBO now offers a slightly more affordable way to access its programming: iTunes. HBO and Apple jointly announced on Tuesday that many of the cable channel’s programs have arrived at the iTunes store for download.

Apple will initially offer six HBO series on iTunes, including The Sopranos, Deadwood, Rome, Sex and the City, Flight of the Conchords and The Wire. The former three series have episodes priced at $1.99 per episode, while the latter three cost $2.99 per episode. While full seasons are available, Apple won’t offer any discount for purchasing episodes in bulk.

For its part, Apple seems happy to round out the iTunes library by finally bringing such popular shows aboard. “We’re thrilled to bring this incredible lineup of programming from HBO to the iTunes Store,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, in a statement. “These are some of the most talked about television shows ever, as well as some of the most requested by our customers.”

All episodes are immediately available for download via iTunes in video formats that will play on a computer, iPod, iPhone, or TV (with Apple TV).

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