You can now stream HBO, Showtime, and Starz in a single Roku app

By Parker Hall April 4, 2019

Roku owners who are eager for easy access to the upcoming final season of Game of Thrones are getting just that, as the device maker has added HBO to its Roku Channel app.

The Roku Channel is designed to allow streamers to input numerous subscription logins into one app, allowing Roku to suggest shows across premium cable brands like Showtime, Starz, and now HBO, without forcing them to download each of those companies independent applications.

The addition of HBO to the Roku Channel app means that Roku owners can subscribe to HBO with just their Roku account, making it easier than ever to add the premium cable company to their quiver of services. It also means that the user experience for those who already subscribe to HBO will be improved — allowing you to bounce between free and paid content from HBO and others without having to bounce between different apps on the Roku itself.

Roku has long been working on creating a source-agnostic interface for those who own its streaming devices, and for good reason. The company currently makes the most popular streaming TV players in the United States, and improving the user experience will likely be key to maintaining its stronghold on the market. With companies like Apple planning to roll out similar, all-inclusive interfaces, it makes sense that Roku would look to follow suit.

The addition of HBO to Roku Channel doesn’t come as a huge surprise. Apple recently announced that HBO and Showtime would both be available for easy subscription inside its upcoming Apple TV interface update.

Those interested in subscribing to HBO can do so for the same $15 per month it will cost them on the HBO Now app, and there’s also a weeklong free trial available, should you be unsure about whether you want to subscribe to the premium network or not.

For Roku owners, that means free access to at least the first episode of Game Of Thrones upcoming final season, which should spark joy around the nation and beyond, even if they don’t plan on subscribing to HBO through the Roku Channel in the longer term.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…

Entertainment

Where you can stream Barbarian

A woman looks down from a flight of stairs in Barbarian.

The fall of 2022 featured a surprisingly strong lineup of horror titles, but chief among that group was Barbarian. The movie, which is as twisty as they come, starts with the premise that two people have inadvertently booked the same Airbnb. To say any more about the film's plot would be to ruin many of the movie's best thrills. If you didn't get a chance to catch Barbarian in theaters, though, you may be wondering what the best way to stream the movie is.

As it turns out, Barbarian arrived on HBO Max on October 25, so the easiest way to catch the movie would be to stream it there. It's unclear how long Barbarian will be on HBO Max, but it should be there at least through the rest of November, and perhaps much longer than that.
How much does HBO Max cost?
If you want to stream Barbarian but don't currently have a subscription to HBO Max, there are a number of different plans you can sign up for. The cheapest plan comes with ads and is either $10/month or $100 for a full year. If you want to get an ad-free version of HBO Max, you'll need to spend either $15/month or $150 for a full year.

Entertainment

Where you can stream Terrifier 2

terrifier 2 where to stream movie art

2022 has been a banner year for horror films. From franchise reboots like Scream and Hulu's Hellraiser to legacy sequels like Halloween Ends to original movies like Smile and The Black Phone, horror has been one of the most popular genres for scare-starved audiences.

Among these successful slashers is Terrifier 2, and low-budget sequel that has been the surprise hit of October. After opening in over 700 theaters, the film has so far made almost $8 million on a minuscule $250,00 budget. It's also received mainstream press attention for its extreme violence and gore, which has caused some people to vomit, faint, or leave the theater sick to their stomachs. Not bad for an indie horror movie about a deranged clown terrorizing an unsuspecting public.
What is Screambox?

Entertainment

The best TV crime dramas to stream now on HBO Max

True Detective promo art featuring Detectives Harty and Cohle.

The TV streaming market is as packed and competitive for subscribers' dollars as it's ever been, and while HBO Max's future is shaky given the drama surrounding the recent Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the platform is still home to some of the highest-quality serialized content.

The overall HBO brand has built a stellar reputation in the TV industry for top-tier original programming, but it's particularly well known (aside from Game of Thrones) for its various crime dramas. It makes sense considering how seamlessly that genre meshes with limited or long-form storytelling. And for that, HBO Max has one of the most studded collections of shows ranging from exciting Max originals like this year's Tokyo Vice to the premium cabler's True Detective.
Tokyo Vice