Those who’ve been waiting for the day that HBO offered a standalone service may not be waiting much longer. International Business Times reports that the network is aiming to launch its new service, titled “HBO Now”, in April in conjunction with the Season 5 premiere of Game of Thrones. Moreover, the pay cable network is in talks with Apple to make Apple TV one of its launch partners.

HBO Now will allow consumers to subscribe to HBO directly for the first time ever, free from being tethered to a cable contract or a bundle with a bunch of channels that no one ever watches. IBT says the retail price for the service is expected to be $15 a month, which is about how much it costs to order HBO from a cable company. Since the service will be delivered directly over the internet, like Netflix, HBO is expected to rely on a number of different distributors separate from cable companies. Apple has been lobbying hard to pair up with HBO for the launch, and they are currently in talks to add HBO Now to Apple TV when it takes off next month.

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This is a big move for HBO. The way we consume media is changing rapidly, with more and more people “cutting the cord” from pricey cable companies in favor of relying on Netlifx, Hulu, and Roku boxes to keep up with their favorite programs. HBO Now ensures that HBO’s fantastic content will remain available to those that want it, regardless of their situation.

It’s also no surprise that the network aims to launch in April, just in time for the premiere of Game of Thrones. The show is heavily pirated and many “borrow” the passwords to friends’ HBO Go accounts to tune in every year. With HBO Now launching in time for the new season, hopefully people will opt for the legal, relatively cheap means of viewing.

And while $15 is more expensive than Netflix, there’s no denying that the quality of HBO’s output is outstanding. Between True Detective, Silicon Valley, and Girls, its current slate is incredibly diverse, and that’s not even factoring in future programs like Westworld and Lewis & Clark, and past classics like The Sopranos and The Wire.

What do you think, folks? For those of you that planned on checking out the new standalone service, does $15 seem fair? Are you enthused about the prospect of having HBO without a cable contract? Sound off in the comments below.

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Image via HBO