HBO and Amazon have not been able to reach an agreement to bring the new HBO MAX app, which is supposed to replace both HBO GO and HBO NOW apps, to Fire TV devices. According to Variety, the existing arrangement between HBO and Amazon is set to expire on July 31st, which means that, come August 1st, one or both of HBO’s apps may be removed from Fire TV devices.
What actually happens to these apps if Amazon and HBO can’t reach an agreement in time is anybody’s guess. Amazon might decide to, or be forced to, remove the apps from devices that already have them installed. What’s more likely, in my opinion, is that the apps will just be removed from the Amazon Appstore but remain on devices that already have them installed. Whether the apps remain on devices or not, it’ll be up to HBO to decide if the existing apps will remain functional or not. HBO could decide to block streaming from Fire TV devices altogether, regardless of when or how the app was installed. However, it does seem as though subscribers of the HBO Prime Video Channel will be unaffected and will still be able to stream HBO content on Fire TV devices beyond August 1st.
It’s currently possible to sideload the HBO MAX app on Fire TVs and use the app just fine. If HBO decides to block access to HBO GO and HBO NOW apps, that block could also affect users who have sideloaded the HBO MAX app. Time will tell. Let me know in the comments below if any of your HBO apps stop working in the coming days.
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Well I guess it is time for me to stop using Firesticks and look into other options. Since Roku is playing hardball as well it will probably have to be something else altogether.
“It’s currently possible to sideload the HBO MAX app on Fire TVs and use the app just fine” — only if you don’t purchase HBONow through Amazon. If that is the case, then HBO won’t authorize the app on the FireTV device NOR on any other device like an AppleTV. Looks like I will have to cancel my HBONow account on Amazon, then sign up for HBOMax with a different email address and probably have some overlap. We picked a fine time to start watching The Sopranos. This has a feel of a mob shakedown.
I pay for hbo through amazon channels. You actually get an hbo now account through that so you can watch through amazon or with the hbo now app. I will be interested to see if hbo now will keep working with my amazon account username and password.
Classic!!!
This reminds me of the old days many years ago with my Roku,(and a few years back with Amazon) having to sideload YouTube, Starz etc.
Rubbish, I thought all this nonsense was behind us. Why can’t we just all get along?
These multi-billion dollar companies just don’t get it…provide a way for the public to give you their hard earned money and they gladly will! Take it away and you get nothing!
If they don’t give in and get the app I won’t be buying another fire TV. I’ve been using at least 2 in my house since it was released in 2014.
The box is no good to me if I can’t utilize the streaming service. I mean it IS streaming device. I don’t think I’m being unreasonable.
Did you read the post? You are and in all likelihood will continue to be, able to watch HBO.