Bad news, VPN-ers: HBO doesn’t want your money. The service has started emailing people who are using the new HBO Now streaming service outside of the US to tell them they’re about to be booted.
Now is a streaming service that allows you to watch all of HBO’s content on the one platform from any device connected to the internet. It includes stuff like The Wire, Game of Thrones, Entourage and Girls. The only problem? It’s a US-only service.
Eager content lovers with access to a VPN have been able to sign up to the service, but from the looks of things, HBO is onto them.
Here’s the text of an email sent to HBO Now users outside of the US, posted to Reddit yesterday by user Leonardi80:
Dear HBO NOW User:
It has come to our attention that you may have signed up for and viewed video content on the HBO NOW streaming service from outside of the authorized service area (the United States, including D.C. and certain US territories).
We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the HBO NOW streaming service is only available to residents of the United States, for use within the United States. Any other access is prohibited by our Terms of Use.
If you feel that you have received this message in error, and that you have both met the eligibility requirements for HBO NOW and have been using the service within the United States, please call us at 1-855-366-2183. If we do not hear from you by April 21, we will proceed with deactivating your HBO NOW account without further notice to you. Please note that it is your responsibility to cancel any automatic billing with your Subscription Provider to avoid incurring charges for any future months.
Thank you, The HBO NOW Team
Back to Foxtel for you lot, then. [r/australia]