CBS have become the first US TV network to launch a dedicated streaming TV service that will let viewers watch live TV content, as well as catch-Up and full seasons of hit shows on-demand.

But there is a cost involved with the service, which is called CBS All Access and will set back users $5.99 monthly. On offer will be live streaming of local CBS TV stations in 14 areas that include New York, LA, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.

Also available is on-demand streaming of 15 hit shows such as NCIS, CSI, and The Good Wife, along with thousands of episodes of classic TV shows such as Star Trek and Twin Peaks.

Although some CBS content is available for streaming elsewhere such as Hulu and Netflix, CBS All Access will be the first time that a bigger catalog of CBS shows can be accessed.

The service will be welcome to cord cutters along with those that are looking to dump expensive cable and satellite for a more ‘a la carte’ service, and makes for a good week after cable giant HBO also just revealed plans to offer a streaming service in 2015.

The big news about this service is the offer of streaming live TV. Previously those wishing to dump cable have had to endure waiting a day (or even several), before seeing TV shows. The other big news (and also bad news) is that live sports streaming of major events including NFL will not be available at this time.

Speaking about the new service in a statement, president of CBS Television Stations, Peter Dunn said, “With video consumption habits changing all the time, it is very important that we continue to provide the best local news, entertainment and sports via a service like CBS All Access. Television stations have been the fabric of local broadcasting for 75 years, and today’s announcement is part of paving the way for the next 75.”

The service can be accessed through the CBS All Access website as well via the iOS and Android apps.

The premium cable platform HBO has always been ‘premium’ service in every sense of the word, with subscribers requiring first a cable or satellite TV subscription, then an HBO subscription on top of that, only then being able to access the content (such as Game of Thrones) and platforms (like HBO Go) that the broadcaster has to offer, at least if you’re doing it legally.

But next year could see that key first step removed from the process, at least for those cord cutters that want it to be, after HBO announced their plans to launch an online streaming service in 2015.

Not to be confused with the HBO Go platform, the network will apparently begin sale of a digital-only version of their service, one which will bypass the need for a pay-TV subscription beforehand, according to company CEO Richard Plepler in an investor presentation yesterday (15 October).

Though details such as pricing are unclear at this point (albeit likely to be of a similar price to its traditional counterpart depending on what is offered) Plepler explained that HBO are set to begin service of a “standalone, over the top” edition of HBO in 2015 in the USA.

He also noted that the company are set to continue work with their “current partners” on the matter, with others to potentially offer support shortly after (with Amazon and Hulu amongst those rumoured to potentially partner with HBO as additional means of streaming content), though no further details on the potential new platform were provided at this point.

Plepler summarised: “That is a large and growing opportunity that should no longer be left untapped. It is time to remove all barriers to those who want HBO. So, in 2015, we will launch a stand-alone, over-the-top, HBO service in the United States. We will work with our current partners. And, we will explore models with new partners. All in, there are 80 million [American] homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.”

The news comes in the same week that US network channel CBS announced a streaming live and on-demand TV service called CBS All Access.

Looking to add to the $4.9 billion annual revenue figure they currently enjoy, will HBO be able to attract any new viewers to some of cable TV’s hottest properties without having to go through the rest of cable TV first?

Satellite TV provider, Dish are signing up more content deals for it’s planned internet streaming service, and the latest to be added is the A&E Network.

Although the Dish plan of delivering television via the Internet has still not been fully revealed, the multi-year content renewal with A&E includes giving Dish “access to A+E Networks’ content through a future multi-stream subscription service of linear and Video-on-Demand content.”

Dish revealed the news today (Tuesday) saying it had secured the rights for eight A&E channels such as Lifetime, History, Crime & Investigation and Military History.

The Dish Network streaming service is due to be launched this year and will offer between 20-30 TV channels for a monthly subscription of $20-30, offering users a way to get satellite without cables and dishes.

Dish have already tied up a deal with ABC for streaming content but with the proviso that Dish disables the controversial ad-skipping feature on the Hopper DVR until three days after broadcast.

The plan is to discourage cord cutters from leaving the Pay TV system. What Dish seem to fail to realize is that offering cable at the same price just via the internet will probably not win them any new friends.

Time Warner Cable are set to expand the HBO service by offering an internet only based subscription service, aiming to target customers who shy away from traditional cable.

Even though HBO have previously gone on record to say they would not offer a streaming only service, TWC last year launched a $49 monthly trial with Comcast offering a backdoor way to get HBO streaming. The package offers just Internet, HBO (along with HBO Go) and basic TV.

The rumor is that the deal will be expanded within the market and that more cable and internet providers will offer the deal. The offer is aimed at targeting cord cutters who refuse to subscribe to expensive pay TV services and source cheap/free material online instead.

The news comes shortly after Time Warner recently rejected a $75 million takeover deal from Fox, although the company owned by Rupert Murdoch is set to make a counter-offer.

There is always someone ready to benefit after the misfortune of a rival. In the case of Aereo that someone is PlayOn, who are targeting subscribers of the service that had to cease streaming on Sunday.

So the deal on offer is a combo of the PlayOn streaming service, plus the PlayLater DVR recording service for offline viewing, and a shiny new Google Chromecast for $69.99.

Mediamall Technologies who developed the PlayOn server software, say that for every one of the lifetime subscriptions taken, customers will receive a Google Chromecast for free.

The service lets viewers watch hundreds of channels that include Hulu, Comedy Central, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and more. Speaking for MediaMall Technologies, CEO Jeff Lawrence said, “With our Chromecast bundle deal, you can get rid of your cable subscription for only $70 — that’s it. You’ll never have to pay a cable bill again.”

The company are hoping to appeal to former Aereo customers. Aereo lost it’s supreme court trial and have had to shutdown the service for now.

Find more details on the limited time PlayOn Chromecast offer here, and if your looking to cut cable then read our cord cutting guide right here.

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