In Fall 2014, HBO announced that it would launch a a stand-alone video streaming service in 2015. This means that some viewers can drop cable subscriptions in exchange for more individualized, exclusively online services, similar to Hulu Plus and Netflix.  Many viewers are already able to access HBO Go online through password sharing, which HBO does not penalize, for now.  

The announcement comes as more people are making the transition from watching shows on television to watching them online. The number of cable subscriptions fell for the first time in 2013, while the number of people watching TV online grew by 388% from 2013 to 2014.

What is the appeal of watching TV online?  There are a number of factors, including convenience, cost, and choice.

“There’s more choice online. On TV, there are set shows coming on at a set time and I don’t have any control over it,” says junior Kristen Lundy. “It’s just easier to watch them online whenever you want.”

Comparisons show that watching online is also less expensive than buying a cable subscription. The average price of basic cable service can be up to $64 per month. Online services, such as Netflix, offer options as low as $8 per month.

Convenience is another reason why online streaming is quickly becoming more popular. Viewers can watch multiple episodes of their favorite shows whenever they want. More than half of Netflix users admit to binge watching shows regularly, which is something you can only do online.

“It’s easy to get hooked on a show, especially if it’s full of suspense,” junior Alida Hartwell says. “You just want to find out what happens next, and then you realize you watched a whole season in three days.”

What does this increase in web streaming mean for the future of traditional television viewing?

While studies are showing that young people seem to be watching less TV, older demographic groups are still choosing to watch on television rather than online. But as more networks begin expanding their internet presence and encouraging new users to watch television online, the traditional way to watch TV may become a thing of the past.