HBO, which has resisted putting its programming outside the pay-TV circuit, has decided to join the media surge into Apple and Google-driven devices. The story made its quiet way into today's LA Times.This is a big deal for the cable-only programmers, such as HBO, Showtime, and others. In essence, HBO has offered a white flag to the new, increasingly dominant media device providers. One impact of the decision will be HBO's sales team can now approach prospective and existing advertisers and tell them about the new audience they can now reach via devices such as the phone and tablets. That audience will happen to be defined by, from an advertising perspective, a very desirable demographic profile.
