HBO extends its deal with Conviva by six years to improve video streaming quality on HBO GO

Home Box Office (HBO) has signed a new six-year deal with Conviva, an online video streaming optimization company, to continue providing support for its content offerings over broadband, HBO GO and MAX GO.

The move, announced today, will continue and expand upon the partnership setup between Conviva and HBO in May 2011. At the time, this was done to co-incide with HBO’s support of TV Everywhere (TVE), an authentication system that helps content creators to supply their programming online – but only to users who can prove they have a subscription with a TV provider, either via satellite, cable or a telecommunications company.

Part of this has been HBO GO, a website which houses 600 hours of content in both standard and high definition. It is available to HBO subscribers who have signed up through Verizon FIOS, AT&T U-verse, Google TV, Cox Communications, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Dish Network, Suddenlink Communications and Charter Communications.

“HBO viewers expect a high-quality viewing experience regardless of device or location,” said Otto Berkes, Senior Vice President, Digital Products, HBO. “HBO is committed to TV Everywhere. Conviva’s leadership in real-time stream optimization has made Conviva a natural partner for our success in TV Everywhere.”

Since April 2011, HBO GO has also been available on other platforms including iOS, Android, the Amazon Appstore and Xbox Live, among others. More importantly, the service uses the Precision Video and Insights technology built by Conviva, which for selected platforms helps to avoid buffering and other streaming issues.

HBO is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc, and one of the world’s most successful TV services that requires a paid subscription. Known for high-quality dramas such as Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos and The Wire, the firm now has over 100 million subscribers worldwide.

Conviva, meanwhile, wants to try to build “the best viewing experience” for content producers and media brands on any device or platform. In addition to HBO GO, the company’s clients include ESPN, AEG Digital Media, VEVO, NBC, Turner and Disney via ABC. The firm is currently based in Silicon Valley, with additional offices in New York and London.