In fairness to this thread that I just barged into and started shouting on (per usual): I have to concede that if you're one of the people that doesn't want to own a TV, it is annoying that HBO won't just let you pay for a subscription directly (that I know of). They could just sell access to HBO GO.
On the other hand, give them some time. HBO GO is very new.
I don't think it's possible to get just basic cable and HBO; you typically have to get some sort of bonus cable package, and then tack on the HBO package onto it. Last time I looked, you needed a level 2 tier of service, and then a bonus subscription which came with HBO and two other channels I couldn't give less of a shit about without medical help.
Things may have changed, this was about five years ago.
I have a TV, but no cable. I wish I could access HBO the same way I access Netflix, on my Roku box. I would happily pay the same amount as cable subscribers pay for HBO.
However I suspect that since they are owned by Time Warner, it won't get any better. Big cable companies are actively trying to prevent themselves from becoming dumb pipes.
In fairness to this thread that I just barged into and started shouting on (per usual): I have to concede that if you're one of the people that doesn't want to own a TV, it is annoying that HBO won't just let you pay for a subscription directly (that I know of). They could just sell access to HBO GO.
On the other hand, give them some time. HBO GO is very new.