CBS latest to launch stand-alone streaming service

LOS ANGELES - US television network CBS on Thursday became the latest broadcaster to launch a stand-alone streaming service, offering viewers without cable subscriptions access to shows including "Star Trek" and "Twin Peaks."

The move came a day after US media giant Time Warner announced a similar service launching next year for premium cable broadcaster HBO, which has hit shows like "Game of Thrones" and "Girls."

The CBS All Access service - which will offer 15 primetime shows a day after they air as well as thousands of past episodes of shows like "The Good Wife," "Cheers" and "CSI: Miami" - will cost US$5.99 (S$7.60) a month and is available immediately.

"We want our audiences to be able to watch CBS's industry-leading content live and on demand whenever and wherever they want," said Jim Lanzone, head of CBS Interactive, announcing the service.

CBS President and CEO Leslie Moonves added: "This new subscription service will deliver the most of CBS to our biggest fans while being additive to the overall ecosystem."

HBO and CBS will now offer consumers a streaming video service similar to that of Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, but with a large amount of original content - something the others have only recently begun to produce.

HBO did not give a price point for its new service, or say exactly when next year it will become available.

Netflix said Tuesday that it expected competition from HBO but that the two services can both thrive.

"Starting back in 2011, we started saying that HBO would be our primary long-term competitor, particularly for content," said a letter to shareholders from Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings and chief finance officer David Wells with its quarterly earnings.

"The competition will drive us both to be better," the letter said.