HBO expected to see its 3 millionth download of the HBO Go app — the mobile version of the pay channel — sometime last night, company officials said over the weekend.
The controversial new way of distributing HBO shows via iPad, iPhone and Android devices leaves the channel far behind its main rival, Netflix, which has more than 23 million subscribers.
But the app — which allows people who already subscribed to HBO to watch 1,400 shows in the channel’s library — is only three weeks old.
HBO and other cable channels are fighting to keep customers from defecting to Netflix.
HBO Go is not yet available to Time Warner and Cablevision customers, the largest cable services in New York City and its suburbs. But talks are said to be under way to get it here.