Can I watch European HBO Go on Nvidia Shield?

by vili

I'm thinking about getting an Nvidia Shield but I need it to access HBO Go. I'm in Hungary. Based on what I have read, HBO might not work out of the box.

If anyone here has any experience with the European HBO Go service and Nvidia Shield, I'd love to hear from you.

My understanding is that HBO has no native app for Android TV in my area. There is a native Android app, though. If I understand correctly, native Android apps can be sideloaded to Nvidia Shield, but they may or may not work properly. Anyone here tried HBO Go?

HBO Go can also be accessed through a web browser on a desktop computer. Would I be able to do the same on the Nvidia Shield? Or would the browser not be able to play the videos? Anyone tried this?

I know I could always chromecast HBO Go from a mobile device, but I'm looking for a standalone streaming box that can handle all the various services that I use.

evalalave

my 2 cents, HBO Europe su*k big time when it comes to app features and support. There was a new apk released recently of HBO GO and it doesn't Chromecast to anything besides an actual Chromecast (i've tried it to my MiBox - i can assume with almost 100% certainty it wont work with any other ATV box). There is no Android TV app and there won't be one in the foreseeable future (this is according their representative here in Bulgaria). The regular Android app can be sideloaded but needs keyboard and mouse to operate and the streaming quality is shite. So for the time being no there is no way to enjoy HBO GO in Europe on a Android TV box, you are better off buying a Chromecast - that's what i just did two days ago on ebay.de for 14 euro (second hand).

lzap

You can't! No way, I purchased Shield TV to watch HBO GO and the only way this works is Chromecast. You need tablet or phone or PC to cast it, that is sub-par experience. But what is worse - Chromecast keeps disconnecting when you work with it (once it starts playing it does play fine tho). Also picture quality seems to be worse compared to LG HBO GO built in app (it goes to lower resolution more often). Chromecast app apparently has problems with HBO Smooth Streaming (TM), it is settling down way harder.

I emailed them, HBO EU (Hungary) published the app for mobile. Unfortunately HBO GO for Android TV is not available in EU, if you side load the APK it will just error out you are outside of US.

I also tried to side load mobile app APK to Shield TV, does work but terrible experience I think which is on purpose - they do not want you to use it on TV (hence the "GO" in the name). You need a mouse and the app is fixed on vertical resolution.

HBO GO support in Czech Republic (EU) is terrible, no response so far. I try hard to love HBO GO, but it is tough experience.

My advice is - hold off for now. Chromecast experience is not any better.