You can watch HBO's 'Hard Knocks' without a cable subscription this yearBy John Breech | CBSSports.comAugust 10, 2015 8:05 pm ET 
You don't need a cable subscription to see 'Hard Knocks' this year. (HBO) It's been a banner day for NFL fans who are thinking about going the cord-cutting route. On Monday afternoon, DirecTV announced that NFL Sunday Ticket would be available without a satellite subscription to almost anyone in any city who can't get service at their apartment, condominium or townhome. That's means football fans without a satellite subscription will still be able to watch their favorite team if they're willing to pay the $200 to $359 season-long subscription price. Along those same lines, NFL fans will also be able to watch HBO's Hard Knocks: Training camp with the Houston Texans, even if they don't have a cable or satellite subscription.The premium network has confirmed that Hard Knocks will be available on HBO NOW, which is a video on demand service that HBO offers as a standalone, meaning you don't need to be subscribed to a cable or satellite company. The company launched the HBO NOW service in April 2015. NFL Films Supervising Producer Ken Rodgers recently explained the situation. "A lot of people ask 'do I have to have HBO to watch Hard Knocks,' and the answer to that question is yes, but there are multiple ways to see the show," Rodgers said. "You can watch on demand at HBO On Demand, or on your mobile device on HBO GO, and for the first time this year you can watch on HBO NOW, which is a streaming on demand service that does not require a cable subscription."The last thing that Rodgers' mentions is the pivotal one for cord-cutters.Hard Knocks had previously been available HBO GO, but to get HBO GO, you had to get HBO through your cable or satellite company.With HBO NOW, you just need to pay the $14.99 monthly subscription for the standalone service. The good news for Hard Knocks fans is that HBO is offering a 30-day free trial to HBO NOW, meaning you can sign up in time to see the Aug. 11 premiere and then watch all five episodes for free. The episodes are set to run over a 28-day period that begins on August 11 at 10 p.m. ET.The four episodes after that will be shown each subsequent Tuesday until the final episode airs on Sept. 8. According to HBO, each episode will be available on HBO NOW (and HBO GO) at 5 p.m. ET, the day after it airs. You can see a preview of Hard Knocks below. 
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