A project called “Maui” being developed internally at HBO to launch the company’s standalone streaming video service next year has been terminated. Instead, HBO has opted to outsource the development of its service to MLB Advanced Media, a company with experience in streaming media technology. As a result of Maui’s cancellation, HBO has also parted ways with its chief technology officer, Otto Berkes, who had been with the company since 2012 and oversaw the project. 

According to an HBO memo distributed by Mark Thomas, SVP of technology program management, and Drew Angeloff, SVP of digital products: “This decision was not made lightly, and was based on an assessment of risk and scope of the product needed to meet HBO’s short term business needs for April 2015.”

“This was not a judgment of the team’s work quality or deliverables but rather a bet that an existing streaming service could deliver the needed product faster and at lower risk than Maui.”

MLB Advanced Media is responsible for the streaming services of clients such as MLB.com, WatchESPN and WWE. HBO’s offering will be available to users sans cable subscriptions to operate much like a Netflix subscription service.

“HBO hopes to launch the new standalone streaming service in line with the ‘Game of Thrones’ season premiere in April,” reports Fortune.

The memo also states the media company will do its best to reallocate some of its existing development from the Maui project for HBO Go where it may be appropriate.