Deal among raft of third-party agreements to expand Warner Bros Discovery streamer’s reach in Europe
Warner Bros Discovery has unveiled an array of deals to expand the reach of HBO Max in Europe, as the streamer rolls out in Italy, Germany and Austria today.
The trio are among the last countries in Europe to receive the WBD-owned service, which will be available via Prime Video in all three territories.
HBO Max is launching with a slate that includes Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and recent Golden Globes-winning medical drama, The Pitt, as well as local originals such as German drama Banksters.
Sky previously had exclusive access to HBO output in Italy, Germany and the UK, but that deal is coming to an end with the roll-out of HBO Max into some of the continent’s biggest markets.
Other deals will see the service being offered by Waipu.tv in Germany, TIM in Italy, Sunrise and Swisscom in Switzerland, Hot and Yes in Israel, and Vodafone in Greece.
The multi-year distribution agreement with Prime Video extends WBD’s existing European collaborations in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium.
HBO Max will be available as an add-on subscription in the three countries, offering access to HBO Originals, Max Originals, Warner Bros. films, and titles from the DC Universe.
Three options are available: basic with ads costs €5.99 (£5.19) per month; standard with 30 downloads is €11.99 (£10.38); and premium access offering 100 downloads and 4K Ultra is (€16.99 (£14.71). A sports add-on plan costs an additional €3 (£2.60).
Library shows ranging from Friends and The Big Bang Theory are joined by local original, including German duo 4 Blocks Zero and Banksters, and Italian productions Portobello and docuseries Gina Lollobrigida: Diva Contesa.
New Line Cinema’s Weapons and upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites are among US films to become available, while local offerings include Warner Bros. Pictures Germany’s Wunderschöner and Italy’s Nonostante are also on the slate.
Like all streamers, WBD has been keen to partner locally to expand reach and last week the US studio revealed an exclusive bundle partnership with local German service RTL+.
Qaisar Rafique, exec vice president and head of commercial development for EMEA & APAC at WBD, said Prime Video’s “vast reach will help us entertain as many people as possible” in the new markets.
Elisabetta Carruba, director of Prime Video Channels EMEA, described the deal as “an important step in our aim of becoming the first stop entertainment destination for our customers.”
HBO Max, whose parent WBD remains in a battle over its future with Netflix and Paramount, is already available on Prime Video as an add-on in the US, Mexico, Colombia, France, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Third-party deals are also expected but not yet confirmed in the UK, although HBO Max will be available to Sky customers at no additional cost when it launches in March.
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