From 26 March, HBO Max Basic with Ads is now included at no extra cost for Sky Q, Glass, and Stream customers. The move gives subscribers access to a vast library of Warner Bros. content, including Game of Thrones, The Wire, The Pitt, Lanterns, and the Harry Potter series, all as part of their existing monthly subscription.
However, early reactions on the Sky Community forum have been mixed. Many users expressed disappointment over the volume of advertisements on the ad-supported tier. One customer wrote: 'My initial excitement has turned to disappointment as there are so many ads – more than Disney+ and Netflix.' Another noted that Sky's Ad Skipping feature does not work with HBO Max content, as it is a third-party app.
For those who wish to remove ads, Sky offers an upgrade path: the ad-free tier costs £5 per month, while the premium tier is £10. Customers can upgrade via their My Sky account under App Subscriptions. Some users felt the free tier added limited value, as much of the content is already available on Sky without ads and in 4K. One commenter said: 'I’m not convinced this app adds much value for me at the moment.'
On the positive side, users reported a smooth activation process across devices, including Sky Stream, Sky Glass, iPad, and Apple TV 4K. One customer described the setup as 'seamless' and praised the streaming quality of the new Harry Potter series. Another noted that transferring their TNT Sports subscription from EE to the new platform was trouble-free.
Looking ahead, some forum members pointed out that HBO content previously available on Sky's on-demand service will gradually move to HBO Max as rights expire. This means that older archive content will become exclusive to HBO Max, while new seasons of shows like The Last of Us and House of the Dragon will still air on Sky. One user predicted: 'Over time, some film content may also have shorter lifespans on Sky before moving to HBO Max exclusivity.'
