HBO Max will launch in the UK and Ireland on March 26, offering multiple pricing tiers. The Basic with Ads plan costs £4.99 per month, Standard with Ads is £5.99, the ad-free standard tier is £9.99, and the premium tier is £14.99. TNT Sports subscribers will access their accounts through HBO Max at £30.99 per month.
The service will be available directly to consumers and through partners Amazon and Sky, mirroring its rollout in other markets. It will be accessible on TVs, set-top boxes, streaming devices, mobiles, tablets, game consoles, and platforms including Android, EE/BT TV, Fire TV, iOS, LG, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung, Virgin TV, and Xbox.
Discovery+ will remain a standalone service and is expected to leave the Warner Bros. ecosystem later this year when Discovery Global spins out. HBO Max's launch slate includes HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, and Max originals, with new seasons of Euphoria and House of the Dragon, as well as series like The Pitt, Lanterns, and the upcoming Harry Potter TV show.
JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming and Games at WBD, said: 'After decades of delighting audiences in the UK and Ireland with our remarkable stories and brands, it’s a huge thrill to finally bring it all together on HBO Max.' The launch marks the completion of HBO Max's European rollout, with the service now available in 110 territories worldwide.
Analyst Paolo Pescatore noted that Sky is 'potentially one of the biggest losers' from the launch, as HBO Max ends Sky's exclusivity on HBO content. He expects Sky to respond with new partnerships and bundles. WBD is currently in the process of a takeover by Netflix, and Perrette acknowledged HBO Max could be 'useful to Netflix’s strategic ambitions' due to its niche focus.
