Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has confirmed that HBO Max will launch in the UK and Ireland on March 26, ending years of anticipation. The streaming service will be available directly to consumers and through partners Amazon and Sky, mirroring its rollout in other markets like Australia.
Pricing tiers include Basic with Ads at £4.99 per month, Standard with Ads at £5.99, ad-free Standard at £9.99, and Premium at £14.99. TNT Sports subscribers will access their accounts via HBO Max at the existing price of £30.99, while Discovery+ will remain a standalone service until it exits the WBD ecosystem later this year.
The launch slate features HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Studios, and Max originals, including medical drama The Pitt. Upcoming titles include new seasons of Euphoria and House of the Dragon, the DC series Lanterns, and the Harry Potter TV show. Films such as Superman, One Battle After Another, and Dune: Part One are also part of the lineup.
WBD CEO JB Perrette described the launch as a milestone, saying, '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 service is now available in 110 territories globally, with WBD targeting over 130 million subscribers.
Analyst Paolo Pescatore noted that HBO Max is 'late to the streaming party' but could benefit from 'last mover advantage' with multiple pricing tiers and a strong content strategy. He added that Sky is 'potentially one of the biggest losers' due to the loss of HBO exclusivity.
