QUESTIONS have been hanging over the future of HBO Max’s UK and Ireland launch plans in face of a major Netflix takeover.
HBO is responsible for huge hits including Game of Thrones, The White Lotus and The Last Of Us.
Its popular US streaming service HBO Max is owned by Warner Bros Discovery, which is partially being bought by Netflix for a whooping £54billion.
Now rival Paramount Skydance has launched a hostile counter bid of £77billion to buy the entire company.
This all comes as HBO Max is planning a huge move into Europe, including the UK and Ireland.
HBO’s existing deals with Sky has prevented the broadcaster from expanding its footprint.
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But next year the current arrangement with Sky will come to an end, paving the way for HBO Max’s launch.
However, the tussle over Warner Bros Discovery’s ownership has led some to wonder if HBO Max will make it across the pond at all.
But Warner Bros Discovery has now revealed where it all stands.
A rep has told Cord Busters that they intend to continue with the UK and Ireland launch next year.
Bosses recently shared that they’re gearing up to introduce HBO Max in late March 2026.
Meanwhile, it’s set to go live in Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland first on January 13.
The platform’s arrival will mean some changes for Sky viewers – but they won’t lose access to their favourite shows.
Hugely popular hits that have already started on Sky Atlantic, such as House of the Dragon, will continue to air on the channel.
And those agreed before the current arrangement ends between the two companies will be shown as well, like new Game of Thrones spin-off A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
But new shows released after that will be exclusive to HBO Max.
This includes the highly-anticipated Harry Potter series scheduled for release in 2027.
As part of a new deal, Sky customers will get access to HBO Max at no extra cost.
However, this will be the plan with adverts and they’ll need to pay more to remove them.
