SKY has revealed the future for hit US shows including House of the Dragon and The Last of Us after speculation they could be snatched from the broadcaster.
Entertainment giant Warner Bros Discovery has been teasing the prospect of taking the series off Sky to launch its own Max streaming app in the UK.
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Sky Atlantic has been the UK centrepiece for a number of Warner Bros Discovery’s HBO hits, such as The White Lotus, Game of Thrones and Dune: Prophecy.
The network’s next big project is a brand new Harry Potter series.
Sky‘s long-running deal with Warner Bros Discovery seemed under threat with plans to introduce Max across the pond in 2026 when the current arrangement expires.
But the pair have now struck a fresh agreement that will keep the shows on Sky for now – albeit with some big changes coming.
Warner Bros Discovery will proceed with launching the Max app in the UK and Ireland from April 2026.
However, it will be bundled for Sky customers – much like Netflix and other streaming apps do currently.
An ad-supported version of Max will be available to existing Sky subscribers at no extra cost.
Meanwhile, the app will be available outside of Sky market-wide.
On top of existing franchises, the app will include HBO and Max Originals.
The changes will also apply to Sky’s sister service NOW – previously NOW TV.
“This new partnership provides an expanded portfolio of content for our customers who enjoy Warner Bros Discovery’s popular storytelling,” said Dana Strong, Group CEO of Sky.
“Sky customers will be able to enjoy the Max app, WBD movies and the TV shows currently on Sky channels, and a seamless integration of the Max service into our NOW streaming experience.
“The combination of content from our partners, alongside our slate of Sky Originals, and Sky’s leading aggregation of the UK and Ireland’s best content apps gives us an unrivalled entertainment proposition and an exceptional line-up of the world’s best shows.”
Will viewers care for another streaming app?
Analysis by Millie Turner, Senior Technology & Science Reporter for The Sun.
Max – formerly HBO Max – is finally coming to the UK.
And while Warner Bros. will have certainly mapped out its potential consumer market across the country and the rest of Europe – will Brits really buy into another streaming app?
Following the announcement of Warner Bros Discovery’s intentions earlier this year, social media – unexpectedly – didn’t flood with viewers exuding relief and excitement that their long wait was over.
Sentiment towards streaming apps is growing more sour worldwide, but particularly in the UK, as consumers feel ‘nickle and dimed’ into price hikes.
Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video all either increased their subscription costs last year, or brought previously free features behind a paywall.
That, alongside a Netflix-induced trend to block account sharing among family and friends, has left consumers feeling either ripped off – or that they need to trim down the number of apps they watch.
Plenty of social media users have vowed to stop paying for another streaming service, and are instead hopping from one to the next with monthly memberships.