Sky TV strikes blockbuster new deal to secure thousands of HBO shows and Warner Bros films at no extra cost

By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-16 03:20:56 | Updated at 2024-12-16 06:39:56 3 hours ago

Sky TV subscribers will not miss out on the latest shows from HBO — despite the US broadcaster confirming plans to launch its own streaming service in the UK in early 2026.

For those who don't know, HBO is behind many of the biggest breakout hits on Sky Atlantic over the years, including Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Euphoria, The White Lotus, Succession, And Just Like That, Big Little Lies, The Flight Attendant, The Penguin, and more. Not only that, but its back catalogue is brimming with critically-adored favourites, like The White, The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Sex and the City, True Detective, the list goes on. On the horizon, HBO will be the only place to watch the upcoming reimaging of the Harry Potter series, which will begin filming its first season — tipped to eight hours long — next summer.

Get Sky Stream, Netflix, Discovery+ and Sky Atlantic for £15

sky tv essentials bundle

Sky has launched an affordable new bundle of channels and on-demand services, dubbed TV Essentials. It includes its plug-and-play Sky Stream box, over 100 live channels including Sky Atlantic — the exclusive home of shows like Game of Thrones, And Just Like That, and The White Lotus. You'll also find a subscription to Netflix and Discovery+ included too and can upgrade to Sky Cinema and Sky Sports at an extra cost

TV Essentials from Sky

While Sky TV has expanded its own catalogue of original shows and movies, with hits like comedy-drama Brassic and Sweetpea, resurrected panel show Nevermind The Buzzcocks, and Golden Globe nominated blockbuster The Day Of The Jackal. It's also collaborated with HBO on co-productions, like the award-winning series Chernobyl.

Many had feared that Sky TV subscribers would only be left with these in-house productions when Max — the Netflix rival from parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, which has the exclusive rights to HBO shows in many other countries worldwide — made its debut in the UK.

screenshot of the max streaming service app on tablet showing the most watched HBO shows

Exclusive HBO shows, currently only available on Sky Atlantic, will still be included as standard with all Sky TV packages ...but will also be accessible via the Max app, which will launch as a standalone service

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY PRESS OFFICE

Amongst those who had worried this would be the case when the current agreement between the two companies expired in 2025 were many executives at Sky. That's why the firm filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery over rights to co-produce shows, including the upcoming Harry Potter series, which will film in Leavesden in the UK.

However, Sky TV confirmed this month that its viewers will be able to enjoy HBO shows for years to come. Following the announcement of this reinforced partnership, Sky TV dropped legal action.

Under the new deal, not only will existing HBO shows remain on Sky Atlantic, but the entire catalogue from Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming service will be available to Sky Glass and Sky Stream viewers. NOW, formerly NOW TV, which is owned and operated by Sky TV, will also keep HBO shows like House of the Dragon and The Gilded Age.

The renewed agreement also ensures Warner Bros. movies will still be available to watch on Sky TV, since these have been a core part of the Sky Cinema catalogue for some time.

Discussing the monumental deal, Sky Group CEO Dana Strong said: "This deal builds on our remarkable achievements this year. We have secured most major sports rights through to the end of the decade, extended our content partnerships, and progressed our transition from satellite to IP, with 9 out 10 new customers choosing Sky Glass or Sky Stream.

"This partnership solidifies Sky as the ultimate TV destination and the preferred partner of choice for streamers, rights holders and content creators alike."

From early 2026, Sky customers will receive the ad-supported version of Max bundled with their existing subscriptions at no additional cost. Since 2018, the entry-level Netflix subscription plan has been bundled with Sky TV packages, so this isn't the first time the UK broadcaster has struck a deal like this.

a person holds out their sky tv remote to select an episode of a netflix show on sky tv

Netflix Standard with Ads (worth £4.99) is included with the Essentials TV bundle as standard, and from 2026 onwards, the ad-supported tier of Max from HBO and Warner Bros. will also be included with the entry-level package from Sky TV

SKY PRESS OFFICE

Max will be available through Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices. Max content will also be seamlessly integrated into the NOW streaming experience for Entertainment members, both companies confirmed.

Like Netflix, you'll also be able to login to dedicated Max apps across other devices, like iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, and laptops — handy when travelling.

As it stands, the ad-supported tier for Max allows simultaneous streaming on two devices in Full HD picture quality. There's no confirmation yet, but it seems likely that Sky TV will enable viewers to upgrade to 4K UHD picture quality and ad-free viewing from their box, with everything paid in the same monthly bill. The company currently uses this approach with Netflix.

Viewers will access HBO and Max Originals through a dedicated menu within the Sky TV interface, similar to how other streaming services like Netflix and Paramount Plus are currently integrated. Shows from Max will be suggested by the software based on your viewing habits and tastes.

screenshot of the max streaming service app on tablet

In the United States and 64 other countries worldwide, Max from HBO is the go-to place to watch critically-acclaimed series like House of the Dragon, which are exclusive to Sky Atlantic in the UK

WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY PRESS OFFICE

Dana Strong added: "This new partnership provides an expanded range of content for our customers to enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling through Max. 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."

As part of the deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Turner Kids content on channels like Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Boomerang will also remain part of Sky and NOW’s offering for years to come.

Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director for Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland said: "Today’s announcement is hugely exciting for everyone who loves award-winning scripted entertainment and movies.

"Arriving in early 2026, the market-wide launch of Max in the UK and Ireland is a significant step in its global roll-out, and will be the place where audiences find incredible new shows, including the future Harry Potter series from HBO.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

"Our new agreement will continue Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-standing collaboration with Sky and deepen our relationship across distribution and now the bundling of Max. This will enable Max immediately at launch to be available to millions of passionate video subscribers, and separately be available to the more than 20 million other broadband households in the territories through Max direct to consumer and other partnerships."

The announcement comes after a busy few weeks for Sky TV. The broadcaster recently secured long-term renewals of most major sports rights to near the end of the decade. The agreements enesure that Sky Sports viewers will enjoy an expanded lineup of sport including, the Premier League, EFL, women’s football, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby league, tennis, and more for years and years.

sky stream box pictured on a media unit with the flatscreen showing sky tv content on-screen Sky Stream brings the same experience as Sky Glass to any flatscreen via a HDMI connection. Its EntertainmentOS supports the most popular streamers, including Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Netflix — with the software intelligently recommending new series and films based on your viewing habits SKY TV PRESS OFFICE

Not only that, but Sky recently launched its most affordable TV package yet, called TV Essentials, priced at just £15 per month. And this includes Netflix and Sky Atlantic, so will presumably enjoy the perks of the Max ad-supported subscription at no additional cost when that launches in the next 13-months or so.

To put that in perspective, until recently the most affordable package for Sky TV was £26 per month.

Available on a 24-month contract at £15 monthly, or £18 for those who prefer a NOW TV-style contract-free 31-day subscription, the package provides access to over 100 live television channels.

TV Essentials customers can enjoy exclusive HBO shows and Sky Originals like The Penguin, Succession, Chernoyl, and Euphoria. The package can be customised with additional options like Sky Sports and Sky Cinema on a flexible monthly basis.