WBD to start European Max rollout in 2024
October 16, 2023
Nick Snow @ MIPCOM
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) will commence rolling out Max across Europe in spring 2024, with countries under its current HBO Max footprint being the first to receive the SVoD service.
The news was revealed during a keynote at MIPCOM from WBD international chief Gerhard Zeiler and WBD head of streaming for Europe, Leah Hooper Rosa. Twenty countries across the region will be receiving the service, including those in the Nordics, CEE and the Netherlands. A second rollout window is planned for later in the year, which will include France and Belgium.
Max, which combines HBO and Discovery+ content, launched in the US in May. Max’s European offering will also include live-streamed sports content from WBD’s Eurosport channel, and live simulcasts of some of WBD’s local entertainment networks in select countries.
A rollout in Latin America is planned for later in 2023. Following the first European rollout, WBD plans additional launches in key Asia Pacific territories.
There was no news given regarding the service launching in the UK, Italy or Germany – where HBO has long-term content deals in place with Sky.