Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery have today announced a major streaming deal that will completely change how UK viewers watch HBO and Warner Bros. shows and films from 2026.
The groundbreaking partnership will see Max (formerly HBO Max) bundled with Sky’s services when it launches in the UK, while ensuring shows like House of the Dragon and The Last of Us remain available through Sky’s traditional channels as well.
For Sky and NOW customers, this means getting access to Max’s streaming service at no extra cost (though with ads).
For everyone else, Max will also launch as a standalone streaming service – similar to Netflix and Disney+.
After months of speculation about the future of HBO shows in the UK, this deal brings some welcome clarity – but there are quite a few moving parts to consider.
The Journey So Far
For years, HBO’s content has been one of Sky’s crown jewels. From Game of Thrones to The Last of Us, these critically acclaimed shows have been exclusive to Sky Atlantic, making the channel a must-have for telly enthusiasts across the UK.
The story became more complex when Warner Bros. Discovery merged with Discovery+ in 2023, rebranding HBO Max as simply “Max” in the US.
This new streaming service combined HBO’s prestigious content library with Discovery’s reality shows, Warner Bros.’ films, DC superhero content, and much more.
Then, they started to launch Max around the world, as a standalone streaming service.
Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav confirmed that Max would definitely launch in the UK in 2026.
This announcement raised eyebrows in the industry, as Sky’s existing licensing deals for HBO content were set to expire around 2025.
Until now, Sky has maintained exclusive rights to HBO content in the UK through long-standing licensing agreements.
The New Deal: What’s Actually Happening?
Today’s announcement brings clarity to this complex situation – the new agreement represents an expanded partnership that will extend well beyond the current arrangement.
Starting in early 2026, Sky customers will receive bundled access to Max’s ad-supported tier at no extra cost.
This means they’ll continue to enjoy HBO content, along with Max Originals and other exclusive content – including an upcoming Harry Potter series that will be exclusive to Max.
The setup is similar to Sky’s current arrangement with Paramount+, where Sky Cinema subscribers get access to the standard version of the streaming service at no extra cost.
With Max, however, Sky customers will be getting the ad-supported tier (at no extra cost), and we’re still waiting to hear whether Max will offer an upgrade option for Sky customers who want to avoid the ads or get the Premium tier (which may also include 4K).
Interestingly, existing franchises and their future series will continue to be available on Sky Atlantic for Sky customers, while any new HBO shows that premiere before the end of 2025 will also remain on Sky Atlantic.
This means shows like House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us will continue to be available through Sky’s traditional channels and On Demand service, ensuring there’s no disruption to how Sky subscribers watch them.
The new deal also ensures that Turner Kids content, including popular channels like Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Boomerang, will remain part of Sky’s comprehensive offering for years to come.
Dana Strong, Sky Group CEO, emphasised the significance of this deal: “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.”
What About NOW Users?
Unlike Sky’s current arrangement with Paramount+ (where only Sky Cinema subscribers get access), this new deal extends to Sky’s NOW streaming service (formerly known as NOW TV) – specifically, the NOW Entertainment members.
NOW Entertainment subscribers will receive bundled access to Max’s ad-supported tier, integrated directly into the NOW experience.
This is a big improvement over Sky’s existing streaming partnerships, potentially making NOW an even more attractive option for cord-cutters.
Why This Deal Makes Sense
For Sky, this partnership was a must. With Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video all offering their content directly to consumers, HBO’s programming remained one of Sky’s last major exclusive content draws (alongside their own Sky Originals).
Losing HBO completely could have been a significant blow to their premium TV offering.
For Warner Bros. Discovery, the deal provides an immediate large customer base when Max launches – particularly important in today’s saturated streaming market.
It’s similar to how Paramount+ gained instant access to millions of Sky Cinema subscribers through their partnership.
Going Solo: The Choice Is Yours
It’s worth noting that Max won’t be exclusively available through Sky. When it launches in 2026, it will also be available as a standalone streaming service, similar to Netflix or Disney+.
This means if you’re not a Sky customer – or if you want access to the premium, ad-free version of Max (which will likely include 4K content) – you’ll be able to subscribe directly.
The Bottom Line
If you’re already a Sky customer, you’ll continue to watch HBO shows as you always have through Sky Atlantic, and come 2026, you’ll get Max’s ad-supported tier thrown in at no extra cost.
If you’re a NOW Entertainment member, you’ll also get Max included when it launches – a significant bonus that makes NOW’s offering even more compelling.
And if you’re neither? Well, you’ll have to wait until 2026 to get your hands on Max, but at least you’ll have the choice of either subscribing directly or considering a Sky/NOW subscription.
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Interesting news. My first reaction was, okay, so no need to ditch the Sky Stream just yet then. But on second thoughts, it only gives me more reason to switch to NOW!