Sky UK has expanded its deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to retain the rights of some HBO series on Sky Atlantic, and to integrate WBD’s MAX streaming service into the Sky & NOW ecosystem when it launches in the UK in early 2026.
Building on the award-winning WBD content available today on Sky Cinema and the existing franchises on Sky Atlantic, the new agreement will now include the ad-supported version of Max, WBD’s premium streaming service bundled for Sky customers at no extra cost, when it launches in the UK and Ireland in early 2026. Sky customers will continue to find shows such as ‘House of the Dragon‘, ‘The White Lotus‘, and ‘The Last of Us‘, and any new series aired before the end of 2025, on Sky Atlantic and through Sky’s On Demand service.
So, to put it simply, any HBO shows which are currently airing on Sky Atlantic should continue to air on Sky Atlantic in the UK after the MAX streaming service launches in early 2026. Any new WBD shows, such as the forthcoming ‘Harry Potter‘ series, will be exclusive to the MAX streaming service, BUT the ad-supported version of that service will be bundled for Sky customers in the UK at no extra cost anyway, so Sky customers will still have access to it.
In addition, NOW UK and Ireland Entertainment members will also receive bundled access to the ad-supported version of Max, seamlessly integrated into the NOW experience alongside other premium content.
Sky has recently secured long-term renewals of most major sports rights to near the end of the decade. This offers Sky Sports customers an expanded lineup of sport including, the Premier League, EFL, women’s football, Formula 1, cricket, golf, rugby league, tennis, and more. With Sky Sports+ introduced earlier this year, customers receive 50% more sport at no extra cost.
“This deal builds on our remarkable achievements this year,” said Dana Strong, Sky Group CEO. “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.”
Strong continues: “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.”
For those of you without Sky or NOW, it does sound like this is a non-exclusive deal, much like the deal Sky did with Paramount to bundle Paramount+ with Sky Cinema. So you should still be able to sign up to the MAX streaming service on its own when it launches, without going through Sky.
The new deal is good news for fans of WBD’s content, as it had been unclear exactly what would happen when the current Sky/WBD deal finished at the end of 2025. This confirms that Sky will retain access to that content, either directly on Sky Atlantic/NOW or via WBD’s MAX app, although the exact length of the deal has not been disclosed.
“Today’s announcement is hugely exciting for everyone who loves award-winning scripted entertainment and movies,” said Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe. “Arriving in early 2026, the market-wide launch of Max in the UK & 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. 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 deal also sees Turner Kids content on channels including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Boomerang remaining part of Sky and NOW’s comprehensive offering for years to come. Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery already enjoy a long-term carriage agreement for a wide range of WBD’s other television channels.
3 comments
Unfortunately it will probably mean no HDR or Dolby Atmos on these 2026 titles as Sky Subscribers have been used to (if paying the premium) so ultimately a lesser service. Would be nice if, like Paramount + and Discovery, the user credentials could be used in the native HBO app that will be made available on TVs. The Sky box apps are very slow and unresponsive.
isn’t clear if there will be upgrade option for that on Sky e.g £8 or will have subscribe direct to Max e.g £12.99 Max on Prime Video channels where it’s launched does not offer the Premium Tier, YouTube Primetime Channels in the US only offers Max Standard tier aswell.
Discovery+ will stop taking new subscriptions when Max launches though and it’s likely within 6-12 months , existing subscriptions will be cancelled and Discovery+ will be shut down with account information transferred to Max.
Loads of questions sprouting up immediately:
Hopefully further reassurance will be provided closer to launch, but it seems a bit of a mess.
Login to Geektown