Sky New Zealand and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced a partnership expansion that confirms Sky as the home of Max in New Zealand.
It is expected a similar announcement may not be far away involving WBD and Foxtel. There was some anticipation it may have been revealed at last week’s Foxtel Group Upfront, however the Australian deal was not quite ready to be unveiled.
To the Max: New Zealand’s deal
The Max hub on Sky and Neon will offer series, Hollywood blockbuster movies, and family favourites, as well as a library of programming across lifestyle, reality and documentaries.
Sky Entertainment and Neon subscribers will gain exclusive access to Max and HBO Originals in New Zealand, including the highly anticipated Dune: Prophecy, as well as new seasons of The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Euphoria.
In addition, Max on Sky and Neon will offer WBD’s classic franchises such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Rick and Morty, while also featuring a deep library from brands including the DC universe, Warner Bros., Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network and Harry Potter.
New Zealand to get its own HBO channel
For Sky Entertainment customers who prefer to enjoy content via linear viewing, Sky’s SoHo channel, which has been the home of HBO’s content on Sky for many years, will be rebranded HBO, exclusively showing HBO Original content.
Sophie Moloney, Sky chief executive said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, so I’m thrilled to be working together to bring New Zealanders exclusive access to Max, a brand that has become synonymous with great entertainment. Sky continues to be the home of premium content and brands that our valued customers can enjoy across our variety of platforms, with our entertainment offering going from strength to strength.”
Michael Brooks at the Foxtel 2025 Upfront
Michael Brooks, GM, ANZ, WBD said: “The arrival of Max on Sky builds on the success of our multi-year partnership to bring New Zealanders world-class content from WBD’s iconic brands and franchises. In New Zealand, we are the only company operating across free-to-air, pay TV, FAST, AVOD and linear livestreaming. This new, expanded partnership marks our arrival into the SVOD environment through Sky’s multi-platform offering, and with it, the completion of our total video proposition.”
The new Max hub and dedicated HBO linear channel will be made available on the new Sky Box, Sky Pod and Sky Go from 30 October 2024, with the Max hub also available on Neon. Sky Entertainment and Neon customers will automatically have access to this content, which will be accessible through the Max hub, as well as other areas like the Home Page.
Max Australia launch plans
While there is still no launch date for Max in Australia, a number of things look likely.
Speaking to delegates from the entertainment industry all over Asia just last month, Singapore-based James Gibbons, president APAC for Warner Bros Discovery, had some news about Max.
“We can confirm we’ll be launching our direct service in Australia in the first half of next year…that’s definitely happening. We have had a longstanding and really important relationship with Foxtel and I think the time has come for us to expand that into the DTC [direct to consumer] space.”
As Gibbons explained, Foxtel will be the Max partner in Australia. With New Zealand Max now on the runway for take-off next week, expect Max Australia to be earlier in the first half of 2025 than perhaps anticipated.
See also:
• Here comes Max: 2025 launch as Warner Bros Discovery enters local streaming wars
• Streaming wars: What will the arrival of Max mean for Foxtel and the future of Binge?