VOD News | On 22, Mar 2026

Sky and HBO Max are teaming up in a new deal that will bring HBO Max to Sky TV customers all in one bundle.

Sky and HBO have long been partners, with Sky previously being the exclusive UK TV home to shows such as Game of Thrones, Succession and The White Lotus. With the launch of HBO Max in the UK this March, Sky has turned what could have been a big blow to its customer base into a surprising boost by bringing together the increasingly fragmented streaming subscription landscape into one bundle.

Starting from 26th March, HBO series and Warner Bros movies will continue to be available to Sky audiences, with HBO Max available to Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Ultimate TV subscriptions, while Sky Q customers will get HBO Max Basic with Ads included as part of their Sky subscription. Sky+ customers will also be able to watch HBO Max Basic with Ads content. Sky Cinema customers will continue to enjoy new Warner Bros movies such as One Battle After Another and Superman, alongside hit films from Sky, Paramount – which has a similar arrangement following the launch of Paramount+ – and NBCUniversal.  

That means Sky Atlantic will continue to air upcoming seasons of much-loved HBO shows, such as Euphoria, House of the Dragon and The White Lotus, alongside HBO Max – so anyone looking to cancel their Sky contracts in order to take out a new subscription with HBO Max directly doesn’t need to.

The deal with Warner has enabled Sky to bring together Disney+, HBO Max, Netflix and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription, folding in rival streaming titles alongside its own library of Sky Originals, all integrated into the Sky TV interface.

“Nowhere else offers this breadth of incredible entertainment in a fully integrated experience, with everything customers love watching side by side so viewers can jump from show to show with ease,” said Sophia Ahmad, Chief Consumer Officer at Sky. 
“Millions of existing customers will get easy access to this new line-up as standard at unbeatable value. We’re proud to continue Sky’s legacy of innovation, making it easier than ever for people to enjoy the very best entertainment and best experience, all in one place.” 

We break down what this means for Sky customers, including how it works and how much it costs:

Sky Ultimate TV: What’s included?

They all fall under the Sky Ultimate TV package, which costs £24 a month – the only catch being that it offers the basic package of ad-supported content. That means Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic with Ads and Hayu from July, with a selection of top shows available from March. These join Sky TV and Netflix as part of the package.

Customers can also upgrade their subscription plan if they would like to remove the adverts, with the cost of Disney+ Standard with Ads and HBO Max Basic With Ads then deducted from the cost of their higher bill. Existing Disney+ customers can also choose to move their current Standard or Premium plan to Sky, effectively saving £5.99 a month, while still keeping their profile and watch history. Sky Cinema customers also get a Disney+ Cinema channel, giving them access to even more great movies as part of their subscription. 

What does this mean for Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers?

Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Sky Ultimate TV will get Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic With Ads and Hayu content added to their pack alongside Sky TV and Netflix.

What does this mean for Sky Q customers?

Sky Q customers with Sky Signature, Sky Entertainment and other eligible packages will get Disney+ Standard with Ads, HBO Max Basic With Ads and Hayu content added to their pack alongside Sky TV. Sky Q customers with Sky Ultimate TV get all of these plus Netflix.

What does this mean for Sky+ customers?

Sky+ customers will have access to HBO Max Basic With Ads content and Hayu content alongside Sky TV.

 

HBO Max UK launches on 26th March 2026. Find out more about the launch date here.
 

 

Sky inks deal with Warner to offer free Max to customers

15th December 2024

Warner Bros Discovery is getting ready to launch its streaming service, Max, in the UK in 2026. The arrival of the platform, which was previously known as HBO Max, poses a huge threat for Sky, which has enjoyed longstanding exclusivity over HBO content. Shows such as Game of Thrones have been a bedrock of Sky’s pay-TV product.

Now, however, Sky has inked a new deal with Warner Bros Discovery to secure its own role in the Max rollout. The agreement builds on the WBD content available today on Sky Cinema and the existing franchises on Sky Atlantic. 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.  

Crucially, though, from 2026 the agreement will see an ad-supported version of Max bundled for Sky customers at no extra cost. This means that Sky customers will continue to enjoy access to WBD content, including HBO and Max Originals, and other series that will be exclusive to Max – including, for example, the forthcoming series of Harry Potter. Pay 1 movies, meanwhile, will be available on Sky Cinema.

Dana Strong, Sky Group CEO, commented: “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.”

Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe said: “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 specific financial terms haven’t been announced, but secures the appeal of Sky’s pay-TV subscription model, while likely giving Warner Bros Discovery a means of benefiting from advertising revenue for its content. The deal also sees Turner Kids content on channels including Cartoon Network, Cartoonito, and Boomerang remaining part of Sky and NOW’s offering for years to come. Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery already have a long-term carriage agreement for a wide range of WBD’s other television channels.

 

Sky and WarnerMedia expand partnership to include HBO Max co-productions

31st October 2019

Sky and WarnerMedia are expanding their partnership as Warner prepares to launch its new streaming service HBO Max.

HBO Max will launch in the USA in May 2020, bringing together all of the HBO, Turner and Warner Bros. library into one online platform. But in the UK, where Sky and HBO have enjoyed a long history of exclusivity and co-productions, it looks to be business as usual, with the duo extending their partnership for years to come, including new co-production and programming agreements.

The extension to their deals across Sky’s European markets means that Sky and NOW customers will continue to be the place to enjoy award-winning content from HBO and Warner Bros. as well as from Turner channels for many years to come.

Sky and HBO first agreed to an output deal in 2010, making Sky the home of HBO in Europe. Since then, Sky customers have enjoyed such HBO hits as Watchmen, Succession and Big Little Lies, alongside acclaimed Sky original productions such as Patrick Melrose, Babylon Berlin and Gomorrah on Sky’s flagship channel Sky Atlantic.

The new expanded deal also extends the pay TV rights for Warner Bros. first-run feature films adding to the strong relationship already in place and brings Sky customers more movies from Warner Bros. than ever before. The deal also includes richer on-demand content under the Cartoon Network and Boomerang brands.

This extension confirms Sky’s position as rights owners in Europe, and will also see Sky Studios and HBO Max collaborate on original content for viewers.

Sky and HBO’s co-production partnership paid off handsomely this year, with Chernobyl picking up 10 wins at last month’s Emmy Awards making it the most-awarded British series this year. Sky and HBO’s latest co-production, Catherine the Great starring Helen Mirren, debuted earlier this month.

Building on that relationship with HBO, Sky Studios will now also work with WarnerMedia’s HBO Max programming team to produce premium drama and scripted entertainment for Sky and HBO customers across Europe and beyond, as part of a multi-year co-production deal.

Gary Davey, CEO Sky Studios, says: “Our partnership with HBO, and now Warner Media, has never been stronger as Sky continues to thrive as Europe’s leading direct-to-consumer media and entertainment business. Customers love our Sky original productions and together, Sky Studios and HBO Max will bring them more unique stories that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution, adds: “We are thrilled to find new ways to deepen our longstanding relationship with Sky, and bring a fresh dimension to the great content we continue to bring to consumers.”

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