Long-awaited streaming service to launch on 26 March in the UK, but with major repercussions for Sky and Discovery+ users. RXTV has been reading the small print you need to know about.
10 key questions answered about HBO Max’s UK launch
What current Discovery+ users need to know
Impact on Sky viewers
Warner Bros Discovery’s new streaming service will finally go live here within weeks. Ahead of a planned split of Warner Bros and Discovery Global later this year, HBO Max will take TNT Sports, while a slimmed-down Discovery+ continues as the streaming home of Discovery’s linear channels.
But Sky viewers will only receive the most basic version of HBO Max as part of their subscription package. As confirmed in 2024, Sky will bundle HBO Max basic to allow its viewers to continue accessing many of the shows previously at home on Sky’s own channels. However, the basic version will exclude the option to access streaming premieres of Warner Bros movies – HBO Max will debut new movies straight after they’ve been in the cinema. Sky viewers will need to upgrade (and pay) to access the full HBO Max entertainment and movies offer.
TNT Sports will migrate across from Discovery+ to HBO Max on 26 March and can use their existing Discovery+ login credentials.
What’s on HBO Max?
At launch, the complete first season of 2025 Emmy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award Winning Max Original The Pitt will be available to stream for the first time in the UK and Ireland.
HBO Max will be the home of brand-new HBO Original series, including Lanterns, based on the iconic DC title “Green Lantern” which premieres summer 2026, and the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.
New HBO Original Series including DTF St. Louis, Rooster and the third and final season of The Comeback will debut on the service.
As Sky begins to lose the rights to show HBO shows on its own branded channels, from 26 March, HBO Max will be the only place subscribers in the UK and Ireland can catch up on all seasons of the blockbuster HBO Original Euphoria, before the arrival of its highly anticipated third season in April.
Sky will continue to show a selection of HBO shows on its linear TV service, including older shows.
In addition, an extensive range of the HBO and Warner Bros. Television libraries – from Succession to Friends, The Sopranos to Game of Thrones and more, will be available in full, exclusively on HBO Max.
The full range of sports covered by TNT Sports, including Premier League, FA Cup, Gallagher Prem Rugby, Roland-Garros tennis, the World Snooker Tour and the Olympics will migrate to HBO Max. Same service, new app.
How much will HBO Max cost?
There will be four different subscription tiers covering entertainment. Each subscription tier will include HBO Max’s content library of entertainment and movies. Standard and Premium tiers will also include movies that stream first on the service after being in the cinema.
Sky TV subscribers will gain access to the most basic tier as part of their Sky TV subscription, but can upgrade for a fee.
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| Basic with Ads | Standard with Ads | Standard | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4.99 | £5.99 | £9.99 | £14.99 |
| First stream movies | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Downloads | 0 | 30 | 30 | 100 |
| Picture quality | HD | HD | HD | 4K UHD |
| Sound quality | Dolby Atmos | |||
| Available on Prime Video | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
In addition to the above, TNT Sports is available for £30.99 a month.
You can either add TNT Sports to one of the above standard or premium HBO Max subscriptions. It is not possible to purchase TNT Sports alongside Basic.
Can I just subscribe to TNT Sports only?
Yes.
TNT Sports will be available as a standalone subscription option for £30.99 a month.
If you’re wanting to access TNT Sports through Prime Video, you will be able to so without going via HBO Max.
Does HBO Max offer parental controls?
Yes. Families can set up child-friendly profiles with age-appropriate content and parental controls.
Will the HBO Max ad-free subscription tiers really be ad-free?
No. You’ll still see cross-promotional adverts. All sports and all channels will include adverts.
How can I watch HBO Max?
All major streaming devices will have access to the HBO Max app.
This includes most smart TVs, set-top-boxes, streaming sticks, mobiles, game consoles and platforms including:
- Android,
- EE / BT TV,
- Fire TV,
- iOS,
- LG,
- PlayStation,
- Roku,
- Samsung,
- Virgin TV
- Xbox.
HBO Max will open up for pre-registration on the Apple App Store and Google Play on 12 March.
How can I watch HBO Max on NOW?
The basic version of HBO Max (without access to movie premieres available after being shown in cinemas) will be included in a standard NOW Entertainment Membership.
I subscribe to Discovery+ for TNT Sports. How does the launch of HBO Max affect me?
TNT Sports moves to HBO Max on 26 March.
If you access Discovery+ with TNT Sports as part of a subscription you hold with Sky or EE, then your access transfers to HBO Max.
If your Discovery+ subscription is independent of Sky or EE, then you’ll be able to log in to HBO Max using your current Discovery+ credentials.
Is Discovery+ closing?
Short answer: No
Longer answer: HBO Max, or just ‘Max’ as it was once known, was originally due to become the single WBD streaming app. WBD closed various other streaming apps that it had inherited from prior to the company’s creation.
Now though, WBD is planning to spin off its linear channel business, to be called Discovery Global. That’s unless Paramount succeeds in its takeover bid for the company – it wants WBD to stay together.
Discovery+ will be the streaming service of this new spun-off business, meaning it will continue to be the streaming home of the Discovery channel and other brands including TLC, Quest, Quest Red, Food Network and DMAX.
Everything else is moved to HBO Max at its launch.
With this in mind, that’s why the company recently boosted its UK linear TV business by revamping TLC to be a general entertainment channel and investing in new original shows. Otherwise, Discovery+ wouldn’t have much to offer.
Will HBO Max be around for long?
It might seem weird to focus on the closure of a service that’s just launching.
However, HBO’s parent company Warner Bros Discovery is subject to a takeover battle. Netflix and Paramount are bidding to takeover. If Netflix wins, it’s likely HBO Max will be absorbed into Netflix. If Paramount wins, expect HBO Max and Paramount+ to combine.
However, any takeover will take months to complete. Consequently, it’s unlikely there will be any change to HBO Max in its first 12 months in the UK and Ireland.
Image: WBD