Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed that HBO Max will debut in several European countries previously covered by its long‑standing content deal with Sky.
The streaming platform, which features programming from HBO, Warner Bros, the Harry Potter and DC universes, plus Cartoon Network and live sports, will go live in Austria, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland on 13 January 2026.
That leaves the UK and Ireland as the last countries affected by the Sky deal to get a confirmed date.
HBO Max’s full rollout in Europe had been delayed due to Sky’s exclusive rights, which positioned the pay‑TV operator as the “home of HBO” in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Italy. As a result, the service first launched in markets outside of Sky’s footprint, including France, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and across the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Winter Olympics key to launch timetable
In October, Warner Bros Discovery issued a press release that all but confirmed in the footnotes that HBO Max would be available in time for the Winter Olympics in Germany, Italy and Switzerland. At the same time, the release suggested UK and Irish viewers would continue to stream full Winter Olympic coverage via Discovery+ only.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, hosted in Italy, run from 6–22 February.
A UK and Ireland HBO Max launch remains scheduled for 2026, but no date has been confirmed.
Subject to any surprise announcement to the contrary, that leaves both countries last in line to get HBO Max. The UK and Ireland version of HBO Max will also become the streaming home of TNT Sports.
Short-lived streaming service?
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is currently in the midst of an auction process, with Comcast, Netflix and Paramount Skydance all submitting a fresh round of bids last Monday to acquire all or part of the company.
Any takeover could have significant implications for WBD’s streaming strategy. Industry observers note that HBO Max may be merged with another platform if one of the rival bidders succeeds.
Plans for HBO Max have already shifted since WBD’s formation in 2022. The platform was initially intended to serve as the company’s consolidated hub, bringing together content from its various inherited brands. But before takeover interest emerged, WBD had outlined a different restructuring plan. By mid‑2026, the company was due to split into two separate entities—Warner Bros and Discovery Global. Under that model, Discovery+ would continue under Discovery Global, while HBO Max would remain under Warner Bros.
The ongoing auction now casts uncertainty over the longer-term future for HBO Max and other WBD brands.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: WBD