SKY UK & IRELAND AND WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY ANNOUNCE NEW DISTRIBUTION AND BUNDLE AGREEMENT Warner Bros.
Sky announces an expanded partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery in the UK and Ireland
Existing agreement extended until early 2026 until Max, Warner Bros. Discovery's premium streaming service, launches in the UK and Ireland
After Max launch, new deal means Sky and NOW customers benefit from more content at no extra cost through bundled access to the streaming service that will exclusively feature new HBO Original and Max Original shows and more
Existing franchises and their future series will continue on Sky Atlantic for Sky customers, with pay 1 movies to be shown on Sky Cinema
09 December 2024 - London, UK - Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) today announced an expanded long-term partnership in the UK and Ireland, broadening their collaboration to bring the very best of Warner Bros. Discovery television and movies to Sky and NOW customers in the UK and Ireland.
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.
Together with Max, this agreement ensures Sky customers will enjoy an even broader range of WBD content, including HBO and Max Originals, and other series that will be exclusive to Max, including forthcoming series of Harry Potter. This content will be available alongside Sky's unrivalled lineup of Sky Originals, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Netflix, Universal, Sony, Paramount and much more.
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.
This agreement follows news that 2024 was the best performing year for Sky Originals drama, including the recording-breaking The Day of the Jackal, Sweetpea and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
Sky has recently secured long-term renewals of most major sports rights to near the end of the decade, and Sky customers can also now enjoy an unrivalled range and volume of sport, thanks to recent rights renewals. 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.
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.
Strong added: 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.
Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe said: Today's announcement is hugely exciting for everyone who loves award-winning scripted entertainment and movies. 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.
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