HBO Max is set to begin its European journey in just over a month, ready to take on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
The streaming service is set to launch in six countries in Europe on Oct. 26, Variety reports. The first to see HBO Max rolled out will be Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Andorra, and Finland.
Then, in 2022, another 14 countries will be added: Bulgaria, Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Serbia, North Macedonia, Hungary, and Moldova. Variety noted that HBO Max has no plans to launch in the UK or Germany at this point — if you’re in the UK, Now TV or Sky is your best bet for HBO content, thanks to licensing deals with WarnerMedia.
Prices haven’t been announced yet, as they’ll reportedly be revealed in an October launch, but we’re thinking they might include the recently added cheaper ad-supported subscription at some point.
As Variety reports, HBO Max’s range of TV shows and movies available in Europe will likely come from the platform’s staples: DC, Warner Bros., HBO, Max Originals, and Cartoon Network, along with Adult Swim and Turner Classics. Notably, the publisher reported that the Europe strategy won’t include theatrical releases hitting the streaming service on the same day, as seen in the U.S.
Competitors Netflix and Amazon Prime are dominating the streaming market in Europe, with Disney+, BritBox, and Salto also big players, so HBO Max will have some catching up to do (even though it’s been making originals and streaming VOD through HBO Europe for years).
