Max Comes to Sky TV This Month
October 22, 2024 
5 Comments
Christmas comes early for Sky TV customers: they will be able to access Max for no extra charge when the service launches across Sky’s platforms on October 30.
While I chase more details, here’s the media release:
Warner Bros. Discovery and Sky Expand Partnership in New Zealand
Max arrives exclusively on Sky New Zealand bringing expansive content collection to Sky Entertainment and Neon customers from 30 October 2024
Auckland – 22 October 2024: Sky New Zealand and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) today announced a partnership expansion that confirms Sky as the home of Max in New Zealand.
The Max hub on Sky and Neon will offer an unrivalled collection of groundbreaking series, Hollywood blockbuster movies, and family favourites, as well as a deep library of quality programming across lifestyle, reality and documentaries.
Sky Entertainment and Neon subscribers will enjoy exclusive access to Max and HBO Originals in New Zealand, including the highly anticipated Dune: Prophecy, as well as new seasons of The Last of Us, The White Lotus and Euphoria.
In addition, Max on Sky and Neon will offer WBD’s classic franchises such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Rick and Morty, while also featuring a deep library from renowned brands including the DC universe, Warner Bros., Discovery, TLC, Animal Planet, Cartoon Network and Harry Potter.
For Sky Entertainment customers who prefer to enjoy content via linear viewing, Sky’s SoHo channel, which has been the home of HBO’s content on Sky for many years, will be rebranded HBO, exclusively showing HBO Original content.
Sophie Moloney, Sky Chief Executive said: “We have a long-standing partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, so I’m thrilled to be working together to bring New Zealanders exclusive access to Max, a brand that has become synonymous with great entertainment.
“Sky continues to be the home of premium content and brands that our valued customers can enjoy across our variety of platforms, with our entertainment offering going from strength to strength.”
Michael Brooks, GM, ANZ, WBD said: “The arrival of Max on Sky builds on the success of our multi-year partnership to bring New Zealanders world-class content from WBD’s iconic brands and franchises.
“In New Zealand, we are the only company operating across free-to-air, pay TV, FAST, AVOD and linear livestreaming.
“This new, expanded partnership marks our arrival into the SVOD environment through Sky’s multi-platform offering, and with it, the completion of our total video proposition.”
The new Max hub and dedicated HBO linear channel will be made available on the new Sky Box, Sky Pod and Sky Go from 30 October 2024, with the Max hub also available on Neon.
Sky Entertainment and Neon customers will automatically have access to this content, which will be accessible through the Max hub, as well as other areas like the Home Page.
Wow that is huge for Sky who really seem on top of things at the moment with 4K coming next year as well. Just so exciting. — Bruce Ward.
Another blow for ThreeNow.– Clint.
It seems that Sky has won the streaming war (first BBC First and now Max) vs TVNZ. I received a questionnaire the other day from TVNZ about monetising TVNZ+ (I think they’ve got Peacock) and that has become null and void noww, as Sky will have the buying power to outbid them on premium quality content, due to the potential increase in subscribers on Neon. — Darren.
If SoHo becomes exclusively HBO content only, where would a Sky NZ original such as Dark City: The Cleaner now show or imports from FX or other channels? — Jon H.
Sky says they will resurface on other channels or services, like Vibe, Sky 5 and Neon.