Will There be HBO Max Deals?

Can Kiwis expect discounted HBO Max deals when “the most widely bundled streaming service globally” launches here in June?

World Screen reports HBO Max has an unrivalled 60 distribution partnerships in 20 major markets. “HBO Max also leads the streamers in the scale of its partnerships, with 303 packages available with various partners.”

That’s according to research by Ampere Analysis:

As competition between platforms intensifies, partnerships with telcos, pay-TV providers and other streamers are becoming an increasingly important tool for expanding reach in saturated markets. For streaming platforms, these partnerships provide an important way to reach new audiences while reducing subscriber acquisition costs as well as aiding retention.

Despite losing HBO Max exclusivity in the UK, where the direct-to-consumer service goes live this week, Sky UK is bundling the streamer with Disney+, Netflix and Hayu into a single subscription from £24 a month (Australia’s Foxtel offers a similar option).

It’s not known if HBO Max will be partnering with any platforms in NZ but it’s clear Sky TV won’t be among them.

“HBO Max content will not be available on Sky from mid-June 2026,” a Sky spokeswoman confirms (although Warner Bros. Discovery channels like CNN and Discovery will continue on the platform as will the licensing of WBD movies).

Instead, as stated in its Interim Report, Sky’s opted to “radically refresh our entertainment slate, as evidenced by an expanded partnership with Paramount” and the “disciplined decision” not to renew HBO Max content:

Our relationships with a long list of leading studios provide a strong pipeline of premium global content with broader appeal, while greater flexibility in new content rights agreements will allow us to respond more quickly to changing content trends.

It describes this strategy as enabling “increased access to premium mainstream content (from premium niche)” — meaning HBO Max.

But early HBO Max subscribers should still be able to save on introductory plans regardless of bundling packages.

Essentially, there are four HBO Max plans:

• Basic with Ads: Two devices, Full HD. Includes HBO shows and Warner Bros. back catalogue films, but not the newest theatrical releases.
• Standard with Ads: Two devices, Full HD, 30 downloads plus newest theatrical releases.
• Standard: As above but ad-free.
• Premium: Four devices, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos, 100 downloads, ad-free.

When the service launched across the Tasman, the basic-with-ads plan was offered (in Australian dollars) for $7.99 a month for the first 12 months or $79.99 for the first year (vs $11.99 a month/$119.99 a year thereafter).

The standard plan special was $11.99 a month for the first 12 months or $119.99 for the first year (vs $15.99 a month/$159.99 a year thereafter).

Premium was $17.99 a month for the first 12 months or $179.99 for the first year (vs $21.99 a month/$219.99 annually thereafter).

And in the UK and Ireland, the streamer is offering “Saver Plans” for subscribers who want TNT Sports with their packages (as outlined here).

TNT Sports won’t be part of the HBO Max plans in NZ but expect sport to be offered as an HBO Max add-on, as happens in Australia.

Meanwhile, Sky UK has “slashed” the prices of its plans ahead of HBO Max’s launch and locally Sky already is offering discounts to new customers.