Sky TV to lose HBO Max content, as Warner Bros chooses to sell shows direct
Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Warner Bros Discovery will launch its own pay-TV offering in New Zealand, with the licensing deal that allows HBO Max programmes to be shown on Sky TV coming to an end in June.
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) said its new service would offer “HBO’s award‑winning series, Warner Bros blockbuster films, iconic franchises, premium ‘can’t miss’ dramas, and a broad range of factual and lifestyle content”.
The move follows the trend for the studio to sell its programming direct in most major markets, including the UK, Australia and Germany.
Pricing has not been announced but, in Australia, WBD has subscription tiers for its Max streaming service priced between A$11.99 (NZ$14.10) and A$21.99 a month.
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Sky has indicated it won’t lower the price of its streaming service, Neon, which is priced from $14.99 a month, to reflect the loss of HBO Max shows.
“Neon has an awesome line-up of content from a broad range of studio partners — including our recently announced deal with Paramount — and our pricing reflects that,” a spokesperson said.
Sky said in a statement it had decided not to try to negotiate a “co-exclusive” agreement that would have allowed it to continue to show HBO Max programming alongside WBD’s own offering.
Chief executive Sophie Moloney said it had taken steps to prepare for the loss of HBO Max, including by expanding its licensing deal with rival US studio Paramount.
That deal, announced last month, has given Sky access to Paramount’s newly released “premium” shows, including spin-offs of modern Western drama Yellowstone, which Sky described as a standout for its subscribers last year.
The HBO Max shows available in New Zealand through Sky’s Neon streaming service include The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, Succession and Euphoria.
Sky TV notified the NZX of the development shortly before the market opened at 10am.
Its shares were little traded on Tuesday morning but appeared poised to fall 2% or 3% based on unfulfilled “buy” and “sell” offers on the market at lunchtime.
Sky said the agreements with WBD that allowed it to broadcast Discovery Turbo, TLC, ID, Animal Planet and CNN International channels on Sky would continue.