COLOGNE (dpa-AFX) - The US provider HBO Max has launched today, bringing yet another streaming service to Germany. Behind the platform is media giant Warner Bros. Discovery, which includes the Warner Bros. film studio, streaming service Discovery+, news networks such as CNN, channels like HBO and Eurosport, as well as the DC Comics universe. The company described the launch in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein as a "significant step in its European expansion." The United Kingdom and Ireland are set to follow in March.
The American pay-TV channel HBO (Home Box Office) is renowned for its award-winning series such as "The Sopranos," "Game of Thrones," "Succession," and "The White Lotus." At launch, subscribers can enjoy acclaimed hospital drama "The Pitt," the historical series "The Seduction" starring Diane Kruger, and Golden Globe winner "One Battle After Another." Upcoming releases include the "Game of Thrones" spin-off "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" (January 19), the gay ice hockey romance "Heated Rivalry" (February 6), and the first original German production "Banksters" (February 20).
The most affordable subscription model costs €5.99 per month, while the most expensive option is €16.99. All subscriptions can be canceled monthly. Shortly before the launch, HBO Max announced a deal with RTL+. Customers who subscribe to both streaming services as a bundle will receive a discount.
The launch of HBO Max intensifies the competition in the crowded German streaming market. Alongside Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+, as well as the media libraries of ARD, ZDF, and Arte, private German providers such as Joyn from ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL+ are also vying for viewers./tbm/DP/zb
