Foxtel’s HBO rights thrown into doubt as Warner Bros holds partnership talks
Foxtel’s HBO content rights look shaky as News Corp moves to sell the company — but it is uncertainty that any potential buyer has likely already considered.
Warner Bros Discovery has opened partnership talks with local firms ahead of next year’s launch of Max in Australia, casting further doubt on Foxtel’s exclusive rights to HBO content as News Corp moves to sell the pay TV operator.
The US entertainment conglomerate and parent of HBO — the studio behind hit shows like Game of Thrones and Succession — has been engaging in early-stage talks with local media and telecommunications firms regarding partnerships after making approaches earlier this year, according to two people familiar with the talks.
Warner Bros is also working to secure carriage agreements with streaming aggregators in the market, such as Optus’ SubHub and Telstra-controlled Fetch, one source said. These agreements would make the Max streaming app available in Australia from approximately April next year, based on current planning but subject to potential changes, local executives have been told.
Industry sources not authorised to speak publicly said that Warner Bros is likely to launch with a telecommunications firm as its marquee partner, similar to Netflix’s launch partnership with Optus in 2015. The US media company is also expected to partner with a major retailer.
