Sky has solidified its position in the UK and Ireland entertainment market by extending its existing agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery until 2026. This expanded partnership ensures that Sky customers will continue enjoying a wide array of popular shows. Existing franchises and future series will remain on Sky Atlantic, with pay movies airing on Sky Cinema. This includes highly anticipated series such as House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, and any new series debuting before the end of 2025, accessible through Sky Atlantic and Sky’s On Demand service.
A significant component of this renewed deal is the introduction of the Max streaming service to Sky customers beginning in early 2026. The ad-supported version will be offered at no extra cost in the UK and Ireland, mirroring the current arrangement with Discovery+. This service incorporates HBO content, further enriching the entertainment options for Sky subscribers.
“This new partnership provides an expanded range of content for our customers to enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling through Max,” said Sky Group CEO Dana Strong. “The combination of content from our partners, alongside our slate of Sky Originals, and Sky’s leading aggregation of the UK and Ireland’s best content apps gives us an unrivalled entertainment proposition and an exceptional line-up of the world’s best shows.”
Furthermore, NOW UK and Ireland Entertainment members will also gain bundled access to the ad-supported Max, seamlessly integrating into the NOW experience. This broadens the reach of Max to a substantial audience.
“Our new agreement will continue Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-standing collaboration with Sky and deepen our relationship across distribution and now the bundling of Max,” said Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe. “This will enable Max immediately at launch to be available to millions of passionate video subscribers, and separately be available to the more than 20 million other broadband households in the territories through Max direct to consumer and other partnerships.”
This announcement comes on the heels of Sky securing long-term renewals for major sports rights, extending to near the end of the decade. This includes prominent leagues like the Premier League, EFL, women's football, and numerous other sporting events, strengthening Sky’s overall programming.