Foxtel remains exclusive home of HBO in Oz

Friends

Australian pay-TV network Foxtel has expanded its standing deal with WarnerMedia, retaining exclusive rights to broadcast HBO content – including upcoming HBO Max original series – on its platforms.

The HBO Max streaming service is due to launch in the US later this month and will be home to original content including the Gossip Girl reboot and Ridley Scott’s new sci-fi series Raised By Wolves, as well as the long-awaited Friends reunion.

While the service is not launching in Australia, viewers will be able to access its content via Foxtel, which is 65% owned by News Corp and 35% owned by phone company Telstra.

The agreement covers content from WarnerMedia’s Warner Bros. HBO and WarnerMedia networks and allows Foxtel to play the content on its broadcast and on-demand platforms. It also includes a new deal to co-produce original local content in Australia.

The deal also continues existing agreements for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, along with expanded SVOD rights.

Foxtel Group Chief Executive Officer Patrick Delany said: “We are pleased that after working together for almost 25 years we can announce an expansion of our relationship, not only with Warner Bros. and HBO, but with the extended WarnerMedia family.”