Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery introduced a large, multiyear cross-company distribution pact — which incorporates a provision that shall we Comcast package deal Max within the U.S.
Below the pact, Comcast-owned TV operator Sky will release the ad-supported model of Max within the U.Ok. and Eire in early 2026. Comcast lately does now not have plans to package deal WBD’s Max on its U.S. platforms however it has the rights to take action down the street. In the course of the Max deal, Sky consumers within the U.Ok. and Eire will be capable to movement HBO’s Harry Potter drama collection in works at Warner Bros. Tv, in conjunction with different WBD content material.
General, the long-term agreements duvet WBD’s portfolio of content material for Comcast’s Xfinity and Sky U.Ok. and Eire consumers. Monetary phrases of the agreements weren’t disclosed. A supply conversant in the renewal stated that Comcast is paying decrease carriage charges for TNT and TBS given WBD’s lack of NBA video games within the U.S. beginning with the 2025-26 season. However any other supply disputed that, announcing the TNT and TBS associate charges Comcast is paying had been flat.
For the U.S., Comcast entered into renewal agreements duvet the legacy Turner and Scripps linear cable networks for Xfinity TV consumers, together with TNT, TBS, The Gentleman Report, Discovery, Meals Community, HGTV, TLC and Investigation Discovery. Up to now, Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery had a number of carriage offers within the States with other finish dates and the firms made up our minds to do one giant roll-up to hide all of the related WBD homes.
The pact additionally grants Comcast persisted carriage of HBO — and expands Comcast’s rights to package deal the ad-supported variations of Max and Discovery+ in its streaming bundles. Comcast additionally will proceed to provide WBD content material as a part of the operator’s lower-cost Now TV streaming products and services within the U.S.
For Sky, the Comcast-WBD settlement now incorporates a new, non-exclusive ad-supported Max app when WBD launches the provider within the U.Ok. and Eire in early 2026. The firms additionally introduced that Sky U.Ok. and Warner Bros. Discovery broadened their collaboration “to convey the perfect of Warner Bros. Discovery tv and films” to Sky U.Ok. and NOW consumers via a brand new long-term partnership within the U.Ok. and Eire.
“We prolonged our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute its networks and expanded our talent to ship its top rate streaming content material, together with Max and Discovery+, in some way that gives extra selection and versatility to all of our consumers because the video ecosystem continues to adapt,” Greg Rigdon, Comcast’s president of content material acquisition, stated in pronouncing the deal. “Thru those agreements, we can convey Warner Bros. Discovery’s intensive portfolio to our consumers then again they need to eat the content material throughout our present and long run linear tv and streaming bundles.”
“Those huge and multiyear agreements underscore the price and attraction of our linear portfolio for audiences within the U.S.,” stated Bruce Campbell, WBD’s leader income and technique officer, in a commentary. “Sky U.Ok. is a perfect spouse for us within the U.Ok. and Eire as we get ready for Max’s release in early 2026. We’re happy that Xfinity and Sky U.Ok. subscribers will proceed to revel in our award-winning and fashionable content material on our networks and throughout our streaming platforms.”
Warner Bros. Discovery sewed up the long-term maintain Comcast sooner than the tip of 2024 — a yr sooner than it was once set to run out. The pact comes 3 months after WBD signed an expansive renewal with U.S. cable large Constitution Communications (additionally a yr early). Below that deal, Constitution plans to package deal ad-supported variations of Max and Discovery+ for no further rate with Spectrum TV Choose.
