Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming app, Max, is reportedly coming to Europe on May 21, just ahead of the 2024 summer Olympics wherein the app is set to stream every live event.
The Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service is said to debut on May 21 in the Nordics, Iberia, and Central and Eastern Europe, regions where HBO Max is already accessible.
Subsequent launches are anticipated in Poland, the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. On June 17, House of the Dragon season 2 will premiere in Europe.
This indicates that the streamer, which debuted in the United States in May of last year, will now be accessible in 25 European countries and 65 total.
(Photo: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) A woman takes a selfie with the logo at Warner Bros. World, the first-ever Warner-branded indoor theme park, in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, on July 27, 2018. The park officially opened to the public on July 25 after two years of construction.
Sources indicate that the standalone streaming service will feature HBO Max, Discovery, and Eurosport content. JB Perrette, president/CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros.
Discovery stated that it will "follow closely" and occur before the Olympic Games, which begin on July 26. However, the CEO did not provide a precise launch date for France, Poland, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Max will provide a more affordable basic plan with advertising and a premium plan that enables customers to download up to 100 pieces of content and stream content in full HD or 4K on up to four devices at once. The price will be revealed later.
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Max Europe Expansion
While all 25 markets will have access to Eurosport's extensive coverage of the Olympic Games, Max will also offer a Sports Add-On that will feature major European and international sports, such as tennis tournaments like Roland-Garros, Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open; cycling events like the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and La Vuelta a España; and major winter sports events like the Tour de France Femmes, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and every major World Championship and World Cup events.
Max's European release date coincides with the June 17 launch date of the second season of the HBO original series "House of the Dragon."
Approximately four-fifths of the company's sales are made in the US, where the industry is extremely competitive, according to the Financial Times. WBD executives viewed the move as a chance to break into new markets and draw in users who don't already have a streaming service or are prepared to pay more for a rival one.
Max Password Sharing Crackdown
As for the US, Max will soon enforce stricter subscription policies and require users to maintain active accounts on the site. This aligns with Netflix's request that users who do not reside in the same home refrain from borrowing or having multiple accounts.
What actions WB Discovery and HBO would take in response to Max's password-sharing crackdown are still uncertain, particularly in light of the further allegations against profiles and potential repercussions.
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