Skip to main content

HBO Max expands its service to 15 more countries

If you’ve been waiting for HBO Max to come to your region, this may be your lucky week. On Tuesday, WarnerMedia announced it extended its premium streaming platform to 15 additional European countries. This latest move continues WarnerMedia’s global HBO Max initiative and marks the second wave of their European rollout.

The 15 countries where HBO Max is now available include: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

HBO Max Logo on a TV.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Launched in May 2020, the service was first made available to the United States. In June 2021, it expanded to 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. By October 2021, HBO Max arrived in Europe, appearing in the Nordics, Spain, and Andorra. With these 15 new countries added to the list, HBO Max is now available in 61 territories.

Recommended Videos

“In under 24 months, we have built a scalable streaming business present in 61 territories and counting. International is going to continue to be an important part of our global growth story going forward,” Johannes Larcher, Head of HBO Max International, said in a press release. “I am particularly proud that our presence in Central and Eastern Europe is further strengthened by today’s launch of HBO Max, and that we are doubling down on our strong commitment to fans, partners, and employees across the region during this challenging time.”

The debut of HBO Max in Central and Eastern Europe and Portugal comes with a promotion that will save viewers over 30% on their monthly membership fee for the duration of their subscription. In the Netherlands, HBO Max will launch with a standard tier and basic tier, both 50% off. The standard tier offers HD 1080p, 4K, three concurrent streams, and 30 downloads for 4 euros. While the basic tier offers HD 720p, one concurrent stream, and five downloads for 3 euros.

Unfortunately, customers in the U.K., Germany, and Italy will have to wait to get HBO Max. Currently, WarnerMedia has a lucrative exclusive content distribution agreement with British broadcaster, Sky, that’s due to expire in 2025. As long as this deal lasts, WarnerMedia has no plans to offer its streaming service in countries where Sky operates. However, WarnerMedia does plan on bringing HBO Max to Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania later this year.

Ryan McNeal
Former Digital Trends Contributor
What is Amazon Fire TV? Price, hardware, software, and more
A trio of Amazon Fire TV remote controls held in a hand in front of a television.

We all know the ways that companies name their products can be confusing, and Amazon is no exception here. Amazon Fire TV isn't a TV, or at least, it isn't only a TV. It's the Amazon ecosystem for streaming devices and Smart TVs that all run on Fire OS. Amazon's home entertainment HQ isn't just streaming sticks or the Smart TVs, it's the entire ecosystem from hardware all the way to the OS that powers everything.

Fire OS is the software that runs Amazon's Fire TV and tablets. Fire TV streaming sticks and the Cube are small streaming devices that connect to your TV, and give you access to streaming content. Amazon Smart TVs have onboard access to Fire TV, letting them access everything the streaming sticks can, without needing any accessories to do it.

Read more
iHeartRadio’s new app adds lyrics and might make your car radio obsolete
iHeartRadio's redesigned mobile app.

iHeartRadio has launched a redesign of its mobile app -- the first major overhaul since it debuted in 2011 -- and it might make you ditch your car's radio controls. That's because the new interface takes its inspiration directly from the most popular car radio features, including station presets, a scan button, and even a live radio "dial." It also includes a lyrics display for live radio -- a first for digital radio apps, according to iHeartRadio.

The company says that the redesign's initial rollout began December 12 and will be available to all listeners on Android and iOS by December 17.

Read more
Happy Holidays: You’re going to pay more for Sling TV in December
Sling TV app icon on Apple TV.

Just in time for the holidays, Sling TV has announced that it will be increasing its prices by $6 per month, starting on December 20, 2024. The new pricing affects Sling Orange, Sling Blue, and Sling Orange and Blue packages. Sling's last countrywide price increase was in 2022, however, it increased its prices again for select markets in March 2023.

This latest price hike, which Sling TV attributes to the ever-rising cost of programming, brings the cost of Sling Orange to $46 per month, Sling Blue to $51 per month, and Sling Orange and Blue to $66 per month.

Read more