HBO Max coming to NZ

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Kyanar

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#304203 13-Apr-2023 12:14

Just saw on the Spinoff that HBO Max (now just called Max) is confirmed to be arriving in Australia and NZ in late 2024:

Confirmed: NZ is getting Max, a TV ‘super-streamer’ service | Apr 13 2023 | The Spinoff

This is definitely going to seriously hurt Sky - pretty much their only major drawcards are content from HBO/Warner Brothers Discovery and sport.

Silvrav

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#3063211 13-Apr-2023 12:38

Good, now I dont need to use a VPN anymore xD

geek3001

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#3063222 13-Apr-2023 13:02

Could Sky stitch together a deal with HBO / Warner Bros Discovery to keep the content on Sky's platform, in much the same way as TVNZ did a deal with Paramount Plus, that saw Paramount Plus as a separate streaming service fail to arrive in NZ at the last minute, with their content ending up on TVNZ linear channels and TVNZ+ streaming.

TV3 content might be impacted given they are owned by Warner Bros Discovery.

old3eyes

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#3063227 13-Apr-2023 13:21

Silvrav:

Good, now I dont need to use a VPN anymore xD

I suspect like Netflix and Amazon Video the content will be limited until all the existing licenses expire.

Regards,

Old3eyes

Kyanar

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#3063232 13-Apr-2023 13:31

geek3001:

Could Sky stitch together a deal with HBO / Warner Bros Discovery to keep the content on Sky's platform, in much the same way as TVNZ did a deal with Paramount Plus, that saw Paramount Plus as a separate streaming service fail to arrive in NZ at the last minute, with their content ending up on TVNZ linear channels and TVNZ+ streaming.

TV3 content might be impacted given they are owned by Warner Bros Discovery.

I don't think so. More likely is that WB Discovery would offer to allow Sky to "bundle" Max in with their streaming service (as they do in the US with Hulu), giving you to the option to "Log in with Sky" to Max, as well as offer it directly. Broadcast rights would be unaffected, as they're a different license entirely.

farcus

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#3063233 13-Apr-2023 13:31

hopefully this will result in the horrendous threenow service being discontinued.

old3eyes

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#3063238 13-Apr-2023 13:47

farcus:

hopefully this will result in the horrendous threenow service being discontinued.

Like all those Planet Sex ads every few minutes??

Regards,

Old3eyes

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DjShadow

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#3299851 22-Oct-2024 13:00

Sky bringing HBO Max via their platforms to NZ from 30 October

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sky-tv-heads-off-local-launch-of-hbos-direct-to-consumer-max-with-expanded-warner-bros-discovery-deal/JLZKAOARHZCK3MVMVJRCTXVKRU/

rugrat

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#3300323 23-Oct-2024 10:17

Would rather HBO max launched directly here.

Neon is a way inferior platform to what HBO direct would’ve offered.

No Dolby digital, no 4K etc.

If Neon was offering all the bells and whistles wouldn’t have a problem with it, but it doesn’t.

Sky again restricts the quality of what we can watch legally in NZ. Their shares though went up 1.1% on the news.

edited:share price from 1.8% to 1.1%, at bottom of article posted in link above post.

Handsomedan

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#3300328 23-Oct-2024 10:20

rugrat:

Would rather HBO max launched directly here.

Neon is a way inferior platform to what HBO direct would’ve offered.

No Dolby digital, no 4K etc.

If Neon was offering all the bells and whistles wouldn’t have a problem with it, but it doesn’t.

Sky again restricts the quality of what we can watch legally in NZ. Their shares though went up 1.8% on the news.

When questioned directly on socials, they are actively avoiding providing answers to the criticisms of the quality of audio/video on their platforms and the shills are talking up the quality of the new streaming boxes.

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Kyanar

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#3300337 23-Oct-2024 10:36

Handsomedan:

When questioned directly on socials, they are actively avoiding providing answers to the criticisms of the quality of audio/video on their platforms and the shills are talking up the quality of the new streaming boxes.

The marketing on those boxes is amusing. "4K-HDR Ready". They're careful not to imply you'll get 4K-HDR content, just that the box can do it.

Strange that they decided to blaze their own trail too - Foxtel in Australia and Sky in the UK licensed a device off Comcast which they launched as Hubbl and Stream respectively, has all the same capabilities as this new Sky puck, except it runs Comcast EntertainmentOS rather than Android. Though one way it's better than Sky (NZ)'s device is that the content library it surfaces through search and recommendations straddles all apps you have a subscription to, whether that be Netflix, YouTube, Binge (a Foxtel company), Paramount+, Disney+, or Kayo (sports, a Foxtel company).

Given this development, I'm half expecting Max to only launch in AU through Hubbl - though WB Discovery seems to say otherwise: https://www.gadgetguy.com.au/hbo-max-australia-foxtel-binge-2025/.

freitasm

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#3300422 23-Oct-2024 11:14

Kyanar:

This is definitely going to seriously hurt Sky - pretty much their only major drawcards are content from HBO/Warner Brothers Discovery and sport.

How things change over a year and half. Not hurting Sky, but because of Sky being a partner now, actually propping it up a bit.

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sen8or

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#3300818 24-Oct-2024 09:23

So the dinosaurs at Sky again provide a lackluster product

ANglEAUT

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#3300831 24-Oct-2024 10:12

rugrat: ... No Dolby digital, no 4K etc. ...

sen8or:So the dinosaurs at Sky again provide a lacklustre product

For the 1st time I was considering signing up with Sky. Thx to GZ, that won't be happening.

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

sen8or

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#3300884 24-Oct-2024 10:41

I wonder if HBO max in Australia will have much protection in place to stop exporting of their product

Kyanar

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#3301885 26-Oct-2024 21:25

No more or less than any other service. The hardest part will probably be giving it payment details