WBD, Canal+ agree ‘major milestone’ taking HBO Max into two new Euro countries

HBO’s dystopian drama The Last of Us

Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has secured a multi-year, multi-territory agreement with France’s Canal+ that will bring streamer HBO Max to two new European territories.

The partnership, which the companies describe as “a major milestone” in their collaboration, covers both the distribution of HBO Max and the renewal of several WBD thematic channels across Africa and Europe.

It builds on existing agreements concluded in France in 2024, including the renewal of the exclusive pay TV window for Warner Bros Pictures films six months after their theatrical release in France and the integration of HBO Max within select Canal+ group offers.

Notably, the new multi-year deal will see the expansion of HBO Max via Canal+ to two new territories: Belgium and Austria.

As previously reported by C21, HBO Max will be rolled out in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein on January 13, with the UK expected to follow later in the year.

The WBD/Canal+ partnership will also see several strategic renewals and expansions, including renewals for Cartoon Network, Cartoonito and CNN International in Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia; Warner TV in the Czech Republic; and HBO Max, HBO and Cinemax in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.

It also includes the renewal of the distribution of 12 WBD thematic channels across MultiChoice Group territories, enabling Canal+ to strengthen its entertainment, kids, news and factual channel offerings in African markets. CNN International and Cartoon Networks will be available exclusively in South Africa, while Cartoon Network Porto will be exclusive in Angola and Mozambique.

Non-exclusive networks for the region include Cartoonito, Cartoonito Porto, Discovery Channel, Discovery Family, Real Time, ID, TLC, HGTV, Travel, TNT Africa and Food Network.

Outside of local offerings, HBO will also carry US fare such as IT: Welcome to Derry, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Euphoria, Industry, The Seduction and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, as well as other titles from HBO, Warner Bros Pictures, Warner Bros Television, the DC Universe, New Line Cinema and Max Originals.