Whereas the Netflix merger remains to be underway, HBO Max lands a notable streaming enlargement. Warner Bros., the mother or father firm of HBO, made headlines in late October 2025 when it was introduced that it was going up on the market. This was following a number of years of rumors that such a sale may happen.
In early December 2025, it was introduced that Netflix can be coming into an settlement to take over Warner Bros., together with their movie and tv studios, HBO, and HBO Max. This landmark determination has rocked the information, resulting in discussions about HBO’s future and the indelible affect that this sale may depart on the trade.
Regardless of all of the Netflix drama, HBO Max has simply made a notable streaming enlargement. As confirmed by Deadline, HBO Max will now develop to Belgium and Austria. It will likely be obtainable by way of the French firm Canal+.
Along with increasing to those two new European territories, the deal additionally renews its settlement with Canal+ in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The settlement covers the distribution of HBO Max and the renewal of some Warner Bros. Discovery channels and a pay-TV window for Warner Bros. motion pictures.
This information comes at a notable time, given Warner Bros. present state of affairs with Netflix. The deal itself is a part of a multi-year effort by HBO to develop its international attain. Over the previous yr, HBO Max has been rolled out throughout a number of European markets and is about to go dwell within the UK.
Warner Bros. channels have additionally been renewed in territories throughout Africa as a part of this deal, by way of MultiChoice Group (which Canal+ acquired earlier this yr). CNN Worldwide and Cartoon Community, for instance, will air solely in South Africa.
The report notes that Canal+ additionally has current distribution offers in place with Netflix. That is notable as a result of, if the Netflix deal goes by way of efficiently, it will likely be them who’s answerable for managing HBO Max’s distribution partnerships, together with this one.
Even earlier than Netflix’s finalization, the transfer represents a robust stride by HBO Max to develop its worldwide attain. At the same time as Warner Bros. is put up on the market, HBO shouldn’t be backing down when it comes to asserting its dominance as a world powerhouse.
Canal+ additionally has a big worldwide attain as a distributor, so it will likely be a big power for Netflix to kind by way of ought to the deal undergo. This, in flip, serves as a urgent reminder that even when the Netflix deal passes, there will probably be an entire host of logistics to handle alongside the way in which between HBO Max‘s offers and extra.