Why isnt HBO global like Netflix?

[ma5cmpb]

Since HBO has been around a lot longer then Netlfix, why arent they available globally like Netflix is?

I was always curious about this.

[Fiffy]

HBO was traditionally a cable TV service only, not a streaming service like Netflix. Their first independent streaming service (HBO Now) was launched in 2015. Netflix's streaming service is actually much older.

Warner has said that HBO Max will come to Europe and Latin America by end of 2021. These things take time, and international licensing is very complex. Netflix was US-only too initially (it took them 5 years after their streaming service launched in 2007 until they expanded to the first European country).

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

I think they are gearing up to become more global by producing their own shows or purchasing the rights to shows from other countries.

[TrentW1982]

I know in Australia, one cable & streaming company has the exclusive rights to all HBO stuff (Murdoch's Foxtel) so those kind of licensing agreements would be a part of the reason HBO can't just launch their own service here, at least for now until that deal expires.

[Lee A Stewart]

HBO is global. Available in 50 countries. HBO Max is only available in the US currently but will be taken internationally sometime next year.

[BluBonnet]

Yes it is global. According to Wiki,

In countries where an HBO-branded network does not exist in its own right, the network's programming is licensed instead to domestic pay television services or through a basic cable channel; several of these are permitted to refer to themselves as the "Home of HBO", such as with Sky Atlantic and Now TV in parts of Europe, Fox Showcase and Binge in Australia, and OCS in France.

[EvaDK]

Yes, HBO is present in many territories. It's called HBO Nordic in Scandinavia.

As an example, Twin Peaks The Return was released on their streaming channel here in 2017, we don't have Showtime who produced the show.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by JeffTheMovieGuy

I think they are gearing up to become more global by producing their own shows or purchasing the rights to shows from other countries.

They’re going to have to. Otherwise, their service these days is basically useless. Yeah, back in the 80s or whenever, HBO and Cinemax were cool to have. You could catch movies that they ran on their networks. It made sense. Now though? Other than GOT or a major show, no one is using HBO as a "home box office" anymore, are they? I’d imagine not.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

They’re going to have to. Otherwise, their service these days is basically useless. Yeah, back in the 80s or whenever, HBO and Cinemax were cool to have. You could catch movies that they ran on their networks. It made sense. Now though? Other than GOT or a major show, no one is using HBO as a "home box office" anymore, are they? I’d imagine not.

It'll be interesting to see the Sunday Night HBO programming once they start producing Telemundo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJa-...art%2Fresearch

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

HBO was traditionally a cable TV service only, not a streaming service like Netflix. Their first independent streaming service (HBO Now) was launched in 2015. Netflix's streaming service is actually much older.

Warner has said that HBO Max will come to Europe and Latin America by end of 2021. These things take time, and international licensing is very complex. Netflix was US-only too initially (it took them 5 years after their streaming service launched in 2007 until they expanded to the first European country).

Excuse you, it's not, TV it's HBO!

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by ma5cmpb

Since HBO has been around a lot longer then Netlfix, why arent they available globally like Netflix is?

I was always curious about this.

They sold too much of their rights to dinosaurs elsewhere. Eg, cable companies. In a time I guess streaming didn't exist so they can't be bothered legally fighting to get those rights in all of these other countries.

Legacy cable and broadcast rights in Australia have made some stuff just impossible to get. I still haven't seen the last season of Without a Trace. They didn't bother showing it, can't buy on iTunes, no Blu ray, not on streaming.

Even prime is affected to some degree, like Bosch. We have to wait an extra year for them.