Australia’s video streaming market is about to get a little more crowded, with Warner Bros Discovery confirming its streaming service Max – previously known as HBO Max – will launch down under on Monday, 31 March.

The Australian version of Max will feature films and television shows from Warner Bros brands such as HBO, DC Comics, Discovery, and Cartoon Network.

While subscription prices would be announced “in the weeks prior to launch”, Warner Bros Discovery said on Wednesday, the entertainment giant confirmed there would be “a range of subscription tiers, including premium, standard and an ad-supported tier”.

In the United States, Max costs around $16 ($US9.99) per month with ads, or almost $27 ($US16.99) per month for its standard ad-free subscription.

Australians would be able to use Max on devices such as mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, and connected TVs, the company said.

JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games at Warner Bros Discovery, said executives had been clear that the globalisation of Max was “a top priority”.

“Australia represents one of our biggest new markets and a significant opportunity to delight even more fans with the incredible stories told by our iconic brands,” he said.

What does Max’s launch mean for Foxtel’s Binge?

Max’s expansion into Australia was confirmed by Warner Bros Discovery in September 2024.

The impending launch raised questions over what it would mean for Australian streaming service Binge, which is owned by Foxtel Group and held a multi-year rights deal as the “home” of Warner Bros Discovery content in Australia, including HBO series such as House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, Succession, and The White Lotus.

While Foxtel Group would not comment on what Max’s Australian launch meant for Binge, Information Age understands Warner Bros Discovery content will no longer be available on Binge after Max’s local launch.

HBO and Max titles which have already premiered on Binge are expected to complete their season runs, such as season three of The White Lotus which began on 17 February.


Warner Bros Discovery content will no longer be available on Binge after Max’s local launch. Image: Binge / Supplied

Complicating things further is the fact Foxtel’s 1.4 million residential subscribers will be able to use Max for free at launch, while Binge will remain a paid service without Warner Bros Discovery content.

Hilary Perchard, chief executive of Foxtel Retail and Hubbl, said Foxtel Group’s partnership with Warner Bros Discovery had evolved into “a unique model that enables mutual growth”.

Foxtel Group is currently in the process of being acquired by sports streaming service DAZN in a deal worth $3.4 billion, following an agreement between its major shareholders News Corp and Telstra.

Streamers raising prices and stopping password sharing

In an already crowded market, the launch of Max in Australia comes after major streaming services Netflix and Disney+ recently raised prices or retired cheaper plans for local users while continuing their crackdowns on password sharing.

Netflix began phasing out its $12.99 ad-free ‘Basic’ plan in Australia earlier this month, with some users automatically moved to a cheaper plan with ads while others were moved to a more expensive ad-free subscription.

Disney+ also announced price increases of around 15 per cent for its Australian customers last week, as the entertainment conglomerate prepared to add ESPN sports coverage to its streaming service later this year.

The pricing changes came after Disney+ began preventing Australians from sharing their accounts in late 2024, following a similar move by Netflix in 2023.

Netflix remained the most popular subscription streaming service in Australia in 2024, with 6.2 million subscriptions at the end of June, followed by Amazon Prime Video (4.8 million), Disney+ (3.1 million), Stan (2.6 million), Paramount+ (1.8 million), Kayo Sports (1.6 million), and Binge (1.6 million), according to analyst firm Telsyte.