I canât read the whole article, but interesting that it mentions the shows WBD produce as part of their production arm for other broadcasters which really wouldnât have an impact on Max or the streaming quotas the Government is looking to introduce.
My knowledge is a little sketchy here but someone may be able to clarify:
If Max launches its own streaming service, it would then be subject to the new Australian production legislation, however if they didnât launch, and continued the status quo of Foxtel/Binge buying their content, then they wouldnât have to.
If thatâs the case, it would mean launching a new streaming service in to an already crowded market becomes even riskier from a cost perspective, as you now have to get new subscribers to your service, plus youâve pushed up your production costs.
Unless Iâm missing something.
Some excerpts from the Capital Brief article are quoted in the Mumbrella report.
Proposed local streaming quotas loom ahead of Warner Bros Discoveryâs Max launch
Ok, I stand corrected re Prime.
Velma has been cancelled after two seasons.
Max will replace HBO Go in the region.
Following Maxâs launch in New Zealand, this includes that SoHo will be rebranded to HBO (exclusively showing HBO content) said in article.
I would expect Showcase to be rebranded HBO
Huh? Isnât Foxtel losing HBO Max content.
Clearly WB/Discovery donât think the NZ market is worth going alone.
Isnât that just assumed since WBD confirmed Max will launch here?
They could do tie-up with Foxtel in some capacity.
Just like Sky in NZ. They can offer DTC for those who do not want to be with Foxtel
From the Mediaweek article:
Speaking to delegates from the entertainment industry all over Asia just last month, Singapore-based James Gibbons, president APAC for Warner Bros Discovery, had some news about Max.
âWe can confirm weâll be launching our direct service in Australia in the first half of next yearâŚthatâs definitely happening. We have had a longstanding and really important relationship with Foxtel and I think the time has come for us to expand that into the DTC [direct to consumer] space.â
As Gibbons explained, Foxtel will be the Max partner in Australia. With New Zealand Max now on the runway for take-off next week, expect Max Australia to be earlier in the first half of 2025 than perhaps anticipated.
It will be interesting to see what the pricing is like with the NZ service. Apparently, Max is expensive especially in the US.
Iâm not to sure wether anyone else has seen it yet but a international max ad popped up on CNN tonight.
Tied up with Foxtel would mean Showcase rebranded as HBO Australia and TLC upgraded to HD hopefully.
Wonât they lose the Discovery channels from next year? Iâm not how the deal works with the content relating to that but I would assume anything that has only just started would go on other channels. Same will most likely happen eith TLC, showcase may stay the same as itâs only a Foxtel channel.