Foxtel today confirmed that it has extended its partnership with Warner Media, which will see it continue to be the exclusive home for HBO content such as Game of Thrones in Australia, all but guaranteeing its upcoming streaming service will launch with these shows.
As part of the agreement, Foxtel will also be the exclusive licensee for Warner Bros produced and distributed original content from the upcoming HBO Max streaming service set to launch in the US at the end of this month.
The news is significant for a number of reasons. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Foxtel was battling rival streaming service Stan for the streaming rights to HBO content, which could have seen it lose access to major shows like Westworld, Succession, Veep, and more.
Foxtel is set to unveil a new television streaming service, expected to be named Binge, in the coming days. Binge is set to be positioned directly as a competitor to Stan and Netflix, and as such, priced in line, rather than with the premium you'd expect from the Foxtel brand. We're expecting around $15 per month, as opposed to the $25 per month you'd pay for Foxtel Now. Having access to the entire HBO library will be a massive boon for Binge, and will definitely make it more appealing as an alternative or complement to rival services.
Lastly, the partnership's extension means HBO Max is unlikely to launch in Australia anytime soon, given that Foxtel will have the local rights to its exclusive content. It is understood that Warner Media was considering launching HBO Max locally if it wasn't satisfied with offers from either Foxtel or Stan.
We're expecting to hear more about Binge during parent company News Corp's financial results on May 7 in the US.
Alex Choros
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