WarnerMedia will soon begin a worldwide rollout of HBO Max, including in Latin America and the Caribbean. The American subscription streaming service is currently only available in the United States. HBO Max’s catalog boasts several prestige originals, including Game of Thrones and Chernobyl. The streamer also offers many hits from different networks, including The Big Bang Theory and Friends, with the Central Perk regulars recently reuniting.
HBO Max launched in the US nearly a year ago, but an international rollout has proven complicated. In Canada, HBO was criticized for only allowing its HBO Max original content to be made available with a paid add-on. Customers were required to pay an additional $9.99/month for HBO + Movies. WarnerMedia owns HBO, HBO Max, Cinemax, and HBO Go in the vast majority of Spanish-speaking Caribbean and Latin American regions.
WarnerMedia has now confirmed HBO Max will be available in 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean from June 29, 2021. Johannes Larcher, Head of HBO Max International, referred to the launch as the “first step in [the] global rollout of HBO Max.” Included in the 39 regions are Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. The company confirmed that a Multi-Language Player feature would be rolled out on the platform for dubbed dialogue. Read Larcher’s full quote below:
“Our launch in Latin America and the Caribbean is the first step in our global rollout of HBO Max. We are thrilled that fans across the region will soon be able to enjoy HBO Max and its amazing collection of content. WarnerMedia is one of the most popular and trusted sources of entertainment across Latin America, and we are very excited that our global journey starts here.”
WarnerMedia will be hoping for a smoother rollout in these territories than its messy US launch. The launch was mired with confusion, with some subscribers unable to tell the difference between HBO Max, HBO Now, and HBO GO. Unlike competitor Disney+, which boasts iconic classic films and recognizable tentpoles, HBO faces a branding struggle, with some subscribers unable to define the service’s identity. Although WarnerMedia owns an impressive back catalog, including the DC Universe movies, the service launched with fewer original shows and films than hoped for. That was the consequence of launching amid an ongoing pandemic, with hurdles placed on production and filming.
With TV and movie buffs still isolating at home amidst the Coronavirus crisis, there will be lots of excitement at the news of this launch. The service boasts a vast catalog of fan favorites, including the Fast and Furious movies and original programming such as Westworld. The service proved invaluable to DC fans during the lockdown, with Wonder Woman 1984 being made available to stream digitally for cinemagoers avoiding the traditional theatrical experience.
Source: InsideHBOMax [Twitter]