HBO Max To Launch In Japan As Hub Within Prime Video & Hulu

Warner Bros Discovery is rolling out its HBO Max streaming service in Japan. The company said Monday it has struck deals with Amazon’s Prime Video and Hulu and will launch HBO Max as hubs within these two services beginning October 1. It will give subscribers access to a raft of shows such as House of the Dragon and The Pitt as well as upcoming titles such as the Harry Potter series. HBO and HBO Max content was previously only available in the territory via a deal with U-Next. As part of its deal with Hulu Japan, which is a separate entity to the Disney streamer and is owned by Nippon Television, the two companies will explore distribution of Nippon and Hulu Japan’s local content on HBO Max’s service internationally. Other titles as part of the deal include A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Lanterns, The Penguin, Peacemaker, The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Euphoria and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe as well as movies such as One Battle After Another and Barbie. Watch on Deadline “These new strategic partnerships enable us to broaden the distribution of HBO Max in Japan, which has seen a strong increase in engagement and awareness since launch,” said James Gibbons, president of APAC at WBD. “We look forward to working with Nippon TV, Hulu Japan and Prime Video to continue the momentum in this next phase of growth — and particularly ahead of the new HBO Original Harry Potter series — an IP that is incredibly popular with Japanese fans.”