Sky TV teases 'big things are coming' at blockbuster event scheduled weeks before HBO Max releases in the UK

The latest Sky TV event takes place just a few weeks before HBO Max is set to debut in the UK. For those who don't know, HBO is the US network behind many of the biggest breakout hits on Sky Atlantic over the years, including The Last of Us, Euphoria, The White Lotus, Succession, And Just Like That, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Big Little Lies, The Flight Attendant, The Penguin, and more.

Not only that, but its back catalogue is packed with critically adored favourites, like The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, The Wire, Sex and the City, True Detective, the list goes on.

HBO is already filming its feverishly anticipated Harry Potter series, which will adapt each of JK Rowling's bestselling books over a season of television — a project that's expected to take the best part of a decade. The first season, based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and expected to be eight hours long, will debut sometime next year. Until now, you've probably associated all of these shows with Sky Atlantic.

But that's all about to change.

The upcoming Harry Potter series will be coming to HBO Max, the streaming service operated by the US network.

HBO has already confirmed plans to bring this Netflix competitor to the UK in March 2026, completing its European roll-out.

As well as new episodes of Harry Potter and ongoing series like The White Lotus, The Last Of Us, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Pitt, It: Welcome to Derry, The Penguin, and The Gilded Age, this streamer will have access to on-demand episodes of all the shows listed above, alongside HBO documentaries, stand-up shows, and films like DC’s Superman, Weapons, The Conjuring: Last Rites, and One Battle After Another.

Sky has already struck a deal with parent company Warner Bros. Discovery to bring HBO Max to its subscribers — keeping the shows on Sky Atlantic on Sky Stream, Sky Glass TVs, Sky Q, and NOW (formerly NOW TV), albeit not as an exclusive.

But we expect to hear a lot more about how this'll work at the event next month.

Commenting on the upcoming launch, respected analyst Paolo Pescatore, PP Foresight, told GB News: "This is unlikely to include new hardware, as Sky released a new version of Sky Glass and a cheaper, more affordable Glass Air last year. Most likely, this will relate to content, forthcoming programming, packaging and tweaks to the user interface.

"This is all about Sky setting the tone for the year ahead and seeking to establish its presence in people’s homes, especially in the living room.

"For Sky, this will undoubtedly be one of its most challenging years. Content will no longer be one of its key differentiators in the market. It will finally lose exclusivity over HBO programming as Warner Bros. Discovery can offer the service as a standalone option (HBO) for the first time. This was the last piece, along with Sky Atlantic, given that sports are available on a wholesale basis or through a NOW pass.

"Overall, we should expect telecom providers to significantly ramp up their TV efforts to attract subscribers away from Sky. The Sky Glass offering may represent the future of TV viewing, but the user experience is still poor. Existing Sky Q subscribers are more familiar with this approach but could be tempted by cheaper alternatives. Therefore, Sky will be actively positioning itself in connectivity through broadband and mobile.

"There's no coincidence that the invite drops on the same day as HBO launches in key European markets, where it was previously distributed exclusively through Sky, with WBD announcing a wave of new retail distribution partners, including telcos. Make no mistake, WBD is seeking to replicate similar deals with other providers in the UK."

When it comes to the UK, HBO Max will be available in the following pricing plans:

• Basic with Ads: Stream on 2 devices in Full HD.
• Standard: Stream on 2 devices in Full HD, with 30 downloads (limits apply).
• Premium: Stream on 4 devices in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and 100 downloads (limits apply).
• Sports add-on: This can be added to any base plan. Sports contains ads. Limited to two of your available streams.

There's no word on UK pricing yet, but Sky offers access to all HBO shows via Sky Atlantic with a Netflix subscription and its latest Sky Stream box for £15 at the moment. It's one of the best Sky Stream deals available since its launch.

Commenting on its upcoming launch across Europe, JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “It is exciting to kick off the New Year by expanding into some of the biggest economies in the world, as we continue to deliver HBO Max to new viewers. Fans in these markets have a lot to look forward to, with some incredible titles and events coming to the platform.

"Next up is the launch of HBO Max in the UK and Ireland in late March, which will complete HBO Max’s rollout across Europe."