HBO Max announces further details about its German offering

At the beginning of December, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that the German branch of its streaming service HBO Max would launch on January 13 – and named subscription prices and some basic conditions. However, a number of questions remained open, which the service is now answering for heise online. HBO Max confirmed our assumption that the basic subscription with advertising for €5.99 and the standard subscription for €11.99 will offer Full-HD picture and English and German audio with a maximum of 5.1 channels. The premium subscription for €16.99 had already promised 4K picture and 3D sound in Dolby Atmos format. Here, it is added that for selected titles, the picture will also be available with increased contrast range in HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. In addition, HBO Max intends to provide Dolby Atmos for the German audio track as well – “provided it is available for the respective content.” Based on previous experience with Warner or HBO content on other services, this is more likely to apply to films than to series.

According to HBO Max, the service will be available on various Smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, and Android TV models, as well as on players like Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV 4K, and Roku. Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as Amazon Fire tablets, can also be used as playback devices. On a computer, the service's content can also be watched in a browser, but not downloaded for offline playback. This function is limited to the aforementioned mobile devices.

No annual subscriptions, Olympic Games for everyone

The fact that HBO Max has only provided monthly prices so far is not a coincidence; according to its statements, no annual subscriptions are currently planned. Those who had hoped to save money through a longer commitment will therefore be disappointed. However, HBO Max may be available in bundles with other services; partnerships are to be communicated at a later date.

As already reported, a sports package can be added to all three subscriptions for €3 per month. New is the information that it is “limited to two parallel streams within the existing limit.” This consequently also applies to users of the premium subscription, who can otherwise use 4 instead of 2 streams in parallel. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it will offer all subscribers the opportunity to follow the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (February 6-22) – even without a booked sports package.

Exclusive content, including German originals

The service has also commented again on the content that will be available on HBO Max. It was already known that series and films from the DC Universe, New Line Cinema, HBO, Max Originals, and Warner Bros. Studios, among others, will be available. These included, among others, the HBO Originals “It: Welcome to Derry,” “House of the Dragon,” “The Last of Us,” and “The White Lotus,” which had previously launched on Sky in Germany. The “Game of Thrones” prequel “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” on the other hand, will premiere exclusively on HBO Max on January 18. Further exclusive titles include the hospital series “The Pitt” and “All Her Fault,” a drama series acquired by NBCUniversal starring Dakota Fanning.

In addition to US content, HBO Max is focusing on local original productions. Among the first German-language HBO Originals are “4 Blocks Zero,” the prequel to the multi-award-winning German gangster drama “4 Blocks,” and the heist series “Banksters,” based on true events. Both are produced by W&B Television. Also in 2026, a documentary about the theft of the gold coin “Big Maple Leaf” from Berlin's Bode Museum will follow. In addition, a thriller series is in production for HBO Max in which the dark stories of “Struwwelpeter” become gruesome reality.

According to HBO Max, exclusive contracts have also been concluded with Leonine Studios and Constantin Film in Germany, guaranteeing access to their best German and international productions – including, for example, “The Hunger Games – Sunrise on the Reaping.” This is likely to affect other international services that have so far also sourced content from these two studios for their German branches.

(nij)