Spider Man: No Way Home and Ghostbusters: Afterlife is on their way to HBO Max, at least for HBO’s Central Eastern European content partners. It’s an interesting move, no doubt intended to bolster the switch from HBO Go to HBO Max in the areas, so entertainment attorney Brandon Blake has more for us.
HBO Go Goes Away
The switch to the HBO Max brand will roll out over 46 territories in the Eastern European region next month, as of March 8th, with further European expansion later this year. Bringing Sony blockbusters to the small screen will doubtless sweeten the deal- especially the prize that Spider Man: No Way Home turned out to be, as well as popular Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Monster Hunter, Happiest Season, and even Jumanji and Hotel Transylvania, among others. The Sony Pictures TV library is also included as part of the deal.
Wider Content Deals
This move expands on a pre-existing content deal with Sony that has seen numerous content in the region roll out on WarnerMedia channels. It certainly makes for a diverse, rich, and rather compelling slate for WarnerMedia, too.
It will be Spider Man, no doubt, so fresh off of the circuit and now firmly entrenched in the list of the Top 10 best-earning films of all time, which draws the most attention in this newly extended deal. Domestically, Spider Man is set to hit Starz no less than three months after its VOD period. Rumors peg that VOD date as February 28th, although that’s yet to be officially confirmed. So the HBO Max deal, currently presumed to be for the pay one period, represents a significant boost for HBO Max’s European market share. While Disney+ currently has a deal to bring Spider Man to the more popular service post pay one, this is realistically looking to be a 2023 date at present.
In short, unless you’re in Eastern Europe, you might want to make sure to grab one last batch of tickets for Spiderman if you’re hoping to see it any time soon. Blake & Wang P.A hopes you enjoy the show!
Film and Television 