HBO Max is adding 39 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, expanding its service outside the US for the first time.
HBO Max was launched in the US on May 27, 2020. The subscription service counts over 44 million users in the US only.
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Launched in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, HBO Max was met with immediate success in the US. Today the service is expanding its availability to 39 new territories.
For these new markets, however, HBO will not offer an ad-supported plan as there is in the US. Instead, subscribers will have a choice between a mobile-only plan that supports SD streaming and up to five title downloads, or a standard plan that supports five personalized profiles, up to three simultaneous users, up to 30 title downloads, and high-definition streams in HD and 4K where available. Pricing will vary based on the region.
“With today’s launch, we are introducing our global platform and providing a brand new user experience to millions of fans across Latin America and the Caribbean,” Johannes Larcher, head of HBO Max International, said in a statement.
As part of the rollout, the company said it will produce 100 local originals in Latin America over the next two years. Additionally, UEFA Champions League events will become available to subscribers in Mexico and Brazil later this year, the company said.
To kickstart subscription, HBO Max will be available to new subscribers in Latin America and the Caribbean at a 50% discounted rate for as long as they maintain their subscription if they sign up before July 31st.
The launch also makes HBO Max available to US subscribers traveling in these newly supported regions, so long as they are on the service’s ad-free tier, the company said in a press release.
As part of its global expansion, HBO Max is expected to launch in Europe later this year.