Sky and HBO have extended their partnership and agreed a new deal that will make HBO programmes available on Sky Atlantic for 21 million Sky customers across Europe. The agreement means that Sky will have the exclusive rights to broadcast first-run HBO programmes in Germany, Austria and Italy until 2020, bringing those markets in line with the UK and Ireland. It also includes more HBO content on demand for all Sky customers across Europe.
The agreement is the first pan-European content deal covering all Sky territories that Sky has negotiated.
New HBO shows will be shown first on Sky Atlantic and where possible, will be aired simultaneously with the US. More access will also be granted to Sky customers for HBO’s library of TV series. Along with preview and premiere rights, there will be more boxsets available on the Sky platforms in all markets for longer periods.
For the first time all the episodes of current series such as True Detective will be available to view on catch up, stacked and to be watched as the series transmits. Customers can watch shows using mobile TV service, Sky Go, via streaming and download. Customers who use Sky’s streaming platforms, Now TV and Sky Online will also have access to this must-see channel live or they can watch episodes on demand on a range of compatible devices.
Gary Davey, managing director, content, Sky commented: “This new agreement, Sky’s first pan-European content deal, confirms Sky Atlantic as the home of HBO in all our markets both live and on-demand. Sky and HBO share many common values, as well as a passion for high-quality television like Game of Thrones and Veep. Our partnership, in its sixth year, now escalates to a whole new level. HBO has an amazing slate planned for 2016 including Vinyl and Westworld (pictured) but it will also see the premiere of our first co-production together, the Young Pope starring Jude Law.”
