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The streaming market in Germany is growing. As of January 13, 2026, HBO Max will be officially available, entering an already highly competitive market as a standalone service. Warner Bros. Discovery is bringing its entire portfolio directly to users for the first time – and at the same time is ending previous distribution cooperations with Sky, Netflix and RTL+. For consumers, this means one thing above all: even more choice, but also more decisions in the streaming jungle.
From Hollywood to Eurosport – that’s what’s behind HBO Max
HBO Max is launching not only in Germany, but also in Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. The service bundles content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, the DC Universe, Max Originals as well as Discovery and Eurosport offerings in one app. Internationally, HBO Max is already represented in over 100 markets, and now the German-speaking region is an important component of European expansion.
Series: “Friends” and “Game of Thrones” replenishment
In terms of content, Warner Bros. Discovery relies on proven brands and new in-house productions. The range of series includes established audience successes such as “The Last of Us”, “House of the Dragon”, “The White Lotus”, “Euphoria” and “Industry”. In addition, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is a new prequel from the “Game of Thrones” universe. International productions such as the French series “The Seduction” or the Max original “The Pitt” are also intended to expand the service’s profile. The offer is supplemented by classics such as “Friends” and “The Big Bang Theory”, which will no longer be available on Netflix from 2026.
Films: “Superman”, “Harry Potter” and “Dune”
In the film sector, HBO Max positions itself with an extensive catalog of blockbusters and franchise titles. These include “Superman”, “The Batman”, “Dune” and the entire “Harry Potter” series. Shortly after the launch, current cinema titles such as “Weapons” and “The Conjuring: Last Rites” will follow. For Warner Bros. Discovery, the bundled offer is a strategic step to no longer market its own content in a fragmented manner across different platforms.
The streaming provider announces itself on Instagram:
German HBO Originals: “4 Blocks Zero” and “Banksters”
The group pays particular attention to local productions. The first German-language HBO Originals include “4 Blocks Zero”, a prequel to the successful series “4 Blocks”, and the heist series “Banksters”. Further projects, including a documentary about the spectacular theft of the “Big Maple Leaf” gold coin from Berlin’s Bode Museum and a thriller series by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, have already been announced. In addition, output deals with Leonine Studios and Constantin Film ensure access to further German and international content.
Trump card sport: Olympics included
A unique selling point compared to many competitors is the range of sports on offer. All subscribers receive access to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. An optional sports package can also be added, which includes Eurosport content such as the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, the Tour de France and winter sports World Cups.
Three subscription levels and a sports extra
In terms of price, HBO Max falls into the well-known model of tiered subscriptions. Three packages that can be canceled monthly are offered – from an ad-financed basic subscription to a premium version with 4K and Dolby Atmos. There is also the paid sports package. HBO Max thus follows the industry standard without setting any new accents.
Streaming fatigue inevitable?
The launch of HBO Max raises a fundamental question: How many streaming services does the market still need? The range of products on offer for consumers continues to grow, while at the same time the financial and time expenditure required to keep track of things increases. HBO Max undoubtedly brings with it strong content and well-known brands – whether that will be enough to permanently assert itself alongside Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Co. remains to be seen. The only thing that is certain is that the streaming market is becoming even more fragmented.