HBO Max is finally available on the Roku platform after several months of negotiations between WarnerMedia and Roku.
Both companies announced on Wednesday that they reached an agreement that finally allows Roku users to access the HBO Max app. While terms of the deal were not revealed to the public, both parties said they were pleased with resolving their differences, which started to come up long before HBO Max launched in late May.
Prior to the agreement, Roku users were hooking their laptops to their television sets just to access the HBO Max app. Some even ended up purchasing new smart TVs that are capable of hosting the app.
But with the new deal, Roku users simply need to install the new HBO Max channel on their device by searching for it or locating it in the “New and Notable” and “Movies & TV” categories of the Roku channel store.
For users who have already subscribed to HBO through their Roku devices, the channel will automatically update to HBO Max, and they will be able to log in using their existing HBO credentials.
Similar to the concessions both Amazon and Apple made in their agreements for HBO Max, it appears that Roku is no longer able to sell HBO as a channel subscription in the Roku Channel store. Instead, Roku now offers subscriptions to HBO Max using Roku Pay ― the payment service for its streaming devices.
The pact also makes Roku the last major distribution partner of HBO Max for the December 25th release of Wonder Woman 1984, which will be available to HBO Max subscribers on their Roku devices at no additional cost.
In addition to WW84, it was previously announced that all films in Warner Bros.’ 2021 slate will also debut on HBO Max in the U.S. simultaneously with their theatrical release, and will be available to stream exclusively for one month.
HBO Max is also now available on PlayStation 5. Starting yesterday, PlayStation 5 users in the U.S. can now download the HBO Max app, sign in, and start streaming the platform’s full array of premium programming. The HBO Max app is also available on PlayStation 4.
HBO Max starts at $14.99 per month. But if you sign up between December 3rd 2020, and January 31st 2021, you can purchase six months of the service for only $69.99, saving about $20 on your subscription.