HBO has long been known for its exclusivity, but that may soon be changing with a potential deal brewing between streamers.
According to Deadline, Warner Bros. Discovery is considering licensing select HBO shows to its main competitor Netflix.
The licenses would be non-exclusive, allowing HBO titles to continue streaming on Warner Bros. Discovery’s own platform, Max.
Issa Rae’s comedy Insecure, which ran for five season before wrapping production in December 2021, is reportedly among the titles being discussed for inclusion. Other titles are also being considered for the deal.
Related: HBO Max and Discovery Plus Set to Relaunch as Merged ‘Max’ Service
If successful, the agreement would mark a major shift for Warner Bros. Discovery, as HBO original series would be allowed to stream on a rival platform unaffiliated with the company for the first time in almost a decade.
Warner Bro. Discovery has traditionally limited the licensing of shows to its own corporate umbrella, such as when the company recently ran episodes of Insecure on OWN earlier this year. (OWN is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, marking a rare opportunity for the series to air on basic cable.)
There have been a few other exceptions to HBO’s exclusivity over the years. Edited versions of shows like Sex and the City have been syndicated to networks like TBS, while popular series such as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, and The Wire were previously licensed to Amazon whenn HBO did not have its own streaming platform.
The potential partnership between Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly being driven by financial considerations.
The deal would reportedly help cut costs, as Warner Bros. Discovery is faces significant debt following its merger between the former WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., per The Hollywood Reporter.
