Amazon's Prime Video Channels will begin reselling HBO Max subscriptions in New Zealand later this month, offering a discounted rate compared to direct purchase from Warner Bros. Discovery. This strategic partnership expands Prime Video's channel offerings and supports WBD's direct-to-consumer strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Prime Video Channels now offers 26 subscriptions in New Zealand.
The partnership demonstrates Warner Bros. Discovery’s pivot from traditional licensing to a hybrid distribution model that prioritize direct-to-consumer reach while utilizing Amazon for customer acquisition. By offering a $6 discount, WBD is aggressively incentivizing the Prime Video ecosystem to scale its local subscriber base quickly after exiting its Sky New Zealand deal. Concurrently, it cements Prime Video as a central aggregation hub in fragmented international markets. Watch for whether Sky New Zealand's decision to forgo co-exclusivity triggers a significant churn event as HBO content migrates entirely to WBD-controlled platforms.
The transition in New Zealand follows several years of strategic realignment by Warner Bros. Discovery in the Asia-Pacific region. In February 2026, Sky New Zealand confirmed it would not renew its licensing agreement for HBO Max content, ending a partnership that previously saw HBO programming hosted on Sky’s Neon streaming service and linear channels. Per Sky’s announcement, the company opted not to pursue a co-exclusive arrangement as it shifted focus toward other studio partners like Paramount and Sony. This move aligns with WBD's successful Australian debut in March 2025, where the service launched as a standalone app and through an evolved partnership with Foxtel.
Simultaneously, Amazon has been expanding its infrastructure in New Zealand and broader APAC. Per Amazon Ads, October 2024, the company announced plans to introduce limited advertisements on Prime Video in New Zealand in 2025 as part of a global push to standardize its ad-supported model. This technical expansion supports the growth of Prime Video Channels, which allows Amazon to act as a billing and discovery layer for third-party services. Globally, Warner Bros. Discovery reported reaching over 130 million streaming subscribers by late 2025, with management targeting 150 million by the end of 2026, driven largely by these international rollouts in markets like Italy, Germany, and the UK.
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