Analysis

HBO Max puts India plans on ‘long pause’; local team left in the lurch

Soumya Gupta

August 10, 2022 | 8 Min Read

It was supposed to be the latest addition to a long list of domestic and international streaming platforms in the country. But less than a year after its team began work in Mumbai, HBO Max has put its India plans on hold, prompting its head of content to move on

In an earnings call earlier this month, Warner Bros Discovery announced that it would combine its Discovery+ and HBO Max streaming services, in a move that has far-reaching implications.

Warner Bros Discovery was formed after AT&T spun off Warner Media and merged it with Discovery in April this year. In recent months, its CEO and president David Zaslav has instituted a slew of changes, and their effects are being felt globally, including in India.

The biggest impact here is the decision to go slow on the launch of the HBO Max platform in India. Three people in the know told The CapTable that the launch had been deferred until at least the end of 2024.

That decision has left those managing HBO Max India in the lurch. Less than a year after the Mumbai-based team began laying the groundwork for the service, Warner Bros Discovery has put the project on hold, the sources added.

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