Canadians eagerly awaiting the debut of HBO’s upcoming TV and streaming adaptation of the popular series “Harry Potter” will be able to enjoy it on Crave in Canada when it premieres early next year. The future exclusivity of HBO programming on Crave, including “Harry Potter,” “The White Lotus,” and upcoming seasons of “The Last of Us” and “House of the Dragon,” remains uncertain as Paramount Skydance moves forward with the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for a staggering $110 billion US, expected to receive federal approval by year-end.
The impact of this acquisition on existing agreements between Warner Bros. Discovery and Canadian broadcasters like Crave is still unclear, raising questions about whether Canadian viewers may need to subscribe to another service for their favorite shows. Paramount+, the subscription service from Paramount, is already accessible in Canada, alongside its free ad-supported TV service, Pluto TV. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has expressed intentions to merge these platforms with HBO Max into a unified streaming service to enhance competitiveness in the market.
Despite the potential changes, Crave assures viewers that it will remain the home of HBO and HBO Max programming in Canada for the foreseeable future under a long-term agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery. While it’s uncertain when the current deal will expire, Bell Media emphasizes its commitment to maintaining the status quo. Even if Paramount+ introduces HBO content in Canada, there may still be a presence on Crave, similar to how some HBO library titles are available on multiple platforms in the US.
The consolidation of Pluto TV with Paramount+ and HBO Max could have implications for the Canadian distributor of the free streaming service, Corus Entertainment, parent company of Global TV. Meanwhile, Rogers Sports & Media’s 2024 deal with Warner Bros. Discovery allows them to distribute brands like HGTV, Food Network, and Discovery in Canada, not only through cable but also via on-demand content on their Citytv+ streaming platform.
As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve, industry players are strategizing to adapt to the changing dynamics, ensuring that Canadian audiences can access their favorite content seamlessly across various platforms.