Warner Bros. Discovery said Tuesday it has signed a bundling partnership with the French pay-TV giant Channel+ for the streaming service's launch on May 21 Max in France.
Max will also be available in the Netherlands and Belgium on June 11, with customers in Belgium getting early access before the full launch on July 1.
Max's launches in Iberia, the Nordics and Central and Eastern Europe were previously revealed for May 21, making the streamer available in 25 countries in Europe and 65 countries and territories worldwide. WBD said many more markets will follow in the next two years.
In addition to direct sales via max.com and through in-app purchases, Max will launch across Europe with a number of new distribution partnerships “that will help get the service into the hands of more consumers faster and more efficiently,” the company said. . “When launched in France, Max will be available to consumers through an unprecedented set of distribution partnerships with almost all of the largest mobile, broadband and pay-TV players.”
Canal+ consumers who subscribe to the Ciné Séries, Friends & Family, Intégrale and Rat+ packages will receive free access to Max as part of their subscription. The deal builds on an existing distribution partnership between WBD and Canal+. It will also make Max available on its platforms in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Canal+ Brand Solutions will also sell the Max advertising inventory offered at the ad-supported tier in France, the partners said.
Meanwhile, Amazon's Prime Video in France and Spain will make Max available for purchase to its subscribers. “The agreement builds on the current partnership that includes Warner Bros. content. Discovery available on Prime Video Channels in France,” the company said. “Current Warner Pass subscribers in France will get an enhanced experience with Max on Prime Video Channels. Through partnerships with the majority of French mobile, broadband and pay TV providers, including Free, Orange and SFR, Max will launch with unprecedented distribution support.”
Said JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming & games at WBD, said: “Strong partnerships will boost scale and create greater awareness for Max, allowing us to reach new users faster, more effectively and more efficiently. Warner Bros. Discovery is still in the early days of our streaming growth. With almost half of the global addressable market still to come, we are excited and optimistic about the road ahead.”