- Warner Bros. Discovery is in talks to license some of its HBO titles to rival Netflix.
- The potential deal would mark the first time in nearly a decade that HBO’s original series would exist on another platform outside of its own corporate umbrella.
- Issa Rae’s comedy Insecure is set to be included in the arrangement, with other titles being discussed.
In a strategic move to improve its financial standing, Warner Bros. Discovery is considering partnering with its biggest competitor, Netflix. The newly merged conglomerate is in discussions to license some of its most significant HBO titles to the streaming giant. This would be the first time in almost ten years that HBO’s original series would be available on a platform other than its own.
One of the series slated for inclusion in this arrangement is Issa Rae’s comedy Insecure, which had a successful five-season run and concluded in December 2021. Other titles are under consideration but have not yet been disclosed. A key aspect of the agreement is that licenses would be non-exclusive, allowing the affected titles to continue streaming on Warner Bros. Discovery’s own platform, Max.
The primary motivation for this move is financial, and it has faced resistance from HBO veterans. However, corporate financial concerns seem to be prevailing, though negotiations are still ongoing. Collaborating with Netflix represents a significant strategy shift that could help Warner Bros. Discovery reduce costs. At the end of the first quarter of this year, the merged company was facing almost $50 billion in debt, leading to its most recent layoffs.
Although HBO rarely licenses its original shows outside of its corporate structure, there are precedents for this type of arrangement. For example, edited versions of Sex and the City were syndicated to TBS, while Curb Your Enthusiasm aired on the TV Guide Channel and Entourage screened on Spike. Additionally, before the creation of the company’s streaming platform Max, series like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, and The Wire were licensed to Amazon.
In another attempt to cut costs, Max started removing HBO originals from their streaming service last year. Shows such as Camping, Vinyl, and Mrs. Fletcher were removed from the platform, along with HBO Max originals Genera+ion, the adult animated comedy Close Enough, and the children’s late-night program The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo.
Would you be interested in watching HBO originals on Netflix? Which series are you hoping will make the move? Share your thoughts in the comments.