AT&T, HBO Ink All-Platform Content Deal; Programming Set For OTT Service

Erik Pedersen

Updated 26 August 2016 at 8:36 pm

Ahead of AT&T’s expected Q4 launch of DirecTV Now, the telecom giant has signed an all-platform deal with HBO. The pact extends the companies’ existing contract and will make HBO and Cinemax content available on the forthcoming OTT service. Financial terms were not revealed.

In addition to bringing shows like HBO’s Emmy-winnng Game of Thrones and Veep to DirecTV Now, HBO and Cinemax content also will be part of AT&T mobile video bundle offers. Details about those are TBA.

“Our agreement with HBO is groundbreaking in the pay TV and wireless industries as well as the premium category,” said Dan York, Chief Content Officer at AT&T. “With this agreement, we have created easy access to subscribe and consume HBO’s premium content across all of our platforms. …This is a first-of-its-kind deal for both companies and a big win for consumers.”

Said Simon Sutton, HBO’s president of global distribution: “This deal will deliver the best in TV programming to viewers across AT&T’s multi-platform experience. The entertainment landscape has evolved, and we are excited to innovate on both AT&T’s traditional and new platforms to further provide premium quality, extraordinary value and accessibility to viewers anywhere.”

As part of the deal, DirecTV and U-verse customers will continue to have access to HBO and Cinemax content on linear TV, online and TV Everywhere apps.