While the Netflix merger is still underway, HBO Max lands a notable streaming expansion. Warner Bros., the parent company of HBO, made headlines in late October 2025 when it was announced that it was going up for sale. This was following several years of rumors that such a sale could take place.
In early December 2025, it was announced that Netflix would be entering an agreement to take over Warner Bros., including their film and television studios, HBO, and HBO Max. This landmark decision has rocked the news, leading to discussions about HBO’s future and the indelible impact that this sale could leave on the industry.
Despite all the Netflix drama, HBO Max has just made a notable streaming expansion. As confirmed by Deadline, HBO Max will now expand to Belgium and Austria. It will be available through the French company Canal+.
In addition to expanding to these two new European territories, the deal also renews its agreement with Canal+ in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. The agreement covers the distribution of HBO Max and the renewal of some Warner Bros. Discovery channels and a pay-TV window for Warner Bros. movies.
Carrie Coon as Bertha in The Gilded Age season 3Karolina Wojtasik / ©HBO / Courtesy Everett Collection
This news comes at a notable time, given Warner Bros. current situation with Netflix. The deal itself is part of a multi-year effort by HBO to expand its global reach. Over the past year, HBO Max has been rolled out across multiple European markets and is about to go live in the UK.
Warner Bros. channels have also been renewed in territories across Africa as part of this deal, through MultiChoice Group (which Canal+ acquired earlier this year). CNN International and Cartoon Network, for example, will air exclusively in South Africa.
The report notes that Canal+ also has existing distribution deals in place with Netflix. This is notable because, if the Netflix deal goes through successfully, it will be them who is responsible for managing HBO Max’s distribution partnerships, including this one.
Even before Netflix’s finalization, the move represents a powerful stride by HBO Max to expand its international reach. Even as Warner Bros. is put up for sale, HBO is not backing down in terms of asserting its dominance as a global powerhouse.
Canal+ also has a significant international reach as a distributor, so it will be a significant force for Netflix to sort through should the deal go through. This, in turn, serves as a pressing reminder that even if the Netflix deal passes, there will be a whole host of logistics to manage along the way between HBO Max‘s deals and more.