Warner Bros. Discovery could license a package of HBO titles to Netflix

Warner Bros. Discovery is in negotiations to license a package of library HBO titles to Netflix, in a groundbreaking deal that would mark the first time in nearly a decade that HBO shows would exist on a rival SVOD service in the United States, Deadline reported. The first title that would be part of this agreement could be the comedy “Insecure,” which ran for five seasons on HBO and finished in December 2021.

According to sources cited on Deadline, this is a financial move. Apparently, HBO veterans pushed back against the plan but corporate financial consideration won out. Insiders stress the deal is not closed and may still fall apart, but regardless, it marks a major strategy shift across the premium pay landscape. The shows are understood to be set to be distributed on a non-exclusive basis, which would still allow them to stream on Max.

David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, signaled early in his tenure that he is open to forego exclusivity and license content to boost the bottom line. In fact, at the beginning of this year, the group decided to distribute some titles to free streaming platforms such as Roku and Tubi.