Comcast Corporation and Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) have renewed their long-existing carriage agreement for traditional linear channels in several countries, and have included some streaming access rights into the mix.
Customers of Comcast’s Xfinity TV service in the United States will continue to have access to CNN, TBS, TNT, the Cartoon Network, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel and other WBD-owned cable networks, and can optionally purchase a subscription to the HBO multiplex of linear channels for the next few years. Some of those lifestyle and knowledge channels will also be available in Now TV, Comcast’s prepaid streaming TV service.
The agreement also includes bundling rights for Max and Discovery Plus, which Comcast has not yet factored into their TV distribution plans, but can launch at some point in the near future.
Additionally, Comcast’s Sky customers in the United Kingdom and Ireland will continue to have access to channels like CNN International, the Discovery Channel and Eurosport, and will soon be able to stream content through an ad-supported version of Max, which will be integrated into Sky and Now TV. That bundle will go live in 2026.
Comcast previously distributed WBD-owned content through its Sky Atlantic linear channel; it isn’t clear what Comcast’s plans are for that channel.
“These broad and multi-year agreements underscore the value and appeal of our linear portfolio for audiences in the U.S.,” Bruce Campbell, the Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer at WBD, said in a statement. “Sky UK is an ideal partner for us in the UK and Ireland as we prepare for Max’s launch in early 2026. We are pleased that Xfinity and Sky UK subscribers will continue to enjoy our award-winning and popular content on our networks and across our streaming platforms.”
““We extended our partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery to distribute its networks and expanded our ability to deliver its premium streaming content, including Max and Discovery Plus, in a way that provides more choice and flexibility to all of our customers as the video ecosystem continues to evolve,” Greg Rigdon, the President of Content Acquisition at Comcast, said on Monday. “Through these agreements, we will bring Warner Bros. Discovery’s extensive portfolio to our customers however they want to consume the content across our existing and future linear television and streaming bundles.”
“This new partnership provides an expanded portfolio of content for our customers who enjoy Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular storytelling. Sky customers will be able to enjoy the Max app, WBD movies and the TV shows currently on Sky channels, and a seamless integration of the Max service into our NOW streaming experience,” said Dana Strong, the Group CEO of Sky. “The combination of content from our partners, alongside our slate of Sky Originals, and Sky’s leading aggregation of the UK and Ireland’s best content apps gives us an unrivalled entertainment proposition and an exceptional line-up of the world’s best shows.”
“Today’s announcement is very exciting for everyone who loves award-winning scripted entertainment and movies. Our new agreement will continue Warner Bros. Discovery’s long-standing collaboration with Sky UK,” said Andrew Georgiou, President & Managing Director for WBD UK & Ireland. “Arriving in early 2026, the market-wide launch of Max in the UK & Ireland is a significant step in our global roll-out and will be the place where audiences find incredible new shows including the future Harry Potter series from HBO.”
Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed, but Comcast will be dropping its lawsuit against WBD over certain prior contractual arrangements, including the development and distribution of a forthcoming Harry Potter series.
