Shortly after HBO Max said it’s raising the price of its ad-free tier, rumblings about the launch of ‘Warner Pass’ in France are making the rounds. According to reports, ‘Warner Pass’ includes content from HBO and other TV networks, “bringing together a unique collection of Warner Bros. Discovery’s popular and award-winning programming.”
This new feature will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video in France and present audiences with various options across HBO and 12 other channels, including Warner TV, Eurosport, Discovery Channel, Cartoon Network, CNN, and on-demand services associated with the package. The ‘Warner Pass’ service is part of a separate subscription service for Amazon Prime members. The tier will be available in March.
“To celebrate the upcoming arrival of this unique content offering on Prime Video Channels, all Prime Video subscribers will receive exclusive access — at no additional cost — to watch The Last of Us, the most anticipated HBO series of this year,” the companies announced. “Every episode will be available on the next day after U.S. broadcast. The first episode will be accessible Monday, Jan. 16.”
When ‘Warner Pass’ launches in March, new seasons of existing HBO shows will be included, such as Succession, Perry Mason, The Gilded Age, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Barry, and Somebody Somewhere. The service will also host new series, including The Idol, White House Plumbers, and True Detective: Night Country.
Speaking about ‘Warner Pass,’ Pierre Branco, General Manager for France, Benelux, and Africa at Warner Bros. Discovery, said, “We are thrilled to agree on a new partnership with Prime Video in France. The launch of the ‘Warner Pass’ is great news for the French audience as our fans will be able to access all HBO series and our 12 television channels with a single subscription.”
Could the launch of ‘Warner Pass’ in France be a trial run for shifting HBO content to Amazon Prime Video in other territories? For the past few months, HBO Max has not-so-quietly been removing content from its service. Will some of that content eventually land on Amazon Prime Video? We’ll have to wait and see, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something like ‘Warner Pass’ comes to other parts of the world as time ticks on.