Sky introduces a major upgrade by adding HBO Max at no extra cost to select TV packages. Customers with the Ultimate TV plan gain immediate access to popular series like Game of Thrones, Friends, Dune, Succession, and Young Sheldon, bypassing the standard £4.99 monthly fee.
Who Qualifies for the Free Upgrade?
Sky Stream and Sky Glass users on Ultimate TV, along with Sky Q customers, receive HBO Max Basic with Ads as part of their subscription. This includes blockbuster HBO dramas such as Succession and The Wire, recent award-winners like the 2025 Emmy-nominated Max Original The Pitt, and Warner Bros. films.
Sky confirms: “Sky Stream and Sky Glass customers with Ultimate TV, and Sky Q customers will get HBO Max Basic with Ads included as part of their Sky subscription.”
Simple Activation Steps
Eligible users access HBO Max directly from the homepage app on Sky Glass, Sky Stream, or Sky Q. Follow the on-screen prompts to activate and start streaming on-demand content.
Non-Ultimate TV subscribers can upgrade starting at £24 per month. This package delivers over 130 channels, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and the forthcoming Hayu platform later this year.
Broadening Entertainment Options
Sky’s Chief Consumer Officer, Sophia Ahmad, states: “This marks a new era for Sky and NOW. In a world-first, we’re bringing together Sky, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu into a single Sky TV subscription. Nowhere else offers this breadth of incredible entertainment in a fully integrated experience, with everything customers love watching side by side so viewers can jump from show to show with ease.”
She adds: “Millions of existing customers will get easy access to this new line-up as standard at unbeatable value. All NOW Entertainment customers will get access to HBO Max, included at no extra cost, fully integrated within the NOW app.”
Those without Sky can subscribe to HBO Max independently, with plans starting at £5.99 for Standard with Ads.
