HBO Max is giving U.S. subscribers a taste of British television series like Luther and The Office thanks to a short-term digital arrangement with BritBox.
From August 1 through September 29, HBO Max will launch a “programming pop-up” featuring a sampling of 15 different British television series that are available via BritBox, which is currently one of the largest and fastest-growing specialty streaming services in the U.S.
Titles available throughout the entire engagement include Seasons 1 and 2 of Blue Lights, Agatha Christie’s Murder Is Easy, Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero, Father Brown, Shakespeare & Hathaway, Silent Witness, Sister Bonaface, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Seasons 1 and 2 of The Office as well as both parts of The Office Christmas special, and The Sixth Commandment.
A few titles will be available for an even more limited time. Season 1 of Luther can be streamed from August 1 to 30, and Season 2 will be available throughout September. Season 1 of Sherwood is also only available in August.
“HBO Max viewers seek premium entertainment they can’t get anywhere else. Through this partnership, we are excited to offer them a premium collection of distinctly British series to complement their viewing experience, including acclaimed series, fan-favorite franchises, standout performances from celebrated talent, and exceptional storytelling across mystery, crime, drama, and comedy,” Robert Schildhouse, President, BritBox, said in a statement.
BritBox is the leading streaming destination for British TV, which has seen a stark increase in demand in the U.S. over the past five years.
This is not the first time that HBO Max has experimented with “programming pop-ups” featuring other streamers’ content. In 2023, AMC Networks partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery to offer a sampling of its own series like Fear the Walking Dead, A Discovery of Witches, Killing Eve, and more for a limited time.
Adds Joshua Walker, Chief Financial & Strategy Officer of Streaming, Warner Bros. Discovery: “We’re continually looking for creative ways to bring more high-quality storytelling to our HBO Max audience. This BritBox sampling gives our subscribers a chance to discover a variety of great British television series featuring rich, distinctive stories.”
