HBO Max will finally come to Roku this week
By Lacy Baugher
HBO Max and Roku have finally worked out their differences, which will add one of the biggest streaming services to one of the largest streaming platforms.
Truly, this is a Christmas miracle. After months of back-and-forth, an HBO Max app will finally be available for Roku users as of December 17.
Granted, we all figured something like this was bound to happen sooner rather than later, what with the simultaneous “theatrical” and digital launches of blockbuster sequel Wonder Woman 1984 just days away. (And with the rest of Warner Brothers’ 2021 slate also banking on streaming releases.) But, whatever the reason, thank goodness it finally did.
For those of us who are Roku users, the lack of an HBO Max app means we’ve been stuck watching new originals like The Flight Attendant or I Hate Suzie on our phones and/or laptops, since – for some incomprehensible reason – a deal hadn’t already been worked out to put such a big-deal new service on a streaming device that has something like 46 million active users.
(This is why you’re struggling with subscribers y’all.)
“We believe that all entertainment will be streamed and we are thrilled to partner with HBO Max to bring their incredible library of iconic entertainment brands and blockbuster slate of direct to streaming theatrical releases to the Roku households with more than 100 million people that have made Roku the No. 1 TV streaming platform in America,” said Scott Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, Platform Business, Roku, said in a statement.
This is all well and good, and truly I’m grateful it’s finally happening, but how on earth was not something that was ironed out prior to HBO Max’s launched several months back? Just…how?
Thankfully, those of us who are HBO subscribers won’t have to do anything, apparently, our former HBO apps will just automagically convert to the HBO Max version for us, simple and easy – like this all should have been from the start.
But better late than never, right?
Will you check out HBO Max’s offerings now that it’s available on Roku? Let us know in the comments.