The premier manufacturing company “Roku” has finally struck a deal with AT&T for the global distribution rights of “fledgling” OTT platform HBO Max.
After days and even months of anxious negotiation, AT&T and the manufacturing company Roku have finally signed a deal giving the latter right for the global distribution of the former’s fledgling OTT (Over-the-Top) platform HBO Max.
Now, you may ask the question, why does this news matter? Well, you would be surprised to know that out of a lot, Roku was the only remaining TV platform to have struck a deal with AT&T for the distribution of HBO Max. AT&T has already closed the deal with Amazon to introduce HBO Max in Prime Video platforms and Amazon Fire TVs in November itself.
Are you interested in knowing about the details pertaining to the deal? Do you want to know what the deal entails? Well, Roku subscribers will be able to download and install HBO Max from the app store and be a member of the platform directly on their devices. Then, they will be in possession of all the high-quality content hosted by the platform and also the upcoming ones, which are one of the biggest tent poles of the year 2021.
A report has emerged courtesy of Axios that has suggested to us that the two players of the deal were in constant communication with each other for months before they finally found a middle ground for the terms of the deal.
The deal has been struck just in the nick of time. Yes, if you are a subscriber of Roku, you will be glad to know that you can now stream Wonder Woman 1984 on your device on Christmas Day.
Scott Rosenberg, who is the Senior Vice President of Roku, has made a statement hailing the new deal with AT&T. He has said that the wide range of content hosted by HBO Max along with all the upcoming films that will be historically streamed on the platform in 2021 will surely entertain all 100 million Americans. He remarked that those 100 million Americans have made Roku the USA’s number 1 TV platform and said that he is glad that the deal happened.
He added that an understanding with the partners that Roku has is what is essential to create a seamless user experience, and he is glad that the relationship Roku has with Warner Media (HBO Max’s parent company) has been deepened.
The deal has come after relentless public pressure from the Roku subscribers and a persistent effort by AT&T to reach an agreement with Amazon and Roku.
AT&T had been desperate to convince Roku for HBO Max, and they had been putting some pressure on them publicly via some public events and earning conferences. Finally, AT&T got what they wanted.
Even Jason Kilar., the Chief Executive Officer of Warner Media, had said publicly through an interview with Recode that the talks between AT&T and Roku have been going on for months.
Though Warner Media will make some money via HBO Max but its relationship with filmmakers has certainly soured with the likes of Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, Patty Jenkins, etc. have publicly criticized the company for taking an irresponsible decision without even informing all the concerned parties. They have raised serious questions over its decision to stream all of its films on HBO Max in 2021.
Maybe the company does not care as it has predicted that the end of theaters is near, which again, is an irresponsible prediction. The greatest aspect of survival is helping each other, and it looks like Warner Media has deviated from that. The only god can tell what the consequences will be.
Source-Roku Welcomes HBO Max
