Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have officially ended their legal dispute following the announcement of a new global distribution agreement.
The lawsuit, originally filed by Sky in September, revolved around alleged contract violations in their five-year deal with HBO, particularly concerning the upcoming Harry Potter series slated for 2026. With this new partnership in place, both parties voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
Warner Bros. Discovery Secures Long-Term Deal with Comcast and Sky
The renewed agreement marks a major step for WBD as it strengthens its economic foundation by securing long-term deals with Comcast, Sky's parent company.
Under the terms of the deal, Comcast will continue to offer WBD's extensive portfolio, including popular channels such as HBO, TNT, CNN, HGTV, and Discovery, to its Xfinity TV subscribers, Deadline said.
Additionally, Comcast has gained expanded rights to integrate WBD's streaming services, Max and Discovery+, into its streaming bundles.
Sky customers in the UK and Ireland will also benefit from continued access to HBO content and Warner Bros. movies through their subscriptions.
However, competition in the region is expected to intensify as WBD plans to launch its Max app in early 2026, offering a direct alternative to Sky's current exclusive HBO rights.
Dana Strong, Sky's group chief executive, emphasized the expanded opportunities for Sky customers, highlighting the availability of WBD's content across linear television, the Max app, and streaming bundles.
Meanwhile, WBD Chief Revenue Officer Bruce Campbell praised the agreement as a testament to the enduring value of the company's diverse content portfolio, ensuring that fans continue to enjoy their award-winning programming.
WBD Secures Key Distribution Deal Amid $9 Billion Cable Write-Down
According to the LA Times, this partnership comes at a crucial time for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has been grappling with financial challenges, including a massive $9 billion write-down on its cable assets earlier this year.
The company's focus on securing distribution deals reflects its efforts to maintain revenue stability amid a shifting media landscape.
The agreement follows a similar deal between WBD and Charter Communications in September, solidifying WBD's relationships with major distributors.
While financial details of the Comcast-Sky pact were not disclosed, the agreement represents a significant step forward for WBD in shoring up its position in both linear television and streaming markets.
As the media industry continues to evolve, these collaborations underscore the importance of adaptable partnerships to meet consumer demands for flexible content access across platforms.
