HBO Max put on 13.1 million subscribers in 2021 with AT&T CEO John Stankey talking up the growth prospects for the WarnerMedia business.
AT&T is anticipating HBO Max HBO will between them reach between 120 million and 150 million subscribers by the end of 2025. That represents an uplift from the telco’s previous forecasts of between 75 million and 90 million.
The company hasn’t split out the numbers between streaming service HBO Max and the well-established HBO. However, it was revealed there are 46.8 million US subscribers, up 5.3 million, out of a global 74 million.
HBO remains behind the other leading Netflix challenger, Disney+, which was at 118 million subscribers as of October 2021.
Stankey said he was “encouraged” with the progress made in the merger of Warner Media with Discovery. The deal is now expected to close in the second quarter, ahead of the previously communicated mid-year 2022.
No decision has been taken on whether AT&T will retain its 71% share in
WarnerMedia Discovery.