HBO’s Future on Crave Uncertain Amidst Paramount Skydance Merger

Canadians who eagerly anticipate the upcoming HBO adaptation of Harry Potter, slated to premiere on Crave, may face uncertainty regarding the long-term availability of HBO content on the platform. A proposed merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery raises questions about the future of licensing agreements, including Crave’s exclusive rights to HBO programming.

The Looming Merger and Its Implications

Paramount Skydance is set to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valued at $110 billion USD (approximately $150 billion CAD), pending regulatory approval expected later in 2026. This acquisition could significantly alter the streaming landscape in Canada, potentially impacting where Canadians access popular HBO series like The White Lotus, the final seasons of The Last of Us, and House of the Dragon, as well as the latest Harry Potter series.

Crave’s Current Deal with Warner Bros. Discovery

Crave has been the exclusive Canadian streaming home for HBO content since a licensing agreement was established with Warner Media (then owned by AT&T) in 2019. The deal was renewed and expanded in 2024. Bell Media, Crave’s parent company, has attempted to reassure subscribers about the stability of this partnership.

“Crave remains home of HBO and HBO Max programming in Canada for many years to arrive through a long-term deal with Warner Bros. Discovery,” stated Bell Media spokesperson Nicolle Stranges. However, the exact expiration date of the current agreement remains undisclosed.

Potential Scenarios for HBO Content in Canada

While the future is uncertain, several scenarios are possible:

• Continued Exclusivity on Crave: The current agreement could remain in place, allowing Crave to continue offering HBO content.
• Shared Access: Paramount+ could begin offering HBO content in Canada alongside Crave, potentially with a tiered access system. In the U.S., some HBO library titles, such as Sex and the City and Six Feet Under, are also available on platforms like Netflix.
• Shift to Paramount+: HBO content could eventually migrate exclusively to Paramount+, requiring Canadian viewers to subscribe to a new service.

Impact on Other Canadian Streamers

The merger could also affect other Canadian streaming services. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has expressed intentions to consolidate Paramount+, Pluto TV, and HBO Max into a single streaming platform. This could impact Corus Entertainment, the Canadian distributor of Pluto TV, and Rogers Sports & Media, which distributes Warner Bros. Discovery channels like HGTV and Food Network through its Citytv+ streaming service.

What’s Coming to Crave in November 2025

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the long-term future, Crave has announced several upcoming premieres for November 2025, including the second season of Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking on November 2nd, and the series premiere of I Love LA on the same date. The three-part documentary series Alex vs Arod will also debut on November 6th.

The New Harry Potter Series

The HBO Original Harry Potter series has cast several actors in key roles, including John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. The series aims to be a faithful adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s beloved books and will stream exclusively on Crave.

As the Paramount Skydance merger progresses, Canadian viewers will be watching closely to see how it impacts their access to their favorite HBO shows and the highly anticipated Harry Potter series.