AT&T and Verizon are taking their wireless rivalry into streaming.
WarnerMedia plans to give its 10 million AT&T customers who already subscribe to HBO free access to HBO Max when it launches next spring, according to Reuters, citing an interview with WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey. HBO has about 35 million U.S. subscribers total between its pay-TV customers and HBO Now.
Earlier this week, Verizon said it would give away one year of Disney+ to all new and existing unlimited wireless customers, new Fios Home Internet and new 5G Home Internet customers.
A representative for WarnerMedia did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment. WarnerMedia will hold an investor day to preview HBO Max on Tuesday.
Reuters added that an ad-supported version of HBO Max will be available by 2021 and that live programming would be coming to the service eventually, echoing what AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said earlier this year.
WarnerMedia is eyeing 80 million global subscribers by 2025, with about 50 million of that coming from the U.S., according to Reuters. For comparison, Disney+ has projected between 60-90 million subscribers by 2024.
The streaming space is set to head up in the next six months. Apple makes its debut with Apple TV+ in one week (Nov. 1), with Disney+ coming 11 days later on Nov. 12. HBO Max will launch next spring around the same time that NBCUniversal will debut Peacock.