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Thanks to hit shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld, the Friends Reunion, Mare of Easttown and Sex and the City revival And Just Like That..., HBO is widely regarded as the home of premium television. Despite its old streaming service HBO Now never arriving Down Under, Australian fans have still been able to binge on all the HBO content they desire through Foxtel.
However, in May 2020, the standalone HBO Max app launched in the USA. So, how did that change the way we watch HBO Max content in Australia? Well, you can still watch it through Foxtel. But for a more HBO Max-like experience, you might find more joy in the BINGE service. In this article, we'll tell you everything you need to know to get BINGE and to watch HBO Max TV shows in Australia.
Stream HBO shows and full series on BINGE
HBO Max is a streaming service dedicated to HBO programming. It is essentially the same concept as what we've seen from Disney with its Disney Plus service and with NBC Universal with its Peacock service. It's a direct portal between HBO and its customers for all its original TV shows and movies. It has some notable licensed content too, like popular sitcoms Friends and The Big Bang Theory.
HBO Max released in the US on 27 May 2020. It cost US$14.99 a month (approximately AUD$22 a month) for the ad-free version. Subscribers to the old HBO Now service either directly through AT&T TV or Charter Communications were upgraded to HBO Max at the time it launched. The service also offers an ad-supported plan for US$9.99.
There are no plans for HBO Max to release in Australia. The door has been somewhat left ajar for a launch in the distant future. WarnerMedia, the parent company for HBO and the owner of HBO Max, has filed a trademark for the service in Australia. But this could be little more than due diligence.
In lieu of an HBO Max Australia launch, a bidding war occurred between previous rights holder, Foxtel and its main streaming video on-demand rival in Australia, Stan. That battle was won by Foxtel. And shortly before the release of HBO Max in the US, Foxtel launched a sister service called BINGE.
In doing so, BINGE effectively became Australia's HBO Max. Although as you will discover in our detailed review, it offers a heck of a lot more than just HBO Max content.
While Stan has been able to pinch some HBO Max originals of Foxtel - like Love Life, Hacks and Station Eleven - those titles were outliers since they were made for HBO Max for companies other that Warner. Generally speaking, HBO Max content will be available in Australia exclusively through Foxtel and BINGE.
This includes original content, as well as new and legacy TV shows and movies from HBO and HBO Max. You can watch with Foxtel Now and Foxtel iQ or BINGE.
Thankfully, you can start enjoying HBO content right now in Australia for free. Just use this14-day BINGE free trialor a 10-day free Foxtel Now trial.
Below we will detail how you can look to tune into HBO Max in the US via a VPN, but that approach is hardly worth it. The service will still cost you around $24 a month. Plus, you're at risk of having your subscription terminated at any moment or just suffering terrible streaming speeds.
The better alternatives are BINGE or Foxtel Now. Of the 2, BINGE has the slightly longer free trial period and is significantly cheaper. Both come with free trials as listed above.
If HD or multiple devices don't faze you, then you could opt for BINGE's Basic package for just $10 a month with 1 stream. The HD options are $14 a month and $18 a month respectively, the only difference is that the more expensive option allows for 4 simultaneous streams rather than 2.
For Foxtel Now you will need to get the Pop and Lifestyle base back ($25 a month) and then add the Drama Extra pack ($10 a month) to get your HBO streaming fix.
You can kick things off with a free 10-day trial to see if it's right for you. And if you decide to stay on, there is no contract so you can cancel your subscription anytime.
In terms of devices, both are available on computers, smartphones and tablets, Telstra TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Chromecast/Airplay, PS4 and selected smart TVs. You can see more on BINGE vs Foxtel here.
You can also take the more traditional Foxtel iQ route. This costs more and requires the installation of cables and a set-top box at your home. However, it does have the benefits of a more consistent connection, 4K support and the ability to record to the device. You can find out more about Foxtel iQ here.
WarnerMedia is reported to have over 45,000 hours of legacy programing in its vault, but only released a curated collection of 10,000 hours of programing on HBO Max at launch. A further US$4 billion will be invested by AT&T (owner of Time Warner and, in turn, WarnerMedia) in the service by 2024.
We're already starting to see the benefits of that investment, which we detail below.
In addition to all the great HBO content, the network has set up heaps of deals with other providers. This includes films from Warner Bros. and New Line, as well as TV shows from Sesame Street, CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth and Looney Tunes.
As such, US subscribers get access to non-HBO content such as Friends, Doctor Who, South Park, The Big Bang Theory, Nancy Drew, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Rick and Morty through the HBO Max service.
However, in Australia it's only the HBO content that will 100% be shown on BINGE and Foxtel. Non-HBO content must be bid on separately. We have seen these shows appear elsewhere, including Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
The list of HBO Max Originals wasn't big at launch, but it's growing quickly. Here's a quick snapshot of some exclusive titles available on HBO Max, most of them streaming on Foxtel and BINGE in Australia.
| Our Flag Means Death | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Starstruck | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Minx | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Peacemaker | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| And Just Like That... | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Sex Lives of College Girls | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Love Life | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Lust | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Bunker | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Pure | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Other Two | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| Made For Love | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Search Party | 2016 | Show | Max Originals |
| Hacks | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Ten Year Old Tom | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Perfect Life (Vida perfecta) | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| Head of the Class | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Two Weeks to Live | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| South Side | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| Frayed | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| I Hate Suzie | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Genera+ion | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Ruxx | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| One Perfect Shot | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Traffickers: Inside the Golden Triangle | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Sesame Street | 1969 | Show | Max Originals |
| DMZ | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Tourist | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Raised by Wolves | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Station Eleven | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Flight Attendant | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Gossip Girl | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Beforeigners | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Valley of Tears | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Paradise (Paraíso) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Gomorrah | 2014 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Head | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| A Thousand Fangs (Mil colmillos) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Titans | 2018 | Show | Max Originals |
| It's a Sin | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Doom Patrol | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| Veneno | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Para - We Are King (Wir Sind King) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Bilardo, the Soccer Doctor (Bilardo, el doctor del fútbol) | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| GAMING WALL ST | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Selena + Chef | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Generation Hustle | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Take Out with Lisa Ling | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| What Happened, Brittany Murphy? | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| A World of Calm | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Juanpa + Chef | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Murders at White House Farm | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Santa Inc. | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Kamikaze | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Dog House: UK | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Jellystone | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Theodosia | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Young Justice | 2010 | Show | Max Originals |
| Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Tom & Jerry in New York | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Adventure Time: Distant Lands | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Looney Tunes Cartoons | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Infinity Train | 2018 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Fungies! | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| Summer Camp Island | 2018 | Show | Max Originals |
| Tig n' Seek | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Little Ellen | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Close Enough | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Prince | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| gen:LOCK | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Mopes | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Arthur's Law (Arthurs Gesetz) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| FBOY ISLAND | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| About Last Night | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Finding Magic Mike | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| 40 Means Nothing (40 no es nada) | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Expecting Amy | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Wahl Street | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Sweet Life: Los Angeles | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Cut | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| House of Ho | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Hype | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| 12 Dates of Christmas | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Stylish with Jenna Lyons | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Legendary | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Singletown | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Big Shot with Bethenny | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Event | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Full Bloom | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| All That Glitters | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Bridge | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Great Pottery Throw Down | 2015 | Show | Max Originals |
| Ellen's Next Great Designer | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| 4 Blocks | 2017 | Show | Max Originals |
| Dream Raider (獵夢特工) | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Sort Of | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Queer You Are (Maricón perdido) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| That Damn Michael Che | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Through Our Eyes | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Adventure of the Ring (戒指流浪記) | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Aquaman: King of Atlantis | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Astral Journey (Jornada astral) | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Baketopia | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Batman: The Audio Adventures | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Craftopia | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Dafne and the Rest | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Dolores: The Truth About the Wanninkhof Case | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Equal | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Esme & Roy | 2019 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Girl Before | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| Haute Dog | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Looney Tunes Presents: Bugs & Daffy's Thanksgiving Roadtrip | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Love Monster | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Love Spells | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Missing (Os Ausentes) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Mo Willems and the Storytime All-Stars Present: Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime: Shorts | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| My Mom, Your Dad | 2022 | Show | Max Originals |
| My Sesame Street Friends | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| On the Job | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Possessions | 2020 | Show | Max Originals |
| Rap Battlefield (Días de gallos) | 2021 | Show | Max Originals |
| Charm City Kings | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Zack Snyder's Justice League | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| 15 Minutes of Shame | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| An American Pickle | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| And Just Like That... The Documentary | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Beanie Mania | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Class Action Park | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Diego, The Last Goodbye (Diego, el último adiós) | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Farruko | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| A Forbidden Orange (La naranja prohibida) | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| The Immortal (L’Immortale) | 2019 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Let Them All Talk | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| LFG | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Locked Down | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Lucy the Human Chimp | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Manuel Turizo | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Mau & Ricky | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Natti Natasha | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Nicky Jam | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| On the Record | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| On the Trail: Inside the 2020 Primaries | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Persona: The Dark Truth Behind Personality Tests | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Reign of the Superwomen | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Reik | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Roald Dahl’s The Witches | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Superintelligence | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| There Is No “I” in Threesome | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Unpregnant | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Zack Snyder's Justice League: Justice Is Gray | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| The Runaway Bunny | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| 2nd Annual HA Festival: The Art of Comedy | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Ahir Shah: Dots | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Aida Rodriguez: Fighting Words | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Beth Stelling: Girl Daddy | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Chelsea Handler: Evolution | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Comedy Chingonas | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Friends: The Reunion | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| HA Festival: The Art of Comedy | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Halsey: If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Mo Willems and the Storytime All-Stars Present: Don't Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| The Monster at the End of This Story | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Moses Storm: Trash White | 2022 | Movie | Max Originals |
| My Gift: A Christmas Special from Carrie Underwood | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Phoebe Robinson: Sorry, Harriet Tubman | 2021 | Movie | Max Originals |
| The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Rose Matafeo: Horndog | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| Sesame Street Elmo's Playdate: Scavenger Hunt | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
| A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote | 2020 | Movie | Max Originals |
Note: The Looney Tunes Cartoons aren't classics, but freshly made shorts that pay homage to the greats of yesteryear. Also, Frayed has previously released in the UK and Australian markets.
On 4 December 2020 Warner Bros. announced that in the US it would be releasing 17 of its theatrical releases on HBO Max in 2021. There was 1 film released directly to the service in 2020, which was Wonder Woman 1984. It became available on Boxing Day in Australia.
The list of other blockbusters that went straight to HBO Max with only brief time in cinemas beforehand is impressive. It includes The Matrix Ressurections Space Jam: A New Legacy, Dune, The Suicide Squad, Mortal Kombat, Zach Snyder's Justice League, Godzilla vs Kong and a Sopranos prequel. Each film was available on HBO Max for 1 month of once they are released at no additional cost.
As of 2022, Warner Bros. is ending the same-day release model and returning to theatrical releases, but will still make movies that will be exclusive for HBO Max.
Tech-savvy users may be able to access HBO Max by using a VPN service to bypass geo-blocking. However, HBO is known to kick out users who don't reside in territories where the streaming service is available, so there's no guarantee it will work.
This is somewhere in that grey area between legal and illegal, so proceed at your own risk. HBO Max costs US$14.99 a month and is available on a variety of devices.
The safest and more accessible way to stream HBO content in Australia is to subscribe to BINGE. There's no need to sign up to any packs. Straight away you're guaranteed access to HBO's large library of original shows, from Game of Thrones to Big Little Lies. You can also watch HBO Max originals like The Flight Attendant, Peacemaker, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. Otherwise, you can opt for Foxtel Now and add on other services such as sports.
Check out BINGE with a 14-day free trial
There is no HBO Max free trial for Australians, but you can of course get HBO content using the Foxtel Now or BINGE free trial as mentioned. During this period you can watch content from all the channel packs available on the platform. If you find either service isn't for you, simply cancel online before the end of the trial period. Otherwise, once the trial is over, you will only have access to the channel packs you are subscribed to.
Game of Thrones in undoubtedly HBO's biggest hit. The last season of the series may have come but millions still BINGE its 8 seasons. The epic fantasy drama, based on George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels, has a huge fan base across the globe and managed to remain appointment television in a time where streaming is king and watching on demand is the new black. For the night is dark and full of spoilers. A Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, is coming out in 2022.
Besides Game of Thrones, HBO has produced a lot of acclaimed content over the years. Popular titles include dramas The Sopranos, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Westworld, Big Little Lies and Deadwood. Meanwhile, on the comedy front, we find titles like Veep, Girls, Silicon Valley, Sex and the City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Most HBO shows are available to stream on demand with BINGE and Foxtel Now. The list also includes Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the series that reshaped late-night TV.
In recent years, HBO has made up for the conclusion of Game of Thrones with exciting new and returning originals. Barry is a sitcom centring on a hitman who is contemplating an acting career. Fahrenheit 451, based on the classic novel of the same name, is about a young fireman in a country where books are banned and firemen burn any they see on sight. It stars Michael B. Jordan. Sharp Objects is based on the popular book by Gillian Flynn. Mare of Easttown, starring Kate Winslet, took the world by storm in 2021.
As for returning favourites, HBO scored big with Succession, the series that has the Internet talking whenever it releases new episodes. Stream it at your own peril: it's known to cause addiction. Teen drama Euphoria is also a huge success. Both shows will come back with new seasons in 2022 and (hopefully) beyond.
The oldest and longest continuously operating pay television service in the US, Home Box Office (HBO) has been consistently expanding in new markets all around the world since the early 90s. The channel's programming mainly consists of theatrically released movies and original television series, as well as the occasional concert special, documentary, made-for-TV flick, boxing match or stand-up comedy show.
What makes the channel stand out from the crowd, besides its quality content, is the fact that HBO doesn't carry traditional commercials. Instead, the network runs promos for upcoming shows or movies as well as behind-the-scenes featurettes made to pique interest in its original programming. As a result, HBO can afford to broadcast more explicit content that wouldn't normally be allowed to air on broadcast television: think profanity, explicit sex scenes and graphic violence. All the good stuff.
The channel's original programming earned countless major award nominations, including Emmys and Golden Globes. Despite The Larry Sanders Show being HBO's flagship series in the 90s, The Sopranos is arguably the show that pushed HBO to the next level, earning both critical acclaim and a huge audience. Ever since, HBO has been known as the home of quality television. And thanks to hit shows like Succession, the channel continues to be relevant even in the current era of peak TV.
Prior to the release of HBO Max, HBO offered 2 streaming services in the US. HBO Go was free with a subscription through participating TV providers, while HBO Now was a standalone streaming service carrying HBO content. Those weren't available in Australia either. Instead, Foxtel offered its own streaming platform, Foxtel Now, which gives users access to HBO content.
BINGE and Foxtel Now don't support 4K resolution at the moment. However, content is available in HD.
Despite HBO steadily rolling out streaming platforms across the globe, there are no plans for HBO Max to arrive in Australia yet. That's mainly due to HBO's deal with Foxtel.
Yes. BINGE, HBO Max, and Foxtel Now work with Chromecast.
Yes, you can use HBO Max on multiple devices at the same time. The service supports 3 simultaneous streams; if you exceed it you will receive an error message. Similarly, Foxtel Now allows you to stream on 2 devices at once so you can share your password with a loved one. BINGE supports up to 4 simultaneous streams, depending on your plan.
HBO Max is available in the US from 27 May 2020, with plans to expand internationally, replacing other HBO streaming platforms like HBO Go.
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