BBC Studios ANZ has inked its first deal with HBO Max to bring”premium fan-favourite and brand-new UK comedy and drama titles” to Australian screens.
Announced on Wednesday (September 10th), the deal includes shows like Alan Partridge’s “How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge)”, and six-part series, “Make That Movie” produced by London’s Blink Industries and created by Australian star Sam Campbell.
The partnership also includes premiere rights for popular shows such as “Alma’s Not Normal”, “Cheaters”, and “Brian and Maggie”.
A number of existing Partridge titles including “I’m Alan Patridge” and “Alan Partridge’s Mid-Morning Matters” are now available to stream.
“The local appetite for high-end British content is only getting stronger here in Australia, so we are thrilled to have established this package with HBO Max as an avenue to deliver this sought-after storytelling to their growing audience,” Deborah Tod, BBC Studios ANZ Director of Content Partnerships and Sales said.
“This exciting slate of territory premiere titles and pre-sales, from the return of fan-favourites to fresh new series, is testament to the power of strong, local collaborations, and we’re proud that this distinctive, talked-about content has found its home on HBO Max.”
The news comes just a day after Prime Video secured multi-year agreements with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Roadshow Films, making it the exclusive first-run streaming home in Australia for their Pay-1 theatrical slates.
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The deals give Australian Prime members first access to blockbusters such as Sony’s “28 Years Later,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Karate Kid: Legends” — which reunites Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio while introducing Ben Wang as a new Karate Kid — as well as Roadshow’s “In the Grey,” directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal.
“By securing exclusive first streaming rights to films from Sony Pictures and Roadshow, we ensure Prime members get first access to stream these movies after their theatrical runs and digital rental windows,” said Tyler Bern, head of content strategy and content acquisition for Canada, Australia and New Zealand. “This delivers more choice, more convenience, and incredible value for customers.”