HBO and HBO Max at 74 million subscribers

HBO and HBO Max ended 2021 with a cumulative total of 73.8 million subscribers, WarnerMedia has revealed in a regulatory filing.

The total figure exceeds Warner’s guidance that the brands would be between 70-73 million subscribers by the end of 2021. It is up from the 69.4 million subscribers recorded in September.

This number represents domestic and international HBO Max and HBO Subscribers. Warner does not distinguish between the linear channel and premium SVOD service in its reporting, so it is difficult to parse how many consumers are signed up exclusively to the streamer. Similarly, the company does not report how many pay TV subscribers who have access to HBO Max via their cable package in the US have activated their streaming access.

Regardless, the figure represents a significant position for HBO Max, and creates a base from which the streamer can go on to challenge the likes of Netflix and Disney+ in the years to come.

In an interview, WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar said: “I do believe the ceiling on streaming services is much higher than we’ve seen to date. This is going to quickly become, for storytelling companies, a three-horse race.”

This is the latest piece of positive news for the streamer, and comes after Warner revealed that December was HBO Max’s most successful month to date thanks to the strength of titles like Matrix Resurrections and Succession.