While HBO Max offers plenty of movies and shows to watch, the continued lack of Roku player and device support has proved frustrating for many subscribers. Making the situation all the worse is the constant suggestions that Roku support for HBO Max is just around the corner. The problem is, that corner never seems to be reached and the latest WarnerMedia announcement is only going to increase frustration even more.
HBO Max launched in the first-half of 2020 with support for many platforms and devices. That said, two platforms were very notably missing with no option for Amazon Fire TV or Roku OS device users to stream the popular service. Since then, HBO Max has become available on Fire TV players, further raising the question as to why it has yet to arrive on Roku?
In spite of the constraint stream of rumors and suggestions that Roku support is imminent, there has been no firm confirmation on when support will go live. For many, it has always seemed only a matter of time and especially as customers of both HBO Max and Roku have been very vocal on the subject on social media, in forums, and elsewhere. With WarnerMedia having now confirmed that following Wonder Woman 1984's arrival on Christmas Day, all of the 2021 Warner Bros. movies will also release on HBO Max at the same time they become available in theaters, the issue of Roku support is once again under a spotlight.
With Christmas Day and 2021 quickly drawing closer, the demand for HBO Max on Roku is only increasing. However, the two companies have been locked in negotiations for months and although there has been some progress -- with the two understood to be getting closer to agreeing terms -- WarnerMedia and Roku still appear to be far away enough to avoid even confirming support will come, let alone when it will arrive.
Although the two companies are often touted as being on the verge of a deal, the reality seems to be far from that. For example, many expected the announcement of Wonder Woman 1984 on HBO Max to be the tipping point in automatically triggering a deal, but that was not the case. Of course, WarnerMedia’s latest move is likely to put additional pressure on Roku to strike a deal. There is a major difference between the launch of one high profile movie and all 2021 movies from the house of Warner Bros., leading many to assume terms are, again, about to be agreed.
Whether that will happen or not remains to be seen. Undoubtedly, Roku is about to be inundated with more customer complaints over access to HBO Max, but the company has managed to hold off this long without giving in to any demands WarnerMedia may or may not be making. Even if a deal is finally done soon, whether it will be in time for Christmas Day and the release of Wonder Woman 1984 is another question entirely. After all, HBO Max needs Roku just as much as Roku needs HBO Max, and that status quo is exactly why HBO Max still isn't available on Roku.
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