HBO (New Zealand)
Television channel
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HBO is a discontinued premium entertainment channel in New Zealand available on Sky New Zealand. The channel broadcasts HBO Original programming. It was previously called SoHo until late October 2024 and HBO until June 16, 2026.
Final logo used from 2024 to 2026 | |
| Country | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 16:9 |
| Ownership | |
| Parent | Home Box Office, Inc. (managed by Sky Network Television) |
| History | |
| Launched | 31 October 2011 (SoHo) 7 November 2018 (SoHo2) |
| Closed | 16 March 2021 (SoHo2) 16 June 2026 (SoHo/HBO) |
| Replaced by | Sky Drama |
| Former names | SoHo (2011–2024) |
History
The channel launched on 31 October 2011, as SoHo screening shows from American cable networks Showtime, AMC, Starz, HBO and FX, which were themselves not available in New Zealand. It also broadcast shows from Britain, especially from the BBC, and also broadcast films.[1] The channel was initially built upon its contract with HBO, but has since broadened its content to include series from other sources.[2]
In October 2024, Sky confirmed that the channel would be rebranded as HBO featuring exclusively HBO content, effective 30 October 2024.[3][4]
HBO (formerly SoHo) is scheduled to be closed on June 16, 2026 and all of the HBO Max streaming hub on Sky Go and NEON will be removed.[citation needed]
Services
There was also a SoHo channel in Australia, which launched on 20 August 2012.[5] It closed down on 4 October 2016, and was replaced by Binge.[6][7]
A sister channel, SoHo2 launched on 7 November 2018.[8]
SoHo2 was closed on 16 March 2021 and all the content was moved to the SoHo channel.[9]
On 22 October 2024, Sky New Zealand announced that SoHo would be revamped as a linear HBO channel showing HBO Original content, effective 30 October. The HBO channel is available on Sky Box, Sky Pod and Sky Go. This change accompanied a new partnership between Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery that would allow the former to remain the exclusive distributor of HBO and Max content in New Zealand.[3][4]
HBO (formerly SoHo) will close on June 16, 2026 and all of the HBO Max streaming hub on Sky Go and NEON will be removed, and the standalone HBO Max streaming service will launch this day in New Zealand.[citation needed]
Content
In 2022, SoHo distributed the Game of Thrones prequel series House of the Dragon alongside Sky's streaming service Neon.[10]
Effective 30 October 2024, the revamped HBO channel features HBO Original content exclusively. Other non-HBO and WBD shows that previously aired on SoHo will be aired instead on Sky's other entertainment channels, Sky 5 and Vibe.[3][4]