Today marks a pivotal moment in the French digital entertainment landscape as Prime Video announces the integration of Warner Bros. Discovery’s acclaimed content, including the much-anticipated second season of HBO’s House of the Dragon, into its new streaming service, Max, set to launch on Prime Video Channels this June 11th.
After its successful initiation with the Warner Pass in March 2023, Prime Video is elevating its offering by launching Max in two distinct tiers: the Basic tier at €5.99 per month featuring advertisements, and the Standard tier at €9.99 per month for an ad-free experience. An additional Sports option, including comprehensive Eurosport coverage, is available for an extra €5 per month, promising an all-encompassing viewing package to the subscribers.
Clément Schwebig, President of Warner Bros. Discovery Western Europe and Africa, elaborates on the strategic expansion, Introducing Max in France is a monumental step for us. We're thrilled to present a platform that not only showcases outstanding quality content but is also accessible to the entire French populace. The launch timing with 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 underscores our ambition to become a key player in the French market.
Max promises a rich catalog of content including iconic series like 'Game of Thrones' and 'The Last of Us', blockbuster movies from the Harry Potter and DC franchises, and exclusive coverage of the Paris 2024 Olympics through Eurosport. Moreover, subscribers to the additional Sports package will gain access to an exhaustive range of Eurosport events.
The advent of Max is set to redefine viewing experiences in France with three subscription levels designed to cater to diverse consumer needs. The most premium, Max Premium, priced at €13.99 per month, allows access on four devices simultaneously, with options for Full HD and 4K viewing, Dolby Atmos sound, and up to 100 offline downloads, along with an extensive range of TV channels.
For 'House of the Dragon', the anticipation continues to build. This American fantasy drama series, a prequel to the legendary 'Game of Thrones', is set to launch its second season on June 17, 2024, on Max. Created by George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal, the show unfolds nearly two centuries before the events of 'Game of Thrones', detailing the precipitous rise and the eventual catastrophic fall of House Targaryen. The show's premiere season was met with critical acclaim for its intricate character development and rich storytelling, highlighted by Ramin Djawadi’s compelling score, and it rapidly garnered a viewer base of over 10 million on its debut day alone.
The transition to Max provides current Pass Warner subscribers seamless access to this enriched library without additional charges, reflecting Prime Video’s commitment to enhancing customer experience without disrupting existing service agreements. This strategic move is bolstered by partnerships with major French broadcasters and telecom companies such as Canal+, Orange, Free, and SFR, ensuring that Max is primed for success through widespread accessibility right from its launch.
As France gears up for the introduction of Max, the entertainment platform is set to revolutionize how content is consumed in the digital age, merging global blockbuster entertainment with local French and European content, thereby setting a new standard for streaming services in the region.
Synopsis :
The history of the Targaryen family, nearly 200 years before the events of Game Of Thrones. Now that King Viserys reigns over Westeros, the question of his succession is causing concern. With no male offspring, who will take over? With no fewer than 10 adult dragons under their control, the Targaryens have long dominated the Kingdom of the Seven Crowns. The only power capable of overthrowing them is House Targaryen itself. Will the tensions, betrayals and jealousies that rock the clan internally prove fatal? Based on the novel Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin.
House of the Dragon
Created by Ryan Condal, George R. R. Martin
Based on Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin
Showrunners : Ryan Condal, Miguel Sapochnik (season 1)
Starring Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, Fabien Frankel, Milly Alcock, Emily Carey, Graham McTavish, Matthew Needham, Jefferson Hall, Olivia Cooke, Harry Collett, Tom Glynn-Carney, Ewan Mitchell, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, Phia Saban
Theme music composer : Ramin Djawadi
Opening theme Game of Thrones Theme
Composer : Ramin Djawadi
Executive producers : Miguel Sapochnik, Ryan Condal, George R. R. Martin, Ron Schmidt, Jocelyn Diaz, Sara Hess, Vince Gerardis
Producers : Karen Wacker, Angus More Gordon, Alexis Raben, Kevin Lau
Cinematography : Fabian Wagner, Pepe Avila del Pino, Alejandro Martínez, Catherine Goldschmidt
Editors : Tim Porter, Selina MacArthur, Crispin Green, Chris Hunter
Production companies : GRRM, Bastard Sword, 1:26 Pictures Inc., HBO Entertainment
Network : HBO (season One), Max (Season Two)
Release August 21, 2022 – present
Running time : 54–68 minutes
(Source : press release)