HBO Max backs off on original content in Europe - Variety
Presley Ann/Getty Images Entertainment

The new cost pressures of funding streaming content are landing at Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD), as Variety reports the company is pulling back on funding originals for its HBO Max in several European regions.
The company won't produce new content for HBO Max in the Nordic countries, Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey, according to the report, and it will pull some content from the platform to free up funds for licensing deals elsewhere.
âOur commitment to these markets has not changed,â the company says in a statement. âWe will continue to commission local content for Warner Bros. Discoveryâs linear networks in these regions and we remain substantial acquirers of local third-party content for use on our streaming services.â
But the news still marks a pullback in production and is likely to result in some layoffs across the European business.
Programs already in production will continue, but some approved shows that haven't yet been announced may be sold to other platforms. And originals in Spain and France are likely unaffected - in part due to strict French content quotas, and the fact that Spanish-language content travels well for HBO Max worldwide.
HBO Max has recently broken into Nielsen's streaming ratings, with chart appearances from its Harry Potter-series film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and two acquired series.