How to watch HBO in the UK

What is HBO?

In the early 2000s, when many TV channels were just getting into reality TV and moving away from scripted series, HBO started leading the shift toward higher-quality TV programmes with shows that are still widely regarded as some of the best television of all time.

The Wire, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under routinely crop up in critics’ lists and are still deemed to be ‘must see’ TV decades after their original air dates.

In recent years, HBO has continued to step up its programming with a range of comedy, drama, and fantasy series starring A-list celebrities and backed by award-winning directors, producers, and writers. The channel has historically swept most awards ceremonies and elevated TV across the board, so it’s no wonder that people from all over the world want to view HBO’s programming.

With high-quality programmes like The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, White Lotus, The Sopranos, and The Wire, HBO has long been considered one of the leading television producers in the US. Even though the Game of Thrones finale was not what most of us were hoping for, it remains one of the biggest TV shows of all time.

Here’s how you can watch HBO shows in the UK.

Watch HBO on Sky

Sky and HBO have a deal that gives Sky exclusive rights to broadcast first-run and currently-airing HBO programmes in the UK and other European markets through 2025. Some series are even aired live at the same time as they are in the US, which lets you avoid spoilers.

Historically, most of HBO's premium content airs on Sky Atlantic, with a sizeable amount of its programming coming from HBO. Many of these are well-known and award-winning series that you can't watch anywhere else.

The channel also shows other prestige series from other US networks such as AMC and Showtime. Additionally, Sky Atlantic produces its own original programming in partnership with some US channels, including The New Pope with HBO and Catherine the Great with Showtime.

Unlike other Sky channels, Sky Atlantic is only available to Sky and NOW customers. However, in recent years, more HBO content has become available on other channels like Sky Showcase, Sky Comedy, and Sky Max.