HBO Cinemax WarnerMEDia.jpeg
HBO and Cinemax are two familiar brands to Vietnamese audiences. Photo: WBD

"From 0:00 on March 1, HBO channel will stop broadcasting in the HBO Go package, applicable to the entire Asia- Pacific region", this is the message that appears when users access HBO channel on some online TV viewing platforms.

According to HBO representative in Vietnam, HBO and Cinemax channels are only included in the HBO Go package, to be consistent with the distribution policy of HBO Go in the region. In the region, HBO has never had a channel, only VOD ( video on demand service), only the Vietnamese market has a channel in the HBO Go package.

“From March 1st this year, the HBO Go package will only distribute VOD, no longer distributing channels. The channel will still be broadcast on other pay TV infrastructures such as cable, IPTV,... normally. The channel will still be distributed in Vietnam normally, just not packaged in HBO anymore,” wrote an HBO representative.

HBO and Cinemax are two international TV channels familiar to Vietnamese audiences, famous for their blockbuster movies and high-quality TV series.

Popular in Vietnam since the 2000s, HBO quickly became the top choice for movie lovers with a series of famous Hollywood movies, while Cinemax focused on action, horror and thriller movies.

Sharing more with VietNamNet, a representative of HBO Vietnam said that the HBO Go online TV package in Vietnam initially includes both the VOD movie package and 2 linear channels HBO & Cinemax. Over time, the content on the 2 linear channels will be combined into the VOD package.

At this point, since the content is already included in the large, streaming VOD package, maintaining two linear channels is unnecessary. Going forward, HBO Go, which will only provide online VOD access, will be consistent with the global streaming service.

From March 1, 2025, HBO Go service in Vietnam is a pure online service, more convenient for viewers, because they can watch any content, anytime, anywhere, regardless of broadcast schedule.

“Vietnamese audiences can still watch HBO, Cinemax and many other domestic and foreign channels on cable and IPTV transmission infrastructures of pay TV service providers,” he said.

Vietnam wants to have a game festival like China and Korea . Vietnam Game Festival (GameVerse) is expected to become an international event comparable to China Joy (China) and G-Star (Korea), the two top events in the world's game industry.