HBO Max launches in the UK next week and new 'saver plans' have been revealed for customers looking to stream TNT Sports.
After a series of changes to how you can watch cycling races in the UK – which saw GCN+ close, Eurosport UK axed and coverage move to TNT Sports – it was revealed last month that cycling streaming would be absorbed into HBO Max from Thursday 26 March.
The move is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s continued plan to consolidate its global streaming service, but it saw TNT Sports remain as an add-on, costing viewers £30.99 per month.
But now HBO Max has announced 'saver plans' in the UK, which could save you between £60 and £131.88 per year.
“Fans who only wish to purchase TNT Sports, can subscribe via HBO Max for a minimum 12-month term, saving £5 per month or £60 a year, when compared to the monthly plan,” HBO Max said on Wednesday.
HBO Max is now offering a standalone TNT Sports subscription for £25.99 per month, with a 12-month minimum term, which is £5 less than the regular monthly plan.
If you opt for an HBO Max with TNT Sports saver plan, the price varies from £27.99 to £34.99 per month, depending on the package.
HBO Max and TNT Sports plan comparison
| HBO Max Monthly Plans (price per month) |
HBO Max with TNT Sports Monthly Plans (price per month) |
HBO Max with TNT Sports Saver Plans (price per month, 12-month minimum term) | |
| Basic with ads | £4.99 | N/A | N/A |
| Standard with ads | £5.99 | £36.98 | £27.99 |
| Standard | £9.99 | £40.98 | £30.99 |
| Premium | £14.88 | £45.98 | £34.99 |
What does this mean for cycling in the UK?
Many of our UK readers will have fond memories of watching the Tour de France live on TV.
But after ITV’s long-standing coverage came to an end last year, you now need access to TNT Sports to watch the world’s biggest bike race – and others, such as the Tour de Flanders which is just weeks away on 5 April and Paris–Roubaix the following weekend.
While securing the broadcast rights to the Tour was described as “colossal” by TNT Sports, it could diminish road cycling’s profile in the UK. BikeRadar’s Ashley Quinlan has argued that easy access to the Tour helped the sport grow in the UK, and so that growth could slow.
Of course, anyone with access to TNT Sports on linear channels will still be able to tune in. But for a race with viewing figures that have been in slow decline since 2012, having it disappear behind a paywall doesn’t paint the rosiest picture.
That’s particularly pertinent considering the Tour de France returns to the UK next year and gets underway in Scotland. Scottish first minister, John Swinney, said having the Tour de France start in Edinburgh would be “a moment of real national significance”. But will that be true if it’s harder to watch?
The best place to catch the action might be on the roadside rather than the sofa, unless you’re willing to fork out for that subscription.
