HBO and HBO Max ended 2021 with 73.8 million global subscribers, according to a regulatory filing from AT&T Wednesday. The number marks a gain of 4.4 million subscribers in Q4 2021.
The total subscriber number exceeded AT&T’s target number of 70 to 73 million. The number includes domestic and international subscribers but does not include those who are using the service with a free trial.
HBO and HBO Max saw a 1.8 million U.S. subscriber loss in Q3. However, globally, HBO and HBO Max gained 1.9 million subscribers, reaching 69.4 million subscribers in total for the quarter. WarnerMedia noted its decision to remove the HBO channel from Amazon Prime Channels as the cause behind the drop in domestic subscribers, while increased interest internationally offset the losses.
HBO Max also announced this week that December was the most-watched month for the streaming app since it launched in May 2020. HBO Max noted that viewing time was up because of the holiday season, as well as new original content including And Just Like That… and The Sex Lives of College Girls, along with HBO programming like Succession and Curb Your Enthusiasm and new movies including The Matrix Resurrections and King Richard.