WBD - HBO Delays Free Streaming Of 'Last Week Tonight With John Oliver' On YouTube To Drive Max Viewership And Revenue Growth | Benzinga

HBO is delaying the free streaming of John Oliver‘s show on YouTube, contrary to the free uploads of Jon Stewart‘s show. This decision is part of a broader strategy by Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:WBD) to increase revenue.

What Happened: Warner Bros. Discovery, the owner of HBO, has decided to delay the free streaming of “Last Week Tonight” on YouTube. The show, hosted by Oliver, will now be available on YouTube four days after its cable TV airing, reported Business Insider. This move is intended to encourage viewers to watch the show on Max, the streaming platform owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.

This decision is part of the company’s larger efforts to cut costs and increase revenue. Since the acquisition of WarnerMedia by Discovery boss David Zaslav two years ago, the company has been implementing various strategies to achieve these goals.

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Oliver took to social media platform X to express his disapproval of the decision. Despite his discontent, HBO is clear about its motives. The network does not generate revenue from YouTube, where the show is aired without ads. By delaying the availability of the show on YouTube, HBO hopes to drive viewers to Max, where it can monetize the show.