What Happened to Discovery+?
Discovery+ is a subscription video-on-demand streaming service launched by Discovery, Inc. in 2020, focusing on factual and unscripted entertainment. Following the 2022 merger of Discovery with WarnerMedia to form Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the service's future became intertwined with HBO Max, leading to the launch of the combined 'Max' service in 2023. While Discovery+ has been integrated into Max in many international markets and wound down in others, it continues to operate as a standalone service in the United States due to its profitability and distinct audience.
Quick Answer
Discovery+ continues to operate as a standalone streaming service in the United States as of August 2026, offering its extensive library of factual and unscripted content. Its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, launched the combined 'Max' streaming service in 2023, which integrates much of Discovery+'s content with HBO and Warner Bros. programming. Internationally, Discovery+ has largely been integrated into Max or wound down in favor of Max in many regions, though it recently introduced new play-listed channels and NASA+ live streams in the U.S. in August 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Discovery+ Launches in India
Discovery+ first launched in India, offering content from Discovery's various brands.
Discovery+ Launches in the United States
Discovery+ officially debuted in the U.S. with both ad-supported and ad-free plans, featuring a vast library of non-fiction content and original series.
Discovery+ Expands to Europe
The service launched in eight European territories, replacing Discovery's existing Dplay and Eurosport Player services.
Discovery Inc. Merges with WarnerMedia to Form Warner Bros. Discovery
The $43 billion merger of Discovery, Inc. and AT&T's WarnerMedia closed, creating the new media conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
Discovery+ Reaches 24 Million Subscribers
As of this date, Discovery+ reported a subscriber count of 24 million.
WBD Announces Plans to Merge HBO Max and Discovery+
Warner Bros. Discovery announced its intention to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming service, targeting a U.S. launch in summer 2023.
WBD Decides to Keep Discovery+ as Standalone in U.S.
WBD CEO David Zaslav announced that Discovery+ would remain a standalone service in the U.S. due to its profitability and distinct audience, alongside the new combined service.
Max Streaming Service Launches in the U.S.
The rebranded and expanded streaming service, Max (formerly HBO Max), launched in the U.S., incorporating content from HBO, Warner Bros., and Discovery.
Discovery+ Closes in Several European Markets
Discovery+ permanently ceased operations in Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain as Max expanded its presence in Europe.
Discovery+ Ceases Operations in Brazil
The streaming service was discontinued in Brazil as part of WBD's international streaming strategy.
Discovery+ Wound Down in Canada
Discovery+ ceased operations in Canada, with exclusive rights to its programming and brands acquired by Rogers Communications.
Paramount Skydance Announces Acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount Skydance announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110.9 billion, a major development for Discovery+'s parent company.
WBD-Paramount Merger Delayed by Antitrust Action
The proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance was delayed until June 1, 2027, due to widespread antitrust legal action.
Discovery+ Rolls Out New Play-Listed Channels and NASA+ Integration
In the U.S., Discovery+ began rolling out new curated 'play-listed channels' and integrated live streaming content from NASA+.
Discovery+ U.S. Pricing Update
The ad-supported plan for Discovery+ in the U.S. is noted at $5.99 per month, with the ad-free version at $9.99 per month.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Discovery+ first launched in India on March 23, 2020, before expanding globally, including a significant rollout in the United States on January 4, 2021. The service was designed to be the definitive streaming home for Discovery's vast library of non-fiction content, encompassing popular channels like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and Discovery Channel, alongside original programming and content from partners like the BBC. It quickly gained traction, reaching 24 million subscribers by April 2022.
A pivotal moment for Discovery+ came with the merger of its parent company, Discovery, Inc., with AT&T's WarnerMedia on April 8, 2022, forming Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Initially, WBD announced plans in August 2022 to merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single, comprehensive streaming service to reduce churn and offer a broader appeal, targeting a U.S. launch in summer 2023. However, in February 2023, WBD leadership, particularly CEO David Zaslav, reversed course on fully discontinuing Discovery+ in the U.S. The decision was driven by Discovery+'s strong profitability and loyal subscriber base, which demonstrated low churn, making it financially advantageous to maintain it as a separate, lower-cost offering alongside the new combined service.
The new combined streaming service, branded 'Max,' was officially unveiled on April 12, 2023, and launched in the U.S. on May 23, 2023. Max integrated much of Discovery's unscripted content with HBO's prestige dramas, Warner Bros. films, and a broader array of children's programming. While U.S. subscribers could choose between Max and the standalone Discovery+, the international strategy differed. In mid-2024, Max launched in 25 European countries, integrating content from Eurosport and Discovery+, leading to the winding down of Discovery+ as a standalone service in markets like Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Spain by December 2024, and Brazil and Turkey in early 2025. In February 2026, Discovery+ was also wound down in Canada, with its programming rights acquired by Rogers Communications.
As of August 2026, Discovery+ remains active in the U.S., continuing to offer its distinct content. The service has seen recent updates, including the rollout of new 'play-listed channels' and the integration of NASA+ live streams in August 2026, enhancing its content offerings. Warner Bros. Discovery has set ambitious goals for its combined streaming services (Max, HBO, Discovery+), aiming to reach 150 million global subscribers by the end of 2026. The ad-supported plan for Discovery+ in the U.S. is priced at $5.99 per month, with an ad-free version at $9.99 per month.
In a significant development for its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $110 billion transaction announced on February 27, 2026. This proposed merger, which would create a massive new media entity, received U.S. Department of Justice approval in June 2026. However, the deal has faced widespread antitrust legal action and was subsequently delayed until June 1, 2027, with a federal judge ruling in August 2026 to hold the antitrust trial in March 2027. This ongoing situation introduces uncertainty for the long-term structure and strategy of all WBD assets, including Discovery+.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Discovery+ made different choices?