In a strategic move aimed at bolstering its streaming platform, HBO has decided to withhold next-day clips of the popular comedy talk show “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” from its YouTube channel.
Starting with the Season 11 premiere on February 18, HBO ceased the practice of sharing the main feature and other segments from “Last Week Tonight” on YouTube the day after airing. This shift in approach is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to encourage viewers to subscribe to HBO Max, which offers a range of content starting at $9.99 per month for the ad-supported plan.
John Oliver communicated this change to his followers in a February 19 post on Twitter, expressing his hope for a reversal in HBO’s decision. He stated, “I know I usually share a link to our main story here on Mondays, but HBO has decided they’re going to wait until Thursday to post them to YouTube from now on. I hope they change their mind, but until then, you can see our piece about the Supreme Court on HBO, on MAX, and on YouTube in a few days.”
Confirming the shift in strategy, an HBO representative outlined the new policy: clips from “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” will now be made available on YouTube four days after the premiere on HBO and HBO Max.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the HBO spokesperson highlighted the evolving landscape of streaming services. “When ‘Last Week Tonight With John Oliver’ first premiered on HBO, the option to watch on Max was not available, thus YouTube provided flexibility for viewing the main story and promotional exposure,” the spokesperson explained. “We are now delaying that availability and hope those fans choose to watch the entire show on Max.”
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” airs on Sunday nights at 11 p.m. on HBO. Last December, HBO announced the renewal of the Emmy-winning show for three additional seasons, extending through 2026. John Oliver expressed his gratitude for the renewal, stating, “We’re very happy to get to keep making this show with our fantastic staff. We will continue trying to stretch the term ‘entertainment’ to the breaking point.”
