HBO Latin America Group
A former Latin American television company that operated HBO and Cinemax services and distributed numerous international cable channels.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
HBO Latin America Group was a television company responsible for operating and distributing HBO-branded pay-TV services across Latin America and the Caribbean. It originated in 1991 as a joint venture between Time Warner and Ole Communications, created around the regional launch of HBO. The venture extended the HBO brand beyond the United States by adapting its channel portfolio, distribution relationships, and language feeds to Latin American markets. The company’s regional HBO portfolio included Spanish-language services such as HBO Latin America, HBO 2, HBO+, HBO Family, and HBO Signature. HBO Latin America was formerly known as HBO Ole, while HBO+ previously used the names HBO Ole 2 and HBO Plus. The group also operated Portuguese-language feeds for Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking audiences in the region. HBO Brasil was launched in 1994, although the Brazilian business remained a separate joint venture with Ole Communications and was specifically excluded from WarnerMedia’s later purchase of Ole’s minority interest in the broader HBO Latin America Group. HBO Latin America Group’s role expanded beyond the operation of HBO-branded premium channels. It distributed or handled regional channel activities for several major international media companies, including Turner, Sony Pictures Television Networks, A+E Networks Latin America, and NBCUniversal International Networks Latin America. Its distribution portfolio included services such as History Latin America, H2 Latin America, A&E Latin America, Lifetime Latin America, E! Latin America, Telemundo Internacional, Universal TV, Studio Universal, USA Network, Sony Channel, AXN, and Warner TV, subject to market-specific exceptions and ownership arrangements. HBO Caribbean operated as a division of the group. The company’s channel history also included services that were later discontinued or replaced, including Animax, Locomotion, Sony Spin, TV Quality, Mundo Olé, A&E Mundo, Syfy, Sci-Fi, HBO Family in a separate channel configuration, and HBO HD. These changes reflected the continuing consolidation and repositioning of the Latin American pay-TV market, including channel rebrands and the introduction of replacement services such as H2 in 2014 and Lifetime Latin America in 2014. In October 2019, WarnerMedia announced an agreement to acquire Ole Communications’ minority interest in HBO Latin America Group. The transaction gave WarnerMedia full control of the group’s HBO channels in the Latin American region, while leaving the separate HBO Brasil joint venture unaffected. WarnerMedia and Ole Communications continued to distribute basic television channels in Latin America through their ongoing arrangements. In May 2020, HBO Latin America Group was merged into WarnerMedia, ending its existence as a separate company. Its regional operations subsequently formed part of the Warner Bros. Discovery Americas structure following later corporate changes at WarnerMedia’s parent business.
History
HBO Latin America Group was established in 1991 as a joint venture between Time Warner and Ole Communications. Its creation accompanied the introduction of HBO programming and a dedicated HBO channel service to Latin America. The venture provided a regional structure for licensing, operating, marketing, and distributing HBO services rather than treating Latin America as a direct extension of the United States channel business. The group expanded its regional portfolio during the 1990s. HBO Brasil launched in 1994, creating a Portuguese-language presence in Brazil through a separate joint venture involving HBO and Ole Communications. During the decade, Sony and Disney became shareholders in the company. Both companies later exited their interests in 2010. The ownership changes occurred as the group broadened its business beyond a single HBO service and developed a larger network-distribution role. The group operated Spanish-language HBO services under several names and formats. HBO Latin America was previously known as HBO Ole, while HBO+ had previously been branded HBO Ole 2 and HBO Plus. HBO 2, HBO Family, and HBO Signature formed additional parts of the HBO channel family. Portuguese-language feeds were also available for the regional HBO channels. Cinemax Latin America became an ad-supported basic cable network in 2009, giving the group a service positioned differently from its premium HBO channels. HBO Caribbean operated as a division serving Caribbean markets. HBO Latin America Group also distributed channels belonging to other media companies. Its relationships covered Turner, Sony Pictures Television Networks, A+E Networks Latin America, and NBCUniversal International Networks Latin America. The portfolio included History Latin America, H2 Latin America, A&E Latin America, Lifetime Latin America, E! Latin America, Telemundo Internacional, Universal TV, Studio Universal, USA Network, Sony Channel, AXN, Warner TV, and other services. Distribution arrangements varied by territory. For example, certain NBCUniversal channels had exceptions for Mexico, Brazil, or both, and some services were operated through local or joint-venture structures rather than directly by HBO Latin America Group. The regional portfolio changed over time through launches, replacements, rebrands, and closures. H2 Latin America began in July 2014 as a replacement for Bio., while Lifetime Latin America began in June 2014 as a replacement for Sony Spin. Other services associated with the company’s history included Animax, Locomotion, TV Quality, Mundo Olé, A&E Mundo, Syfy, Sci-Fi, and HBO HD. These changes illustrate the group’s role as a platform for managing a changing collection of international television brands in a fragmented Latin American market. In October 2019, WarnerMedia announced that it would buy Ole Communications’ minority interest in HBO Latin America Group. The transaction gave WarnerMedia full control of all HBO channels within the Latin American region. The announcement expressly distinguished HBO Brasil, which remained a separate joint venture and was not affected. WarnerMedia and Ole Communications continued their basic television channel-distribution activities in Latin America through their continuing arrangements. In May 2020, HBO Latin America Group was merged into WarnerMedia. This ended the group’s existence as an independent company and integrated its regional operations into WarnerMedia. Following the later separation and combination of WarnerMedia assets with Discovery, the relevant regional activities became associated with Warner Bros. Discovery Americas. The historical HBO Latin America Group therefore represents both a regional HBO operating company and a broader distribution platform that helped establish and organize numerous international television services in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- 2020
The company is merged into WarnerMedia
[1]HBO Latin America Group ceases to exist as a separate company after its merger into WarnerMedia in May.
- 2019
WarnerMedia agrees to acquire Ole’s minority interest
[1]WarnerMedia announces a transaction intended to give it full control of HBO Latin America Group’s HBO channels, excluding the separate HBO Brasil joint venture.
- 2014
H2 and Lifetime launch in Latin America
[1]H2 Latin America replaces Bio. in July, and Lifetime Latin America replaces Sony Spin in June.
- 2010
Sony and Disney leave the shareholder group
[1]Sony and Disney, which had become shareholders during the company’s earlier development, exit their interests.
- 2009
Cinemax Latin America changes distribution model
[1]Cinemax Latin America operates as an advertising-supported basic cable network.
- 1994
HBO Brasil launches
[1]A Brazilian HBO channel launches through a separate joint venture involving HBO and Ole Communications.
- 1991
HBO Latin America Group is founded
[1]Time Warner and Ole Communications establish the company as a joint venture and launch HBO in the Latin American region.
Products and positioning
A regional premium television and channel-distribution platform built around HBO-branded services, with additional distribution relationships covering major international entertainment and factual television networks.
Premium television channel · 1991
HBO Latin America
The group’s core Spanish-language premium television service in Latin America. Formerly known as HBO Ole, it served as the principal regional HBO-branded channel and anchor for the company’s Latin American operations.
Premium television channel
HBO 2
A secondary HBO-branded channel included in the Latin American portfolio, with Spanish-language and Portuguese-language feeds associated with the regional service structure.
Premium television channel
HBO+
A regional HBO channel formerly known as HBO Ole 2 and HBO Plus. It formed part of the group’s expanded premium channel family alongside the primary HBO service.
Premium television channel
HBO Family
A family-oriented service within the HBO Latin American channel portfolio. The name appears in the group’s operating-channel history and in its list of discontinued or reconfigured services.
Premium television channel
HBO Signature
A premium HBO-branded channel operated in Spanish- and Portuguese-language regional feeds as part of the group’s multi-channel portfolio.
Basic cable television channel
Cinemax Latin America
The Latin American Cinemax service associated with HBO Latin America Group. From 2009, it operated as an advertising-supported basic cable network rather than solely as a premium subscription channel.
Premium television channel · 1994
HBO Brasil
The Brazilian HBO service launched in 1994. It was connected to HBO and Ole Communications through a separate joint venture and was not affected by WarnerMedia’s 2019 purchase of the minority interest in the broader HBO Latin America Group.
Regional television service
HBO Caribbean
A Caribbean division operated by HBO Latin America Group, extending the group’s regional HBO service structure beyond mainland Latin American markets.
Television distribution
Regional channel distribution portfolio
The group distributed selected channels from A+E Networks Latin America, NBCUniversal International Networks Latin America, Sony Pictures Television Networks Latin America, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Ole Communications. Examples included History, H2, A&E, Lifetime, E!, Telemundo Internacional, Universal TV, Studio Universal, USA Network, Sony Channel, AXN, Warner TV, and IVC Network, with territory-specific exceptions.
Brand decisions
2020
Merger into WarnerMediaM&ABackground
Following WarnerMedia’s acquisition of Ole Communications’ minority interest, the regional operating group was reorganized within WarnerMedia.
Action taken
HBO Latin America Group was merged into WarnerMedia in May 2020.
Aftermath
The company ceased to operate as a separate legal and organizational entity, with its regional activities continuing under WarnerMedia and later Warner Bros. Discovery Americas structures.
2019
WarnerMedia takes full control of HBO Latin America GroupM&ABackground
Ole Communications held a minority interest in the HBO Latin America Group, while WarnerMedia sought full control of its regional HBO channels.
Action taken
WarnerMedia announced the purchase of Ole Communications’ minority interest. HBO Brasil was excluded because it was a separate joint venture.
Aftermath
WarnerMedia obtained full control of the group’s HBO channels in Latin America, while basic-channel distribution arrangements involving WarnerMedia and Ole Communications continued.
2014
Launch of H2 Latin AmericaProduct launchBackground
The regional channel portfolio was revised as the former Bio. service was replaced.
Action taken
H2 Latin America began operating in July 2014.
Aftermath
H2 became part of the group’s distributed Latin American factual and entertainment channel lineup.
2014
Launch of Lifetime Latin AmericaProduct launchBackground
The regional channel lineup changed following the replacement of Sony Spin.
Action taken
Lifetime Latin America launched in June 2014.
Aftermath
The channel became part of the A+E Networks Latin America portfolio distributed in the region.
Sources1 sources
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