Foxtel has announced an extension of its agreement with US cable network HBO, that provides even more extensive rights to HBO’s library of programming.

The new rights arrangements are set to kick off from 1 January 2017.

The new agreement will provide Foxtel customers access to even more HBO dramas, comedies and documentaries. In addition to current seasons of HBO shows that air on Foxtel, customers will now be able to stream their favourite HBO series, past and present via the Foxtel Anytime service.

The new agreement continues Foxtel’s exclusive premiere offering of first run programs by HBO including films, miniseries, full seasons, comedy specials, documentaries and talk shows and now includes comprehensive on demand rights that remove any prior programming ‘rest periods”.

In the past two years HBO has launched a $15 per month internet based product called HBO Now that allow US customers access to all HBO programming including Game Of Thrones without a pay-tv subscription. The successful service is now being expanded into Europe.

A spokesperson for Foxtel today declined to confirm if the new agreement included a clause that would prevent HBO from launching HBO Now within Australia.

HBO’s programming has been a premium fixture for Foxtel subscribers, which has brought a host of internationally acclaimed content including Game of Thrones, The Night Of, The Jinx, The Wire, VEEP, The Sopranos, True Blood, Girls, The Leftovers, Six Feet Under, True Detective, Ballers, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Rome, Entourage, Eastbound and Down, Silicon Valley and more.

Season 6 of HBO’s Game of Thrones broke viewership records on Foxtel with the final episode recording an overnight audience of 737,000 with the full season enjoying a cumulative average audience of more than 1.2 million viewers per episode.

Foxtel CEO Peter Tonagh said:

“HBO is known for creating some of the most compelling, must-watch TV the world has ever seen and Foxtel and HBO have a shared legacy of bringing these incredible shows to Australian screens everywhere. Together, we’ve recognised the changing ways subscribers are enjoying and re-enjoying their favourite series, and our newly strengthened relationship enables us to deliver our customers all of the amazing HBO stories they love, whenever and wherever they want.”

Charles Schreger, President of Programming Sales, HBO, said:

“The full value of HBO is recognised when our current and library programming live together as an offering to the consumer. With this expansion of rights, Foxtel makes available the abundance of all HBO has to offer and we know from experience that this will further elevate Foxtel’s great service. They’ve always been a forward-thinking partner and we are thrilled with what we’ve been able to accomplish.”