HBO confirms its 'Game of Thrones' spinoff will be available in Russia, despite parent company WarnerMedia suspending 'new business' there

• HBO told Insider that it is continuing its partnership with Russian streaming service Amediateka.

• In 2021, Amediateka signed a distribution agreement with HBO's parent company, WarnerMedia.

• In March, WarnerMedia announced it was "pausing all new business in Russia."

Russian consumers won't be able to view most new American films, at least not legitimately, due to their government's decision to invade their neighbor, Ukraine, in February of this year.

But one thing they won't be deprived of: new content from HBO, including the upcoming "Game of Thrones" spinoff series — despite parent company WarnerMedia pulling its own channels from the airwaves.

Russians will be able to view "House of the Dragon" exclusively on the popular streaming service Amediateka, HBO confirmed to Insider.

"While we paused any new business in Russia, we continue to fulfill contractual obligations (where entities aren't sanctioned)," HBO spokesperson Anna Nicoll said in a statement.

In 2017, HBO struck a "multi-year deal" with Amedia, allowing it to air its content on television and its Amediateka streaming service, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Another agreement, announced in August 2021, incorporated all series produced for its own streaming service, HBO Max.

The continued partnership was spotted by The Russian Reader, which noted that Amediateka was promoting the "Game of Thrones" spinoff in its email newsletter. The show is also prominently featured on the service's homepage, which bills itself as the "Home of HBO."

This comes despite efforts by WarnerMedia to pull out of the Russian market.

Immediately following Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the company announced it was joining other studios in halting the release of all new films in Russia.

In March, CEO Jason Kilar announced the media giant was also "pausing all new business in Russia," according to a memo obtained by Variety. "This includes ceasing broadcast of our channels, halting all new content licensing with Russian entities and pausing our planned theatrical and games releases," Kilar wrote.

HBO did not say when its contract with the Russian streaming service will end.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Insider