• by Wayne Friedman , October 25, 2019

On the heels of Verizon announcing a big subscriber launch deal for the new streaming service Disney+, AT&T says its new competing premium video service HBO Max -- starting next spring -- will be available to 10 million customers who are also linear TV HBO subscribers.

The report comes from an interview that John Stankey, Chief Operating Officer of AT&T, gave to Reuters.

By 2025, AT&T’s goal is to get 50 million U.S. subscribers and 80 million global subscribers.

Earlier this week, MoffettNathanson Research projected Disney+ will have 8 million subscribers at launch and 18 million by the end of 2020.

This is largely due to the deal Verizon will give to its existing and new customers -- a free first-year subscription of Disney+. By the end of 2020, of the 18 million subscribers, Disney+ could have just under 9 million U.S. subscribers from Verizon alone.

Following its initial launch next year, HBO Max will look to offer an ad-supported option, as well as live programming.

Apple TV+ may best all new premium video services -- estimated to possibly have more than 100 million globally by the end of its first year, according to Barclays Capital. Another estimate from Morgan Stanley says Apple TV+ could hit 136 million by 2025.

Apple TV+ is set in a week, on November 1. Disney+ will launch about two weeks later, on November 12.