Warner Bros. announced that they want to develop a new streaming service that will combine the content of Discovery+ and HBO Max. There will no longer be any reference to the HBO brand on the streaming service known as “Max.”
The streaming services, formerly HBO GO and HBO Now, will be consolidated into a single offering known as HBO Max in 2020. This is one of many rebranding initiatives that HBO has undergone throughout its history. After the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia in 2022, the network will rebrand itself as “Max” and no longer use the HBO moniker. It was made clear at the time of the merger that HBO Max and Discovery+ would eventually be merged into a single service under the newly established Warner Bros. Discovery firm. In December, there were whispers about the name “Max” being considered.
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Because the HBO Max streaming service is famous for incredibly successful shows such as Succession, Game of Thrones, Euphoria, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, the decision to do away with the HBO label is a perplexing one. The Max streaming service will provide users a choice between the following three pricing tiers:
- Pricing for Max Ad-Lite is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. It has 5.1 surround sound quality, no offline downloads, 1080p resolution, and two streams running simultaneously. Powered by advertisements.
- Max Ad Free is available for $15.99 per month or $149.99 per year. Included are two streams that can run at the same time, a resolution of 1080p, thirty offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound.
- The price of Max Ultimate Ad-Free is either $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year. Includes up to 4K UHD resolution streaming, up to 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality. Streams can be watched simultaneously.
According to Warner Bros., current customers of HBO Max who pay for their service through HBO will be able to access Max at the same price as their HBO Max subscription. Further details on this offer may be found on the website for HBO Max. Those who have subscribed to the service through a TV, mobile, or wireless provider will be notified if there are any changes to the prices or plans.
The premiere of “Max” is scheduled for May 23, and it will feature programming from both HBO Max and Discovery TV networks like HGTV, the Food Network, ID, TLC, and more. In conjunction with introducing the service, Warner Bros. also announced a new Harry Potter television series and another drama that will serve as a prequel to Game of Thrones.
On certain operating systems, the HBO Max app will be upgraded to the Max app without the user’s intervention. When accessing the HBO Max app on some devices, customers will receive a notification prompting them to download the Max app. Customers who subscribe to Discovery+ can sign up as new Max subscribers because the transition will not affect their subscriptions. Discovery+ will continue to be offered independently as a service option for users.
