Warner has decided to remove HBO from the name of its streaming platform, to merge it with Discovery+ in a new service that will encompass all Warner content. Max will launch on May 23 and will be the only place to watch the new Harry Potter series.
HBO Max is dead, long live Max! HBO Max and Discovery+ merge to create a streaming service combined, Max. We knew it since last year, it became official at a conference organized on Wednesday by Warner. The new service will launch on May 23 and will cost up to $19.99 per month, with two cheaper tiers at $15.99 and $9.99. We do not yet know the prices in France but with the current quasi-parity euro / dollar it is likely that the prices displayed are the same in euros.
The ad-free Ultimate tier at $19.99 per month will include 4K HDR Dolby Atmos for select content, 100 offline downloads, and four possible simulcasts. The standard ad-free plan at $15.99 per month will offer HD quality, two simultaneous streams, and 30 offline downloads. The cheapest offer will require advertising, with HD quality and two simultaneous streams. The migration of HBO Max users including their profiles, viewing histories and billing information to the new service will be automatic.
Warner Bros. Discovery hinted at some Max Originals content coming to the service, like DC’s The Penguin, a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory, and a “new interpretation” from The Conjuring. CEO David Zaslav also said popular franchises by Warner, such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Sesame Street, Looney Tunes, and more, will be featured on the platform.
Max, the sign of a new streaming strategy for Warner
« Max is the platform you want to watch said David Zaslav at the conference. ” It’s the one you want to watch because it’s where every member of the household can go to see exactly what they want at any time. Indeed, by removing the HBO brand, known for its demanding or adult content from its streaming service, Warner wants to appeal to as many people as possible, especially family audiences.
To read: Prime Video: the Warner pass at €9.99/month arrives for Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and all HBO series
Julia Alexander, director of strategy at Parrot Analytics, explains that “HBO’s removal from the name confirms the narrative that says, ‘We’re not just a platform for premium content. We are the platform for everything you want to watch“. You open HBO Max once a week, and you might not open it until the rest of the week. They want you to open it two, three or four times a week. » she declares in the pages of the New York Times.
To promote this new service, Warner also announced at the event a new Harry Potter series that will be broadcast for 10 years, with JK Rowling as executive producer!
