Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Wednesday that “HBO Max” is out, and “Max” is the identify of its rebranded streaming service. The reworked platform will home merged content material from HBO Max and Discovery Plus, providing you with reveals like Euphoria and Succession subsequent to greige-tinted unscripted collection like Fixer Higher. Together with the brand new identify comes a brand new tagline: The One to Watch.
The corporate is touting a bigger library and a greater person interface, however you could have some fundamental questions on how all these adjustments will have an effect on your current account. And newcomers could also be interested by what’s up with Max and what the service has to supply. Listed below are solutions to a few of your questions.
When will Max roll out in my nation?
US clients could have entry to Max on Could 23. Customers in Latin America will see the rollout in fall 2023, with sure Europe and Asia markets receiving Max entry in early to mid 2024.
As soon as the service launches, it should routinely improve with the brand new Max emblem, interface and options. In response to Warner Bros. Discovery, current subscribers will see their profiles, billing data and watch lists seamlessly switch to the up to date model and so they’ll solely need to open the app to make use of the platform. Nevertheless, the corporate stated some customers can be prompted to obtain the brand new model of the streaming app.
New Max clients can both join HBO Max now, or wait to subscribe to the brand new service on Could 23 to begin streaming immediately.
How a lot will Max price?
The value will stay the identical as present HBO Max subscriptions, however there’s one new premium plan that may price greater than the usual two choices. Max Advert-Lite will price $10 monthly and include HD and two streams, whereas ad-free Max is priced at $16 month-to-month for HD, two streams and 30 downloads.
When the brand new service arrives in Could, there may even be a $20-per-month Final Plan, which provides 4 concurrent streams, 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos sound and 100 downloads. It is a change, as HBO Max at present provides three streams for each plans with the power to look at some titles in 4K Extremely HD. Sure, you may need to pay extra for 4K, however some current HBO Max options will nonetheless be obtainable for as much as six months after Max’s launch.
Observe that Discovery Plus will proceed to be a standalone streaming choice. It is at present priced at $5 a month for the ad-supported plan and $7 monthly with out adverts.
What TV reveals and films can be on Max?
Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming providing will convey collectively content material from HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Max could have HBO originals, Warner Bros. motion pictures, Max originals, DC Comics and Harry Potter alongside programming from manufacturers together with Discovery Channel, HGTV, Meals Community, TLC and ID. The whole HBO Max library can be discovered on Max with a particular assortment of Discovery titles.
At its Wednesday press convention, Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted a spread of latest titles that’ll be hitting the freshly rebranded streaming service. Along with DC drama The Penguin, subscribers could have entry to spinoffs of acquainted franchises like The Conjuring, The Large Bang Concept, Sport of Thrones and Harry Potter. New reveals coming to the streamer vary from a restricted collection starring Kate Winslet to a Barbie-themed house renovation competitors collection, and from a thriller based mostly on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to a relationship collection from the producers of 90 Day Fiance.
WBD’s head of content material, Kathleen Finch, and Max’s content material boss, Casey Bloys, emphasised that household and kids’s content material may even take heart stage on the brand new service, with an intention at audiences of all ages. Viewers will get extra animation and leisure releases from widespread manufacturers like Cartoon Community, Hanna-Barbera, Boomerang, Looney Toons and DC. This features a new animated model of Peter & the Wolf from U2’s Bono.
Subscribers also can anticipate movies to seek out Max as their streaming house after their theatrical runs. Shazam! Fury of the Gods will arrive on launch day, and Blue Beetle, Dune 2, Barbie, and The Flash are among the many different film titles you may discover on the platform. The Flash will hit Max within the fall.
A brand new tackle Peter & the Wolf is coming to Max, courtesy of Bono.
Max, Warner Bros. Discovery
Is there a solution to decide out of Discovery or HBO Max content material?
No. However you possibly can select to have a standalone Discovery Plus subscription as an alternative of subscribing to Max. Whereas there will not be a separate model for HBO Max and HBO-branded content material, Warner Bros. Discovery says the up to date app could have an interface that is extra tailor-made to a person’s preferences. It’s going to additionally characteristic style hubs and a brand new content material navigation menu on the high of the display screen to make it simpler to seek out what you need.
In response to the corporate’s international streaming boss, J.B. Perrette, Max will “have differentiated and high-performing personalised experiences together with components reminiscent of ‘As a result of You Watched’ suggestions, and immersive hero photographs tailor-made for every person.” He indicated that the app’s advice engine will finally study to floor content material that matches your viewing habits.
Ought to I cancel my present HBO Max or Discovery Plus subscription if I’ve each?
There isn’t any have to cancel your subscriptions proper now except you are not having fun with them. All current HBO Max subscribers will transition to Max when the app relaunches in Could. Max will embody Discovery Plus content material, however Discovery Plus may even stay a separate, lower-priced streaming choice that has content material solely from Discovery networks. Should you like Max’s totally merged lineup, then it’s possible you’ll need to wait and drop Discovery Plus in Could.
What if I get HBO or HBO Max by way of cable?
Should you at present obtain HBO Max or HBO by way of a cell provider or your cable/satellite tv for pc TV supplier, you may have entry to the up to date Max app. You will not need to cancel and resubscribe. Upon launch, it’s going to be obtainable by way of AT&T, Hulu, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, DirecTV, Prime Video channels and different providers. You’ll be able to view the checklist on the Max web site. Max can be accessible on most units, together with TVs, gaming consoles and cell phones.
Should you’re new to Max or Discovery Plus, you possibly can enroll now or wait till Could 23.
To study extra about WBD’s streaming providers, learn up on its technique for dwell sports activities and which channels are on Discovery Plus.
