HBO Max will quickly turn out to be Max, a revamped streaming service, based on Warner Bros. Discovery. The reworked platform will home merged content material from HBO Max and Discovery Plus, together with dramas resembling Euphoria and Succession subsequent to greige-tinted Fixer Higher and different unscripted sequence. Together with the brand new title comes a brand new tagline: The One to Watch.
The corporate is touting a bigger library and a greater consumer interface, however you’ll have some primary questions on how all these modifications will have an effect on your present account. And newcomers could also be inquisitive about 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 prospects can have entry to Max on Might 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’s going to mechanically improve with the brand new Max brand, interface and options. Based on Warner Bros. Discovery, present 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. Nonetheless, the corporate stated some customers will likely be prompted to obtain the brand new model of the streaming app.
New Max prospects can both join HBO Max now, or wait to subscribe to the brand new service on Might 23 to begin streaming immediately.
How a lot will Max value?
The worth will stay the identical as present HBO Max subscriptions, however there’s one new premium plan that can value greater than the usual two choices. Max Advert-Lite will value $10 per 30 days 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 Might, there will 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 presently provides three streams for each plans with the flexibility to look at some titles in 4K Extremely HD. Sure, you may need to pay extra for 4K, however some present 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 presently priced at $5 a month for the ad-supported plan and $7 per 30 days with out advertisements.
What TV reveals and films will likely be on Max?
Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming providing will convey collectively content material from HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Max can 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. Your entire HBO Max library will likely be discovered on Max with a particular assortment of Discovery titles.
At its Wednesday press convention, Warner Bros. Discovery highlighted a spread of recent titles that’ll be hitting the freshly rebranded streaming service. Along with DC drama The Penguin, subscribers can have entry to spinoffs of acquainted franchises like The Conjuring, The Huge Bang Concept, Sport of Thrones and Harry Potter. New reveals coming to the streamer vary from a restricted sequence starring Kate Winslet to a Barbie-themed house renovation competitors sequence, and from a thriller primarily based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to a relationship sequence 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 youngsters’s content material will even take middle stage on the brand new service, with an purpose at audiences of all ages. Viewers will get extra animation and leisure releases from common 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 can even 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.
Is there a approach to decide out of Discovery or HBO Max content material?
No. However you’ll be able to select to have a standalone Discovery Plus subscription as a substitute 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 can have an interface that is extra tailor-made to a consumer’s preferences. It’s going to additionally function 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.
Based on the corporate’s international streaming boss, J.B. Perrette, Max will “have differentiated and high-performing customized experiences together with components resembling ‘As a result of You Watched’ suggestions, and immersive hero photos tailor-made for every consumer.” He indicated that the app’s suggestion 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 must cancel your subscriptions proper now until you are now not having fun with them. All present HBO Max subscribers will transition to Max when the app relaunches in Might. Max will embody Discovery Plus content material, however Discovery Plus will even stay a separate, lower-priced streaming choice that has content material solely from Discovery networks. In the event you like Max’s absolutely merged lineup, then chances are you’ll wish to wait and drop Discovery Plus in Might.
What if I get HBO or HBO Max by way of cable?
In the event you presently 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 will be obtainable by way of AT&T, Hulu, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, DirecTV, Prime Video channels and different providers. You may view the record on the Max web site. Max will likely be accessible on most units, together with TVs, gaming consoles and cell phones.
In the event you’re new to Max or Discovery Plus, you’ll be able to enroll now or wait till Might 23.
To study extra about WBD’s streaming providers, learn up on its technique for stay sports activities and which channels are on Discovery Plus.