HBO’s Streaming Plans Repeat Its Origin Story (With 1 Big Risk)

Warner Bros. Discovery just revealed its plans for the future of HBO Max, and while iterating on the network’s origin story, it also takes risks. HBO Max aims to compete with streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. While HBO Max has one of the smallest catalogs of any platform, the service has always focused on quality over quantity and is the only place HBO produces series such as Sopranos, wireAnd Game of Thrones can be found. HBO has always been the gold standard for high-quality series, and HBO Max is the exclusive hub for those shows.

After merging with Warner Bros. Discovery Channel, David Zaslav becomes new CEO and cancels movie and TV show list, HBO Max is about to see big changes. The name of the streaming platform will change, as “HBO” will be dropped and the streamer will just be called “Max”. While it will remain the same $10 per month plan with ads and $16 per month without ads, there will be an additional plan. This plan will cost $20 per month and offer subscribers higher quality videos, but other details won’t be fully revealed until April 12 (via pack). However, Max could mark another revolutionary step for HBO.

HBO’s Max Streaming Service Retells Its Origin Story

Picking up the $20-a-month special plan on Max sees HBO as the TV standard. HBO was the first direct-to-personal cable TV service, revolutionizing the idea of ​​a traditional ad-free premium channel (via NPR). And HBO Max bat girl was canceled along with many other projects because Zaslav wanted to protect the respectable reputation the network had. Having a premium tier that allows subscribers to watch the series in the best possible quality without any ads is how HBO was successful in the first place.

Why Max is Great (or Disaster) for HBO

Since HBO Max not only has less content than its competitors, but it’s also less popular, it doesn’t make sense that it’s more expensive than both Netflix and Disney+. Disney+ is $7.99 a month with ads and $10.99 a month without ads and Netflix is ​​$9.99 a month without ads and Max’s top cost will double that price. 30 million USD Game of Thrones Part of a prequel because it wasn’t good enough. The question is whether these premium programs will be enough to convince subscribers to pay double.

While HBO Max wasn’t a huge success at first, HBO wasn’t an instant success either. Even if the network has a large number of subscribers (through Forbes). However, the network has grown through perseverance and through high-quality independent specials, finding the best theatrical talent, and investing in creative filmmakers. This is what HBO continues to do Game of Thrones spinoffs and other high quality collectibles. So while HBO Max’s $20 tier is a sizable risk, it’s magnified by the fact that not only are there cheaper tiers, but the sheer quality of programming available is absolutely zero. comparable.