Warner Bros. Discovery revealed on Wednesday that “HBO Max” is out, and “Max” is the title 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 title comes a brand new tagline: The One to Watch.
The corporate is touting a bigger library and a greater person interface, however you will have some primary questions on how all these modifications will have an effect on your present account. And newcomers could also be interested in what’s up with Max and what the service has to supply. Listed here are solutions to a few of your questions.
When will Max roll out in my nation?
US clients can 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 is going to mechanically improve with the brand new Max brand, interface and options. In line with Warner Bros. Discovery, present subscribers will see their profiles, billing info and watch lists seamlessly switch to the up to date model they usually’ll solely need to open the app to make use of the platform. Nonetheless, the corporate mentioned some customers shall 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 worth will stay the identical as present HBO Max subscriptions, however there’s one new premium plan that can price greater than the usual two choices. Max Advert-Lite will price $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 Could, there will even be a $20-per-month Final Plan, which affords 4 concurrent streams, 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos sound and 100 downloads. This can be a change, as HBO Max presently affords three streams for each plans with the power to observe some titles in 4K Extremely HD. Sure, you may need to pay extra for 4K, however some present HBO Max options will nonetheless be out there for as much as six months after Max’s launch.
Word 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 flicks shall be on Max?
Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming providing will carry collectively content material from HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Max can have HBO originals, Warner Bros. films, 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 shall 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 can have entry to spinoffs of acquainted franchises like The Conjuring, The Huge Bang Principle, Recreation 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 will even take middle stage on the brand new service, with an intention at audiences of all ages. Viewers will get extra animation and leisure releases from standard 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 may also anticipate movies to search 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 strategy 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 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 can 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 search out what you need.
In line with the corporate’s world streaming boss, J.B. Perrette, Max will “have differentiated and high-performing customized experiences together with components similar to ‘As a result of You Watched’ suggestions, and immersive hero photos tailor-made for every person.” He indicated that the app’s advice engine will ultimately 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 not having fun with them. All present HBO Max subscribers will transition to Max when the app relaunches in Could. 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. When you like Max’s absolutely merged lineup, then you could need to wait and drop Discovery Plus in Could.
What if I get HBO or HBO Max by cable?
When you presently obtain HBO Max or HBO by a cellular service 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 out there by AT&T, Hulu, Cox, Xfinity, Verizon, DirecTV, Prime Video channels and different companies. You may view the checklist on the Max web site. Max shall be accessible on most gadgets, together with TVs, gaming consoles and cellphones.
When you’re new to Max or Discovery Plus, you’ll be able to enroll now or wait till Could 23.
To study extra about WBD’s streaming companies, learn up on its technique for dwell sports activities and which channels are on Discovery Plus.