After months of teasing, Warner Bros. Discovery will officially unveil the HBO Max brand on May 23.
Max will offer slightly less HBO forward experiences to the popular platform as the streaming service becomes known. But given all the product features and the additional content the Discovery+ brand provides, maybe Max won’t be a cause for concern among HBO fans.
Here are fast facts you need to know about Max, as WBD revealed during the hour-long edition Wednesday.
Max will cost the same as HBO Max with one exception
When the Max officially launches on May 23, there will be three pricing tiers. Max Ad-Lite And Maximum Ad-Free mostly the same as current HBO Max offerings. Ad-Lite It will cost $9.99 per month, will offer 1080p content and will not allow offline downloading. Ad-free It will cost $15.99 per month, stream in 1080p and offer 30 offline downloads per month.
Then there is new Max Ultimate Ad-Free Option priced at $19.99 per month or $199.99 for annual subscription. This will allow you to once again stream in 4K and download content leaving it. Users who pay $15.99, the price of the current top-of-the-line plan available for HBO Max, which currently has the same features, have six months before being asked to upgrade to Ultimate or lose those extra features.
User experience will be much better
HBO Max is notoriously messy to navigate. A carousel at the top slowly reveals some, if not all, new content to check out, while the rest of the homepage shows rows of various, poorly edited movies and shows. Certain brand hubs also don’t get conspicuous placement, meaning most users simply navigate their home screen without checking what else is available.
WBD has announced a number of product features to make Max much more user-friendly, including tabs at the top of the page with clearly defined categories, such as the app’s new offerings. Users will also get Netflix-style personalized recommendations to check based on what they’ve watched recently. Pages devoted to different genres and these diverse, well-hidden brand centers will also be prominently displayed. There will also be a handy shortcut for adding content to the more streamlined My List feature.
HBO isn’t going anywhere
While the main box office is starting from the publisher’s name, WBD admits that HBO reach is the reason why many people subscribe in the first place. One of the shortcut tabs at the top of the home screen will be dedicated to HBO content so the network can easily find fans Subrogation, game of Thrones, And Curb the enthusiasm.
For good measure, the presentation also included news about several HBO series adapted by Park Chan-wook and Robert Downey Jr. sympathizer to the new one game of Thrones pre-qualified.
It’s not going anywhere in Discovery+
Max will add more extensive content from Discovery+ from brands like TLC, HGTV and History Channel. But existing Discovery+ subscribers don’t need to go anywhere when Max arrives on May 23. WBD will offer a separate service for those who want to watch. Engaged 90 Days but let’s just say it’s not the upcoming Max Original reality show Love and Translationfrom 90 Days set.
While this decision may seem strange—the more content the more fun, right?—it’s actually a smart business move. WBD checked out the vast areas of content on the service, boasting about how much more engaged and adventurous Discovery+ subscribers are than HBO Max users. And they pay much less to do all this: the ad-based option costs $4.99 per month, while the ad-free plan costs $6.99 per month. If you want to continue ad-free viewing of your Discovery+ content, as well as HBO streams and Max Originals, you’ll need to pay more than double your current subscription.
Transition from HBO Max will be smooth
Or as WBD claims. When the Max launches on May 23, most HBO Max users will see their apps update automatically. Those who do not open the service will be asked to update after opening the service. All existing user profiles, watchlists and viewing histories will be migrated and there will be no need to update passwords or billing information. Wow!