The world of TV entertainment feels particularly volatile right now, with the Writers Guild of America strike casting doubt about when late-night shows can return to production, and raising questions about what impact a longterm strike may have on the fall TV season. Adding to the confusion is the upcoming re-brand of what has been the HBO Max streaming service.
The short version is that HBO Max will become Max beginning May 23. Subscribers to HBO Max are wondering what that means. And viewers who have been paying for HBO want to know if they’ll still be able to get access to Max at no additional cost, as they were able to get free access to HBO Max shows as part of their HBO subscriptions.
The news that HBO Max is becoming Max, announced in April, came after nervous speculation that followed the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery. The new entity, known as Warner Bros. Discovery, had already made noise about cost-cutting moves, some of which included the all-but-completed movie, “The Batgirl,” being shelved, along with other cancellations, and programs being yanked from the HBO Max service.
The new vision for Max incorporates some of the features HBO Max subscribers know, such as shows that air on HBO — “Succession,” “Euphoria,” “The Last Of Us,” and so on — streaming on the platform. In addition to such HBO Originals, the Max platform will also include, according to Warner Bros. Discovery, Warner Bros. movies, DC universe content, “Harry Potter” content, and programs from Discovery Plus, the streaming home of shows from such channels as HGTV, Food Network, Discovery and TLC.
Here are other details to know about Max.
HOW MUCH WILL MAX COST?
People who already have an HBO Max subscription will pay the same price for Max.
The “Max Ad-Lite” option costs $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year. It will offer two concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality.
“Max Ad Free” will cost $15.99 per month, or $149.99 per year. It will offer two concurrent streams, 1080 resolution, 30 offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality.
“Max Ultimate Ad Free” will cost $19 per month, or $199.99 per year. It will offer four concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality.
WHAT IF I ALREADY HAVE AN HBO MAX SUBSCRIPTION?
Viewers who already have HBO Max subscriptions will have access to Max at the same price as their HBO Max subscriptions, and will have access to their current plan for a minimum of six months following the May 23 Max launch. Existing HBO Max subscribers’ profiles, settings, watch history, “My List” and “Continue Watching” info will also automatically move to Max.
Hosts Joanna and Chip Gaines will appear in a new Magnolia Network show, “Fixer Upper: The Hotel.”
WHAT IF I HAVE AN HBO SUBSCRIPTION?
As Variety reports, viewers who get HBO with a cable or satellite TV package may have access to Max without additional cost. As of now, Warner Bros. Discovery says Max will be available through providers including AT&T, Cox, Cricket, DirecTV, Dish, Hulu, Altice USA’s Optimum, Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Charter’s Spectrum, Verizon, and Comcast’s Xfinity. The Max site advises users to check back for a full list: https://www.max.com/faq/ways-to-get/index.html
IS DISCOVERY PLUS GOING AWAY?
No. While there will be a selection of Discovery programs available to stream on MAX, Discovery Plus will continue as a stand-alone service.
IF I HAVE HBO MAX, DO I HAVE TO RE-SUBSCRIBE TO MAX?
No, if you already have HBO Max, you don’t need to re-subscribe to Max. According to the company’s website, Max will be available on phones, tablets, computers, TVs, streaming players, set-top boxes, and game consoles. If you have the HBO Max app, on May 23, Amazon, Cox, Roku, VIZIO TV and Xfinity will automatically update to Max. If you have Android, Apple, DirecTV, LG TV, PlayStation, Samsung TV or Xbox, when you open HBO Max, you will be asked to download the Max app.
The reality series, “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge,” will be among the shows Max subscribers can see on the streaming service.
WHAT CAN WE SEE ON MAX?
In addition to an extensive library TV shows and movies, executives announced that Max is developing a “Harry Potter” TV series, described as “a faithful adaptation of the beloved original book series by J.K. Rowling, who will serve as executive producer.” Also in the pipeline: a Max comedy series spinning off from the comedy blockbuster, “The Big Bang Theory”; a Max drama series based on “The Conjuring” movie franchise; and Magnolia Network’s “Fixer Upper: The Hotel”; and HGTV’s “Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.”
In addition, Max will have “The Penguin” coming in 2024, a series starring Colin Farrell as the “Batman” universe villain, The Penguin. HBO Originals that will also stream on Max include a “Game of Thrones” prequel, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight”; and “True Detective: Night Country,” starring Jodie Foster.
— Kristi Turnquist
503-221-8227; kturnquist@oregonian.com; @Kristiturnquist
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