HBO Max subscribers knew it was coming, however one of many world’s greatest streaming companies is now formally merging with Discovery Plus to make a brand new mixed super-streamer referred to as Max.
The merger comes after after the merging of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery in 2022, which created a brand new leisure large referred to as Warner Bros. Discovery. And it is this firm that has determined to launch a brand new Max streaming service, by combining HBO Max and Discovery Plus.
Because the rumors had predicted, the brand new Max service is not a full merging of each of these present streaming companies. As an alternative, Discovery Plus will proceed as a separate service, with the brand new Max changing at this time’s HBO Max and including “a number of Discovery favorites”.
However what does this all imply for present subscribers of HBO Max and Discovery Plus? And what new TV reveals are en route for the brand new Max service? We have rounded up every little thing it is advisable to know, together with what is going to occur when Max launches – and probably the most thrilling reveals which might be within the pipeline.
7 issues it is advisable to know concerning the new Max streaming service
1. HBO Max will flip into Max on Might 23
The brand new Max streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery will launch within the US on Might 23 – and present HBO Max subscribers will not must do something to proceed watching their favourite reveals.
HBO Max says that on Might 23 “the HBO Max app will change into Max”. If you have already got the app put in, it’s going to both routinely replace to Max or upon opening the app you may be nudged to obtain the Max app.
HBO Max additionally says “we anticipate that Max can be out there on the identical gadgets as HBO Max”. For a full checklist of these gadgets, head to this HBO Max help page (opens in new tab).
2. Max will price greater than HBO Max for 4K streaming
When you already subscribe to HBO Max, there will not be any modifications to your subscription value when it modifications to Max – however the brand new service will make 4K streaming unique to a brand new increased tier.
Proper now, there are two HBO Max plans. The most cost effective ‘With Advertisements’ plan prices $9.99 a month (or $99.99 yearly), whereas the ‘Advert-Free’ plan prices $15.99 a month (or $149.99 yearly). As you may see beneath, the brand new Max service will supply near-identical plans referred to as ‘Advert-Lite’ and ‘Advert Free’, with a few modifications.
First, slightly than having the ability to stream on three gadgets concurrently, this may drop to 2 gadgets on these first two plans beneath. Additionally, in worse information for individuals who are already on HBO Max’s ‘Advert-Free’ plan, 4K streaming will as an alternative solely be out there in a brand new ‘Max Final Advert Free’ plan ($19.99/month or $199.99/yr).
| Tier | Max Advert-Lite | Max Advert Free | Max Final Advert Free |
| Value | $9.99/month or $99.99/yr | $15.99/month or $149.99/yr | $19.99/month or $199.99/yr |
| Decision | 1080p decision | 1080p decision | 4K UHD decision |
| Streams | Two concurrent streams | Two concurrent streams | 4 concurrent streams |
| Sound | 5.1 encompass sound high quality | 5.1 encompass sound high quality | Dolby Atmos sound high quality |
| Offline | No offline downloads | 30 offline downloads | 100 offline downloads |
That ‘Max Final Advert Free’ plan is certainly the one for individuals who need 4K with HDR and Dolby Atmos then. However it is not but clear precisely which reveals can be out there to stream in that high quality past Sport of Thrones, The Final of Us, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and The Darkish Knight Trilogy.
HBO Max would not stream all of its reveals in 4K decision, with older ones tending to be restricted to HD. However the newly merged firm has promised that “all Warner Bros. films launched this yr and going ahead will even be out there in 4K UHD after they arrive on Max”.
HBO Max has additionally promised that present subscribers “will nonetheless have entry to their present plan options for at least six months following launch”, suggesting that additional pricing modifications are potential later this yr.
3. Discovery Plus will proceed as a stand-alone service
Warner Bros. Discovery aren’t absolutely merging HBO Max and Discovery Plus right into a single super-streamer. As an alternative, the brand new Max streaming service will mash all of HBO Max along with “a number of Discovery favorites”.
Which means Discovery Plus will proceed to be a standalone streaming possibility with the identical pricing as normal ($4.99 monthly with adverts, or $6.99 monthly with out). So should you subscribe to each HBO Max and Discovery Plus, you’ll sadly must proceed paying for each to see all content material.
When you’re an HBO Max subscriber, although, your profiles, watch historical past, and HBO Max settings will routinely transfer over to Max. The one factor you may must do is re-download your TV reveals and films on Max.
4. The brand new Max app will deliver some large modifications
The brand new Max app, which can land on Might 23, ought to ship some enhancements over the present HBO Max providing, in accordance with Warner Bros. Discovery.
The streaming large has promised a greater video playback expertise on the service, plus an improved suggestions engine and higher personalization that goes past the homepage.
These suggestions will apparently be powered by extra highly effective machine studying, whereas some further web page furnishings – together with shortcuts, devoted hubs and streamlined classes – promise to ship a lift on the present HBO Max app expertise.
Whereas that each one sounds good in concept, we’ll have to attend till Might 23 to see if it is a real enchancment. One bonus that does sound helpful for folks, although, is that there will be a default children profile for brand new subscribers, with some parental controls. That ought to assist stop toddlers from unintentionally tuning into the The Final of Us, not less than.
5. New reveals will embrace a decade-long Harry Potter collection
To assist construct some pleasure about its new Max streaming service, Warner Bros. Discovery has introduced a slew of latest TV reveals which might be coming to the service –with the largest one arguably being a brand new Harry Potter collection.
This can apparently be a “decade-long collection”, with every of the tales from Rowling’s Harry Potter books being expanded upon with a brand new forged. Whereas some may see the collection as fully pointless, let’s hope it is higher than the marginally exasperating and unsatisfying Hogwarts Legacy.
6. Max will lastly get a fourth season of True Detective
A yr in the past we heard {that a} fourth season of True Detective, starring Jodie Foster, was en route. However now we have lastly acquired our first take a look at the brand new collection, which can land on Max, due to a brand new teaser.
True Detective: Evening Nation can be one thing of a reboot for the collection, going down in an icy Alaska. Foster performs Detectives Liz Danvers, who has been requested to unravel the case of the disappearance of six males who function a close-by analysis station.
The unique creator of the present Nic Pizzolatto, which began again in 2014, has stepped again to an government producer position, with the Mexican filmmaker Issa López writing and directing all episodes. With a star-studded government group, might it lastly stay as much as the basic unique season?
7. Different originals will embrace The Penguin (in 2024)
Apart from the brand new Harry Potter TV collection, the brand new Max service will ship one other Sport of Thrones spin-off referred to as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight, plus a brand new comedy collection from The Large Bang Concept. However maybe probably the most intriguing is a brand new The Penguin collection, which is slated to reach in 2024.
This can construct on Colin Farrell’s interpretation of the supervillain from The Batman and is now in manufacturing, as you may see from the teaser above. Naturally, it appears to be like darkish, gritty and more than likely definitely worth the lengthy wait.
And if that is not sufficient, the brand new Max streaming service can also be promising an unique espionage thriller collection referred to as The Sympathizer, based mostly on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the identical title, plus a brand new collection based mostly on The Conjuring movies.