Misplaced amid the hoopla for HBO Max rebranding to Max and a content material rollout that may embrace a rehash of the Harry Potter collection is the information that there is a important change coming in 4K content material entry, and it will not please current HBO Max subscribers.
Max, which launches within the US on Might 23, is a partial mixture of the HBO Max streaming service and Discovery content material that features three tiers:
| Tier | Max Advert-Lite | Max Advert Free | Max Final Advert Free |
| Worth | $9.99/month or $99.99/12 months | $15.99/month or $149.99/12 months | $19.99/month or $199.99/12 months |
| 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 |
Throughout the Max Advert-lite (some industrial interruptions in content material) and Max Advert Free (no commercials) tiers, there isn’t any assist for 4K content material. Solely Max Final guarantees what Max dad or mum firm Warner Media describes as “an expanded catalog” of 4K content material that features The Final of Us, Harry Potter, and Sport of Thrones.
Warner Media confirmed to TechRadar that, as of Might 23, new Max ad-free-tier subscribers is not going to discover any 4K content material.
As well as, current HBO Max subscribers, like, sure, myself, will after a six-month grace interval on the brand new $15.99 Max Advert-Free tier, additionally lose entry to 4K content material. They will, in fact, improve to the Max Final Advert-free tier for an extra $4 a month.
Here is how Warner Media described the adjustments to me:
Now = HBO Max ad-free, some 4K
Might 23 =
New subs: Advert-free – No 4K; Final Advert-Free – Expanded 4K
Current Advert-free subs who transition from HBO Max: Expanded 4K for at the very least six months; can then select to improve into Final Advert-Free in the event that they wish to proceed accessing expanded 4K
Granted, an extra $48 a 12 months for high-quality visible content material that matches the capabilities of the perfect 4K TV funding you possible made inside the previous couple of years could look like a small worth to pay. Alternatively, we’re in the midst of a value of residing disaster the place each month-to-month invoice enhance is like one other nick within the dying of a thousand cuts.
Whereas we’re excited by the prospect of entry to much more content material due to the partial integration of Discovery content material and the promise of recent reveals like The Penguin, taking away a characteristic from devoted subscribers appears mistaken and unfair.
Even that six-month grace interval seems like a slight, because it’s solely there to tease current $15.99 a-month prospects with what they may have if solely they paid slightly extra every month.
I requested Warner Media for touch upon how this information would possibly upset some current subscribers however they’ve but to write down again. Sure, the press releases and tiers converse for themselves, however I am undecided how Warner Media and HBO can ignore the inevitable buyer backlash.
As for individuals who say we cannot discover the distinction, I would argue that 1080p on a 65-inch 4K set is not going to look almost as crisp – even with upscaling – as native 4K. Most individuals are most likely solely watching HBO Max in 4K as a result of many of the top-tier content material, like Final of Us and Succession, is presently streaming in 4K.
Clearly, on the dimensions of issues, even tech issues, it is a small concern. However in terms of our wallets, small issues simply rework into month-to-month price range complications.
Warner Media and Max nonetheless have time to regulate this. They may depart the ad-free tier with 4K and maintain it off the ad-supported one. That is a good compromise from, as the good Logan Roy (opens in new tab) would possibly say, severe folks.
