HBO Max Streaming Service Launching on May 27

[ervingv]

Why do people get so fussed with American companies launching first in America. Nine times out of ten their licensing and distributing deals make it a bigger hassle to do a full blown international launch. These are things that are easier to do when scaled up over time.

Because its stupid. Customers do not care what is happening behind the scene with deals they have with other companies. It is 2020 and I think Warnermedia could have launched its service to a few more countries than just in the US. But hey, people can always get the content elsewhere on the net. oh well.

 

[bpeeps]

Because its stupid. Customers do not care what is happening behind the scene with deals they have with other companies. It is 2020 and I think Warnermedia could have launched its service to a few more countries than just in the US. But hey, people can always get the content elsewhere on the net. oh well.

Because the price of MAX increases after the first year.

 

[triangletechie]

Customers who have the AT&T Internet 1000 plan will also get HBO Max for free.

Nice. I just got my 1000 plan lowered to $59.99. This makes for a great deal.

This will be yet another streaming service that I'll choose above ATV+.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Does anyone know whether HBO will finally have 4k HDR content?

 

[Rogifan]

I’m a DirecTV Premier customer so I’ll get this at no extra cost. I hope any original programming they have is decent.

 

[JWreck]

So, I guess consolidating my billing to Apple for HBO was a worthless move, now that it has to get split back out again...

 

[BF1M]

Seriously, what is the difference between Now and Max?

 

[Porco]

I do get the cynicism for (or maybe just the exhaustion from?!) yet another streaming service.

Having said that... elsewhere in the world Netflix has them, but in the US the wonderful films of Studio Ghibli (from whence my avatar’s namesake originates) will apparently be on this service, and I strongly recommend them all, to anyone who does choose to use HBO Max ... Pro Plus Bonus Now Extra Deluxe Alpha Fighter II X Ultimate ... or whatever you want to call it

Studio Ghibli Films to Stream on HBO Max

HBO Max has bought the U.S. streaming rights to Studio Ghibli movies, meaning the entire Ghibli collection will be available upon launch.

variety.com

 

[maxfromdenmark]

My only question is if it comes with 4K and decent sound. Nowadays HBO has so poor picture

 

[craigmak]

So I have U-verse 450. Att fiber 1000, and an att unlimited phone plan, does this mean I can sign up for 3 free accounts?

 

[jgleigh]

It's bad enough that HBO thinks they need three different streaming platforms, but you should see the restrictions they impose when you try to stream it through Amazon Prime. The lawyers had a heyday with these contracts.

Supported Devices - Amazon Customer Service

Set Top Boxes and Media Players with the Prime Video App - Amazon Customer Service

You can get the Prime Video app on selected set top boxes and media players from these manufacturers.

www.amazon.com

We have Dish (which doesn't have HBO anymore due to some contract dispute) and we can't watch HBO through Amazon Prime on the Dish receiver. Why do they care what device I'm watching it through? They're getting my money either way. My wife is always yelling at me for having to switch devices and remotes, but it's all because of idiotic streaming restrictions and nothing technical for why it can't all go through one platform.

 

[patseguin]

I actually had HBO Now for years but I just canceled it and subscribed to the Apple TV channel. Will I get HBO Max for free or do I need to go back to HBO Now?

 

[wolfshades]

Probably not... this is a streaming service.

Besides... why would you want live broadcasts? You can only watch one movie or show at a time... on their schedule.

Crave TV here in Canada does it that way. You can have your choice of “channels” or you can wait till the episode that’s now half-finished is done, and then you can watch the entire thing. It’s a matter of choice. Sometimes you want to see something the moment it airs.

 

[Michael Scrip]

It’s a matter of choice. Sometimes you want to see something when the moment it airs.

But with 10,000 hours of programming at your fingertips... why does it matter when something "airs" anymore?

Right now HBO is airing the following at this moment:

Die Hard 2
Last Week Tonight
Shutter Island
Jetsons the Movie
Keeping Up with the Steins
The Darkness

I guess it's great if you were looking for those exact programs at this exact moment. What a coincidence!

Otherwise... on-demand gives you MUCH more to watch. Anytime!

 

[Nicky G]

I'm not sure what the point of HBO Now and HBO Max coexisting is. If HBO Max is just a superset of HBO Now, what keeps anyone from just dropping Now and subscribing to Max? From what I can see the price is the same, unless they plan to discount Now.

I too am curious about this. I changed cable plans recently and decided to go direct with HBO vs. bundling it with my cable plan, so I switched from using HBO Go to HBO Now. It's $15/month. Why wouldn't I want to pay the same amount for... more?
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Seriously, what is the difference between Now and Max?

If you get HBO bundled with your telco service (cable/FiOS/etc.) you use the HBO Go application to stream HBO content.

If you do not want HBO bundled with your telco service, you can "go direct" with them for US$15/month, and you use the HBO Now app to stream the content.

It's all the same content and the apps are similar. It just has to do with whether HBO bills you for their content, or your telco provider.

 

[TiggrToo]

They need to loosen up on streaming internationally.

Licensing laws play a huge part in these restrictions. What's easy to stream in one territory might be prohibitively expensive and complex in another.

 

[subjonas]

I'm not sure what the point of HBO Now and HBO Max coexisting is. If HBO Max is just a superset of HBO Now, what keeps anyone from just dropping Now and subscribing to Max? From what I can see the price is the same, unless they plan to discount Now.

Ive been trying to figure that one out myself! I have HBO Now through direct billing. Once Max launches, I have access to it. But why not just supplant Now? It’s seriously confusing!

Seriously, what is the difference between Now and Max?

I too am curious about this. I changed cable plans recently and decided to go direct with HBO vs. bundling it with my cable plan, so I switched from using HBO Go to HBO Now. It's $15/month. Why wouldn't I want to pay the same amount for... more?

From what I have read, HBO needs to keep Now just during the transition period (didn’t catch the technical reasons), but eventually everyone will be on Max. And Now will be history.

Does anyone know whether HBO will finally have 4k HDR content?

My only question is if it comes with 4K and decent sound. Nowadays HBO has so poor picture

This is something I really want to know too and have not been able to find any information. But the lack of info suggests to me it’s still HD. Seems like they would be touting a switch to 4k. But still hoping.

Because the price of MAX increases after the first year.

I’ve searched and haven’t seen this anywhere. Got a link?

Crave TV here in Canada does it that way. You can have your choice of “channels” or you can wait till the episode that’s now half-finished is done, and then you can watch the entire thing. It’s a matter of choice. Sometimes you want to see something when the moment it airs.

I believe for HBO, new show episodes are made available on demand the moment they air.

 

[BF1M]

I too am curious about this. I changed cable plans recently and decided to go direct with HBO vs. bundling it with my cable plan, so I switched from using HBO Go to HBO Now. It's $15/month. Why wouldn't I want to pay the same amount for... more?
[automerge]1587520352[/automerge]

If you get HBO bundled with your telco service (cable/FiOS/etc.) you use the HBO Go application to stream HBO content.

If you do not want HBO bundled with your telco service, you can "go direct" with them for US$15/month, and you use the HBO Now app to stream the content.

It's all the same content and the apps are similar. It just has to do with whether HBO bills you for their content, or your telco provider.

Go? You mean Max? Makes no sense if max and now have the same content why both will exist..

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Because the price of MAX increases after the first year.

Source?

 

[Nicky G]

Go? You mean Max? Makes no sense if max and now have the same content why both will exist..

I meant exactly what I said. HBO Go and HBO Now are the two services that currently exist, in the USA anyway. It sounds like Now, the direct service, will essentially convert into Max over time, and Now will go away. Max will be similarly priced, but have more content than what is currently on offer through Go and Now.

 

[TomaxXamot]

Crave TV here in Canada does it that way. You can have your choice of “channels” or you can wait till the episode that’s now half-finished is done, and then you can watch the entire thing. It’s a matter of choice. Sometimes you want to see something when the moment it airs.

CraveTV lets you stream new episodes as soon as they start airing. You don’t have to wait for it to be half over. Not sure if that’s what you meant as your wording was a little odd.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Specifically, DirecTV, U-Verse, and AT&T subscribers who already pay for AT&T will get access to HBO Max at no additional cost. Free access will be included in the following packages: DirecTV Premier, U-Verse U400, U-Verse U450, and AT&T TV Now Max.

New AT&T TV and DirecTV Choice, Xtra, or Ultimate customers will get one free year of HBO Max, while other tiers will receive a three-month free trial. Wireless customers who have AT&T's Ultimate Elite plan will get HBO Max for free, other plans will get one-month free trials.

Customers who have the AT&T Internet 1000 plan will also get HBO Max for free. More info on who will get free access to HBO Max can be found in the press release for the service.

Specifically speaking, that is way too confusing. Time to merge some plans, AT&T!

 

[Red Oak]

Nice. I just got my 1000 plan lowered to $59.99. This makes for a great deal.

This will be yet another streaming service that I'll choose above ATV+.

You really going to stick it them! You should be so proud of yourself for your $5/month decision and how you tell the world!!

 

[edvj]

Hbo go, Hbo max...we need Hbo Lite, Hbo SE and Hbo Plus
Maybe if we are worth it...we get HBO PRO MAX someday

You forgot to mention HBO Nordic..

 

[iapplelove]

This is a stupid plan
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You really going to stick it them! You should be so proud of yourself for your $5/month decision and how you tell the world!!

youre comment is worse and on an annoyance scale for higher than what you quoted.