Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
More reliable new sources are reporting that the HBO brand will continue to exist prominently within the Max app. In fact, the chairman of HBO has said that this change will PROTECT the HBO brand, since the new Max app will also roll in the lowbrow Discovery unscripted shows. They state this will avoid diluting the prestige HBO brand with Discovery fare.
I am not sure why you took that shot at MacRumors. I think they are reliable but even if they weren't, what does reliability have to do with this story? Nobody is denying the name is changing to Max and that's the biggest issue. I mean heck, they linked to the press release right at the top that confirms the name change.

The name is going to be Max. Then can try to PR spin this any way they want. You can’t get around the name not obviously being HBO.
 
Last edited:
I paid for a year's worth about 8 months ago, so I saved a few pennies before they jack it up, for what extra....I do not know o_O
 
I know they're going the way of Netflix now. :(

I predicted this to happen like +5 years ago. Netflix could not survive with only showing films and TV shows from the major production companies. They had to start their own production company too. Just as the major production studios have their own digital streaming platform now. And to catch viewers, they all will have to offer the themes/genres of television content viewers want to see.
 
This is what I've been trying to figure out too... if I want *both* which I have now... I have to pay for both still? Or I keep paying for HBO Max (oops MAX lol) and now I can cancel my Discovery+ because all its content is on MAX?
I believe you’ll be able to cancel Discovery+ after this launch.
 
HBO still trying to challenge Google for the title of Worst, Most-Brain-Dead Branding. First they litter the media pool with HBO Go vs. HBO Now vs. HBO ?

Now this idiocy. Someone is getting paid huge amounts of money to crap out this embarrassing stream of nonsense.
Someone paid huge amounts of money to go to school to learn how to crap out this embarrassing stream of nonsense. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MobiusStrip
I used to love HBO and their high quality original content.
Now they are trying to force me to pay more for 4K and the lowbrow Discovery content that I never watch.
Goodbye HBO. We will miss you.
 
I understand the aversion to this. HBO is a prestigious brand. Ditching it is a loss. I agree that Max is overused as a prefix/suffix, and the whole 'ultra pro plus max' stuff is a bit cringe. And yet, despite all of that, I actually think they're making the right move here.

Max, as a sole brand name, is superb. It works as a word rather than just an acronym like HBO. It offers a sense of personality with Max being known as a name as well as a descriptor. At three letters, it remains ultra-short. It's a single syllable. And it's linguistic associations are overwhelmingly positive. In my personal opinion, it's excellent.

There will be resistance, I understand that. People will cite that as proof this is a stupid decision. I see it as a brave decision. Losing a positive can be tough but necessary.
 
A name change was inevitable. Warner Bros. Discovery is combing two streaming services (HBO Max and Discovery+) or arguably three (HBO Max, Discovery+ and the short-lived CNN+) into one thereby requiring a new name. In the end, it's the content that matters whether the streaming service is called Max, HBO Discovery or whatever as it is all largely just an extension of HBO and various other WBD channels anyway.

HBO Max is $9.99/month with ads or $15.99/month ad-free.
Discovery+ is $4.99/month with ads or $6.99/month ad-free.
CNN+ was $5.99/month.

Now they are offering all of the above for $9.99/month to $19.99/month. I imagine most subscribers will choose either the $9.99 or $15.99 plan which is the same price as HBO Max alone.

Decades ago when HBO was just one channel with no on demand functionality, much less content, etc. the price (adjusting for inflation) was significantly higher.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Realityck
They should’ve just kept D+ content separate. But I guess that would mean someone would have to think logically. I have very little to zero interest in D+ content, sans some Food Network content, but I get that with my Hulu + Live TV subscription.

Way to go Warner Bros! :rolleyes:
 
I am an AT&T customer with HBO Max included with my plan. This afternoon I received a (hopeful) good news email that my HBO Max account will be automatically converted to the new “Max” on May 23. As far as I’m concerned, as long as I keep my AT&T service, I can’t imagine they can yank away this grandfathered perk.

In the email:
What to Expect on May 23
We’ll move your HBO Max account to Max – your profile and watch list will be waiting for you.
Stay tuned for updates. For more information, visit our Help Center​
Hmmm, I did not receive said email and I get "free" HBO Max via AT&T. So, basically, they may give us the ad-lite version or they may give us the 2-stream version? I doubt they'll give us the Maxed Out Max Plan.
 
Hmmm, I did not receive said email and I get "free" HBO Max via AT&T. So, basically, they may give us the ad-lite version or they may give us the 2-stream version? I doubt they'll give us the Maxed Out Max Plan.
Well as you said they can only match the current subscriptions not the premium service that is new. Makes sense.
 
Why are you/people getting upset about a name change is the more important question you should be asking yourself mate. It’s really not the end of the world.
What I don't understand is why are so many upset about the name but not about the fact that they are making you pay top tier for 4K npw. Just like NF now. We only need one stream. Have a way to pay less for one 4K stream.
 
Even with the "Max" name, at least they are emphasizing they will also focus on content aimed at kids and families, as the "HBO" name generally isn't associated with kids' content, even if they have the HBO Family channel. And I hope as part of this, Max will also reinstate those cartoons and other kids' content that were purged from HBO Max some time ago, including the 1951-2004 "Looney Tunes" shorts, the later seasons of "The Flintstones," "The Scooby-Doo Show" from 1976-78, the 2000s-2010s Justice League animated shows, several Cartoon Network originals from the 2000s onward (such as "Clarence," "OK K.O. Let's Be Heroes" and a few others), and the pre-2010s "Sesame Street" episodes they also had. And maybe they will also pick up the stuff that HBO Max eventually dropped that were still in production, like the Looney Tunes movies "The Day the Earth Blew Up" and "Bye Bye Bunny," and "Scoob! Holiday Haunt" and "Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Pups"...
Because so far Warner Bros. Discovery is turning out to be just as bad a merger as Warner Bros.- Seven Arts in the late 1960s, if not worse!
Fc3fX5pXkAIKO5l
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: compwiz1202
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.