Goodbye, HBO. Hello, Max.
The popular streaming service HBO Max was officially reborn as “Max” on Tuesday. Warner Bros. Discovery announced the new name last month, along with plans to blend the existing HBO Max library with content from Discovery+.
As CNBC reported in April, the name change is designed to signal that Max is a family-friendly streaming service with more offerings than just prestige dramas like “Succession” and “The Sopranos.”
Dropping HBO from the name is also meant to protect the HBO brand from potential dilution by being associated with not-so-prestige TLC reality shows like “Dr. Pimple Popper” and “My 600-Lb. Life.”
“HBO is not TV. HBO is HBO,” Warner Bros. Discovery head of streaming JB Perrette said last month. “We will not push it to the breaking point by forcing it to take on the full breadth of this new content.”
But there’s a lot more to the rebrand than just a shorter name. Here’s what you need to know about the switch to Max.
Is the price changing?
At the moment, HBO Max subscribers won’t see any price increase. Their rates will remain the same: $9.99 for the ad-supported tier and $15.99 for commercial-free streaming.
What’s new is the “Max Ultimate Ad Free” tier, which costs $19.99 per month. This will offer subscribers more films and shows in 4K UHD, as well as the ability to stream on four devices at once and download 100 movies or episodes for offline watching.
Learn more about changing your subscription tier here.
How do you upgrade from HBO Max to Max?
For many customers, the process of switching to Max will be as simple as updating their app’s software on their streaming device. Others, however, will need an entirely new app.
If you need to download the new Max app, you will be prompted to do so when you open HBO Max. Your login information will remain the same, and you won’t need to create a new account.
Max will also remember all your settings, and you’ll be able to pick up on the latest episode of “Barry” right where you left off.
What…
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