Warner Bros. Discovery has unveiled the name and plans for its new streaming service, Max, which will merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single product, during a press presentation held at the Warner Bros. Studio lot on Wednesday. Variety was first to report.
The new streaming service, Max, was first announced in August 2022, shortly after the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery was finalized. Originally slated for a summer launch, the timeline was moved up to a spring release in November. During the press presentation, CEO David Zaslav confirmed the name of the merged service as Max, and JB Perrette revealed that the launch date is set for May 23.
Perrette also highlighted the importance of separating HBO from the HBO Max name, stating that HBO is distinct and should be treated as such in the product experience. Casey Bloys announced a range of original programming for Max, including shows in the DC universe like The Penguin, a new The Big Bang Theory series, and unscripted series featuring notable personalities.
Other announcements included Kathleen Finch discussing the significance of WBD’s linear channels to Max, with content from networks such as Food Network, TLC, HGTV, and others coming to the platform after their initial airing. Perrette also provided details on the new Max streaming user interface and pricing tiers, with ad-lite Max priced at $10 per month, ad-free at $16 per month, and an “ultimate” ad-free tier at $20 per month. Here is a more detailed breakdown of each pricing tier and what they include.
Max Ad-Lite | $9.99/month or $99.99/year
2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
Max Ad Free | $15.99/month or $149.99/year
2 concurrent streams, 1080 resolution, 30 offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
Max Ultimate Ad Free | $19.99/month or $199.99/year
4 concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, Dolby Atmos sound quality26 HBO Max Original Shows And Movies Pulled From The ServiceSee More