Here’s How Much a “Max” Subscription Will Cost After May 23
In a sea of streaming options, a new name has emerged as HBO Max and Discovery Plus merge platforms. Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, and now… Max . Luckily, there may not be any additional charges for a subscription since it is a combination of two existing services that you may have already paid for.
How much is Max worth?
Announced on Wednesday but leaked on Tuesday , Max is a new streaming service from Warner Bros. discovery. The service is essentially merging content from HBO Max and Discovery+ into one after last year’s merger of both platforms . This means you’ll be able to stream Game of Thrones and then something like Fixer Upper without leaving the app.
Max offers three levels to choose from:
- Ad-lite plan: Stream Max in HD with two simultaneous streams ($9.99/month)
- Ad-Free Plan: Stream Max in HD with two simultaneous streams and up to 30 downloads ($15.99 per month).
- Max plan: Stream Max in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos audio (if available), up to four simultaneous streams, and up to 100 downloads ($19.99 per month).
Like HBO Max, Max plans to offer its own exclusive shows, now known as Max Originals. Some of the already announced Max Originals include The Penguin , a spin-off of The Big Bang Theory , as well as a new version of The Conjuring . We’ve also seen announcements from Max Originals after the streaming service’s event, such as a new Harry Potter series and a new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms .
When will HBO Max and Discovery+ become Max?
Your HBO Max app should automatically update to “Max” on May 23rd. If not, you will be prompted to download the new Max app on your device. If you already have an HBO Max subscription, it will continue when Warner Bros. Discovery will switch. While the company isn’t clear, my guess is that the HBO Max ad plan is moving to the Max ad-lite plan and the ad-free plan is moving to the new ad-free plan since their prices are the same. But if that’s the case, it’s a real shame to lose the 4K content currently offered on the $15.99 HBO Max plan. You will need to spend an additional $4 per month for this and two additional parallel streams.
While HBO Max will cease to exist after May 23, Discovery+ will exist as a standalone option . You will still be able to subscribe to either the Basic tier for $4.99/month or the No Ads tier for $6.99/month. Why Warner Bros. Discovery still offers the Discovery+ plan and not the HBO individual plan, it’s also unclear. I would like to be able to subscribe to HBO-only content at a lower price. HBO is currently where I do most of my streaming with shows like Legacy , Barry , The Last of Us , and House of the Dragon , so I’ll happily pay for a separate service that offers these shows in 4K for no $20. price tag.