HBO Max

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HBO Max
HBO Max Logo.svg
Type of site
OTT platform
HeadquartersBurbank, California,
U.S.
Key peopleKevin Reilly (CCO)
ParentWarnerMedia Entertainment
Websitehbomax.com
LaunchedMay 2020; 3 months' time (2020-05)
Current statusIn development

HBO Max is an upcoming American subscription video on demand streaming service from WarnerMedia Entertainment, a division of AT&T's WarnerMedia. This service will launch in May 2020.

HBO Max is built around WarnerMedia's HBO premium TV service and will include all of its programming, as well as a range of additional original programming and library content from all corners of WarnerMedia as well as third-party content providers.

History[edit]

On October 10, 2018, WarnerMedia announced that it will launch an over-the-top streaming service in late 2019, featuring content from its entertainment brands.[1] The original plan for the service called for three tiers with a late 2019 launch.[2] WarnerMedia's parent AT&T chairman and CEO Randall L. Stephenson indicated in mid-May 2019 that it would use the HBO brand and would tie into cable operators as HBO cable subscribers would have access to the streaming service. A beta was expected in the fourth quarter of 2019 and full launch in first quarter 2020 at the time.[3]

Otter Media was transferred in May 2019 to WarnerMedia Entertainment from Warner Bros. to take over the streaming service as Brad Bentley, executive vice president and general manager of the for direct-to-consumer development exited the post after six months. Andy Forssell transferred from being chief operating officer of Otter to replace Bentley as executive vice president and general manager while still reporting to Otter CEO Tony Goncalves, who would lead development.[4]

On July 9, 2019, WarnerMedia announced that the service would be known as HBO Max, and would launch in spring 2020. Also announced at that time was that Friends would be taken off rival streaming service Netflix for the launch, while Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine and Greg Berlanti were signed to production deals for the service.[5] On October 29, 2019, it was announced that HBO Max will officially launch in May 2020.[6]

On January 8, 2020, AT&T announced that Audience, a channel exclusive to subscribers of AT&T-owned TV providers such as DirecTV with some original programming, would end operations in its current format later that spring, and will transition to a barker channel for HBO Max.[7] Warner Bros. and HBO Max announced the Warner Max film label on February 5, 2020 which would produce eight to 10 mid-budget movies per year for the streaming service starting in 2020.[8]

Management[edit]

HBO Max is organized under a new WarnerMedia subsidiary, WarnerMedia Direct LLC,[9] as opposed to Home Box Office Inc. which operates the pre-existing HBO pay TV service.

Kevin Reilly, president of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks which includes most of the company's ad-supported entertainment channels such as TBS, TNT, and TruTV, also serves as chief content officer of HBO Max with responsibility for HBO Max-exclusive original programming and library content. Andy Forssell is the service's executive vice president and general manager while still reporting to Otter Media CEO Tony Goncalves, who leads development.[5]

Casey Bloys, programming president of HBO, continues oversight of the core HBO service including newly-commissioned programming, but has limited involvement in Max Originals programming.

Content[edit]

Further information: List of original programs distributed by HBO Max

HBO Max will feature original programming produced for the service and draw content from the namesake HBO premium service as well as other WarnerMedia brands. Outside of WarnerMedia, the service will also offer titles from The Criterion Collection.[10]

As with HBO's existing streaming platforms, HBO Go and HBO Now, HBO Max is not expected to include feeds of HBO's linear cable channels,[11] nor is it expected to include any content (including original programming) from HBO's sister linear pay TV service Cinemax.[12]

With the start of the 2019–20 television season, series on The CW produced by Warner Bros. Television that debut from that season on will have their seasons placed on HBO Max a month before the newest season premieres.[5] Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine and Greg Berlanti were signed to production deals for an initial four movies in the young-adult genre and two films, respectively.[5] WarnerMedia Entertainment indicated that the service would have 10,000 hours of content.[13]

AT&T chairman and CEO Randall L. Stephenson has not ruled out adding live content from Turner Sports in the future (such as the NBA on TNT, Major League Baseball on TBS, and NCAA March Madness).[14]

On August 1, 2019, HBO Max announced its acquisition of library rights to several BBC Studios series, including the first 11 seasons of the 2005 Doctor Who revival, as well as future seasons twelve through fourteen, The Honourable Woman, Luther, Top Gear, and the British version of The Office. HBO Max will also stream future seasons of Doctor Who after their initial run on BBC America.[15]

On September 17, 2019, HBO Max acquired the U.S. streaming rights to The Big Bang Theory, as part of a deal that also extends TBS's off-network rights to the series through 2028.[16]

On October 17, 2019, it was announced that HBO Max had acquired exclusive U.S. streaming rights to the library of Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, via its North American distributor GKIDS. It marks the first time that the studio's films will ever be offered on a streaming platform in the United States;[17] the studio's co-founder Hayao Miyazaki had historically been hesitant to offer his films through these services, noting a preference towards a traditional theatrical experience.[18][19]

On October 29, 2019, HBO Max beat out bidders such as NBCUniversal's Peacock and Disney's Hulu in claiming exclusive domestic streaming rights to South Park and the next three seasons in a shared deal with Viacom (which at the time of the announcement was in the process of merging with CBS Corporation, with the merged company called ViacomCBS).[20] The same day, it was confirmed that all three seasons of Rick and Morty will be available on HBO Max.[21] It was confirmed on the HBO Max Twitter account that WarnerMedia properties like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Samurai Jack, The Bachelor, Impractical Jokers, The O.C., The West Wing, The History of Comedy, The Movies, This Is Life with Lisa Ling, United Shades of America and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown will be available, as well as films such as Casablanca, Citizen Kane, The Shining, A Star is Born, Singin' in the Rain, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Joker.[22]

HBO Max will also have podcasts about the films and TV series on the service.[23]

Distribution[edit]

United States[edit]

Existing subscribers to HBO Now that are billed directly through HBO will be automatically given access to HBO Max upon its launch at no additional charge (both services share the same price point); the transition of customers who subscribed to HBO Now via third-party distributors (such as Apple TV and Roku) is still subject to negotiation and customers have been advised to wait for further details.[11] Existing HBO subscribers on AT&T-owned television providers (including DirecTV) will also receive the service on-launch, although it is unknown if this is only a promotional offer.[24][25]

WarnerMedia announced a distribution agreement for HBO Max (as well as HBO and Cinemax) through the YouTube TV vMVPD service on February 21, 2020.[26] The company also hopes to resell HBO Max through other pay TV providers such as Comcast and Charter Communications; these are still subject to negotiation, and it is not yet clear whether HBO Max would be added automatically to these providers' existing HBO subscriptions.[27]

There are plans for HBO Max to introduce an ad-supported tier by 2021.[28]

International[edit]

Localized versions of HBO Max are scheduled to launch in 2020 in Latin America and 2021 in parts of Europe where HBO already directly operates premium TV or streaming services.[29] In other countries, WarnerMedia says it plans to continue working with HBO's existing licensing partners for the time being.[30]

In Canada, Bell Media, which carries HBO programming on its Crave and Super Écran services, announced an expanded partnership with WarnerMedia for rights to HBO Max-commissioned scripted programming produced by Warner Bros. and its subsidiaries. The deal does not automatically include rights to HBO Max series produced by third parties, or library streaming rights for shows like Friends, which remains with Netflix in Canada.[31]

WarnerMedia also renewed its output deal with European satellite TV provider Sky (now owned by rival Comcast) in the latter's core markets including the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. Sky will continue to carry the main HBO service's programming (primarily on Sky Atlantic) through at least 2024, and extended its rights to various programming from Warner Bros. and the former Turner channels. Sky's most recent renewal includes a provision for co-productions between HBO Max and Sky Studios, but there has been no specific confirmation about broadcast rights to other HBO Max original programming.[32]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Lee, Ryan Faughnder, Wendy. "WarnerMedia announces new streaming service to compete with Netflix and Disney – Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  2. ^ Stelter, Brian (July 9, 2019). "WarnerMedia banks on HBO's brand name for new streaming service". CNN. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Spangler, Todd (May 14, 2019). "HBO Pay-TV Customers Will Have Access to WarnerMedia SVOD Service, AT&T Chief Says". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Spangler, Todd (May 31, 2019). "WarnerMedia Reorg Gives Otter Media's Tony Goncalves Oversight of Streaming Service Development". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Spangler, Todd (July 9, 2019). "'Friends' to Leave Netflix for WarnerMedia's HBO Max Streaming Service in 2020". Variety. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  6. ^ Solsman, Joan E. (October 29, 2019). "HBO Max will launch in May in the US". CNET.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise; Petski, Denise (January 9, 2020). "AT&T Audience Network To End; Will Transition To HBO Max Preview Channel". Deadline. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  8. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (February 5, 2020). "Warner Bros., HBO Max Set New Film Division for Streaming Service". Variety. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "HBO Max: Where HBO Meets So Much More (teaser video)". YouTube. February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020. (copyright disclaimer at 0:28)
  10. ^ Perez, Sarah (October 30, 2019). "HBO Max will cost $14.99 per month and launch in May 2020". TechCrunch. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Spangler, Todd; Schneider, Michael (October 30, 2019). "HBO Max vs. HBO Now vs. HBO Go: Why WarnerMedia's Strategy May Lead to Brand Confusion". Variety. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  12. ^ Baysinger, Tim (January 15, 2020). "Cinemax Abandons Original Programming, Channel Will Not Be Part of HBO Max". TheWrap. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  13. ^ Haselton, Todd (July 9, 2019). "AT&T rolls out a new, super-charged streaming service with HBO shows, 'Friends' and more". CNBC. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  14. ^ "HBO Max OTT platform to include live NBA and MLB". SportsPro Media. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  15. ^ Porter, Rick (August 1, 2019). "'Luther,' 'Doctor Who,' U.K. 'Office' Libraries Head to HBO Max in BBC Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 17, 2019). "HBO Max Lands 'The Big Bang Theory' Streaming Rights, TBS Extends Cable Window In Mega WarnerMedia Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 17, 2019). "HBO Max Acquires U.S. Streaming Rights To Studio Ghibli Library". Deadline. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Sharf, Zack (October 16, 2019). "Studio Ghibli Is So Committed to the Theatrical Experience It Has No Plans to Ever Stream Films". IndieWire. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  19. ^ Thorne, Will (October 17, 2019). "Studio Ghibli Films to Stream on HBO Max". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  20. ^ Hayes, Dade (October 29, 2019). "'South Park' Vault And 3 New Seasons Go To HBO Max In Split Deal With Viacom". Deadline. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  21. ^ Hayes, Dade (October 29, 2019). "'Rick And Morty' Brings Library To HBO Max Ahead Of Adult Swim Season Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  22. ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 29, 2019). "HBO Max Programming: The TV & Film Titles That Will Stream On WarnerMedia's Service". Deadline. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  23. ^ Alexander, Julia (October 29, 2019). "Here's what HBO Max looks like". The Verge. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  24. ^ Katzmaier, David. "Millions of HBO and HBO Now subscribers will get HBO Max for free". CNET. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  25. ^ Blumenthal, Eli. "AT&T plans to include HBO Max for free at launch for 10M current subscribers". CNET. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  26. ^ Alexander, Julia (February 20, 2020). "HBO and HBO Max are headed to YouTube TV". The Verge. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  27. ^ Munson, Ben (November 20, 2019). "WarnerMedia chief pitches HBO Max to Comcast and other distributors". FierceVideo. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  28. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 29, 2019). "HBO Max Sets Monthly Pricing, May 2020 Launch Date". Variety. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  29. ^ Hayes, Dade (October 29, 2019). "WarnerMedia Confirms May 2020 Launch Of HBO Max Along With Growth Goals". Deadline. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  30. ^ Szalai, Georg (October 30, 2019). "How HBO Max May Approach Its Global Rollout". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  31. ^ Friend, David (October 30, 2019). "Bell Media bolsters Crave's streaming library under new deal with HBO". The Canadian Press (via CBCNews.ca). Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  32. ^ Clarke, Stewart (October 30, 2019). "Sky and HBO Strike New Programming Deal". Variety. Retrieved October 30, 2019.

External links[edit]

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