Another streaming platform asks people to dig deep into their wallets and pay more to use the service. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has consolidated the prices of all HO MAX plans, 16 months after the last increase in ad-free offerings.
The entry-level, ad-supported plan is now $11 per month ($1 1) or $110 per year). HBO Max Standard will run you $1.50 a month for $18.49 or $15 a year for $185 for an annual plan. As for the HBE Max Premium Option, subscribers will now have to pay $23 per month (up $2) or $230 for an annual plan (up $20).
New rates kick in immediately for newcomers. Existing monthly subscribers will begin paying higher on November 20 (whenever their next billing cycle begins on or after that date). Annual subscribers will be notified of the price change 30 days before their plan renews.
WBD CEO David Zaslav suggested in September that the price hike was increasing, as well as a strong crack at password sharing. “The fact that this is quality – and that’s true for our company, motion picture, TV production and broadcast quality – we all think that gives us an opportunity to raise prices,” said Zaslav. “We think we are available.”
The company announced the price increase on the same day that Disney made Disney + several Disney more expensive. As it turns out, some of the Disney+ bundles that are going up in price include the HBE Max.
The news of the Price Hikes comes just as WBD is sticking with its SIGNIFICANT FINAL SALE. It is reported this month that the company rejected the acquisition from skydance of paramount to be very low. WBD has now confirmed that “multiple parties” have expressed interest in buying some or all of the company, and that it is now conducting a “cash cow review.”
In June, WBD announced plans to separate the two companies. As things stand, warner bros. will retain Nameake Film, TV and Game Studios, as well as New Line Cinema, DC Studios, HBO and HBA MAX. Global acquisitions will have all other live cable channels, such as CNN, HGTV, Cartoon Network, Acquisitions and TLC (with the lion’s share of WBD credit). That division is slated for Mid-2026, but WBD said Tuesday it will consider other options.
“The board of Warner Bros. Discomory will evaluate a wide range of various strategic options, which will include continuing to move forward with the division of this company or the transaction of the entire company or / WBD is acquired,” WBD said in a press release. “As part of the review, the company will also consider another separation structure that would allow the integration of Warner Bros. and exit with a global acquisition for shareholders.”
WBD has not set a deadline or timeframe for completing this review. But given all the HBA ENDISACHING DeAbling, it can take the board a while to make up its mind.
