Now select subscribers can watch live HBO channels on Max
Now select subscribers can watch live HBO channels on Max
Ad-free Max customers may soon find themselves able to stream linear HBO channels through the app for the first time.
There’s a new way to stream linear HBO channels! That’s the latest announcement from Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service Max, which revealed on Tuesday that it was launching a lineup of streams of HBO premium cable channels at no additional cost. The rollout is limited at first, but should be expanding to more Max subscribers soon.
Key Details:
- Max is rolling out streams of five distinct HBO channels starting on Wednesday.
- Customers will be able to pause, rewind and fast-forward the channels at will.
- The rollout will allow viewers to lean back and watch Max instead of choosing for themselves what to stream next.
Max will launch its new “Channels” feature with streams of five separate HBO channels. The streamer is following the lead of other on-demand services associated with premium cable networks, such as STARZ, which allows viewers to watch its cable sibling at no additional cost.
At launch, the five channels offered by Max will include:
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HBO: The flagship channel home to current HBO Original premieres and replays, blockbuster theatrical premieres, and must-see library movies.
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HBO 2: Caters to the ultimate fans of HBO Original programming, featuring binge-worthy marathons of current
HBO Original series in addition to top theatrical movies. -
HBO Signature: Delivers all things prestige drama, featuring iconic HBO Original series and films as well as blockbuster drama movies.
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HBO Comedy: Features laugh-out-loud comedy, including award-winning HBO Original series, specials headlined by top and emerging comedic talent, documentaries about legendary comedians, and box-office comedy hits.
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HBO Zone: Showcase for classic HBO series, documentaries, docuseries, and movies.
These channels will not initially be available to ad-supported Max customers; they are only rolling out for viewers on the Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers as of now. They will not be available on kids’ profiles, and viewers will find them in their own content row with a quick scroll down the user interface.
The move to launch live streaming channels follows a similar rollout by Disney+ but with some key differences. Disney+ now offers streaming channels, but these are more akin to continuous playlists of episodes that keep going automatically as opposed to livestreams of cable networks like Disney Channel.
Adding live streaming channels could help Max boost engagement and keep more viewers subscribed. It creates a lean-back experience for the streamer, one that doesn’t force audiences to pick what they want to watch next, but instead allows them to let HBO’s programmers decide for them.
Max
Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library, along with exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Thanks to the B/R Sports add-on, users can watch NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.