Stephanie Sengwe is writer based in New York who covers companies in the streaming industry including AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Roku, and Netflix . She also contributes daily news coverage on streaming services and devices for The Streamable.
After much anticipation, HBO Max —WarnerMedia’s player in the streaming game — has finally launched. The service was first announced back in 2018 and while the company kept many details under wraps, they began revealing more and more information as the months have gone by.
“This is just the beginning of our journey,” said Bob Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer. “We will continue to innovate and evolve this one-of-a-kind platform that brings together beloved programming from across the WarnerMedia family and around the world, while also paving the way for the creative voices of tomorrow.”
What Is the Price of HBO Max?
HBO Max is $15 a month, the same price as HBO and HBO NOW. All AT&T, DirecTV and HBO Now customers will get it right away. Others who get it through their cable company will have to wait until HBO Max makes new deals with their provider.
WarnerMedia recently sealed distribution deals with seven partners — Altice USA, Cox Communications, Microsoft Xbox, Samsung, Sony PlayStation, Verizon and the National Cable Television Cooperative — to carry the service when it launches. This was in addition to the deals the company has already sealed with Charter, Hulu, YouTube TV and Apple TV.
As it stands, the company doesn’t have any deals with only two other major distributors: Amazon and Roku.
What Devices Are Compatible With HBO Max?
Apple TV (4th Gen+)
Android TV
Chromecast
iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch)
Xbox One
PS4
Samsung Smart TV (2016+)
Computer (using Web Browser)
You can also stream using AirPlay 2 on select VIZIO and LG Smart TVs, which also are without a native HBO Max app
User Profiles, Simultaneous Streams and 4K Content
HBO Max allows for three simultaneous streams at a time across five unique user profiles. Each profile will support its own “Continue Watching” and “Favorites List”.
At the moment, the platform does not support 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos, but they plan to do so in the future.
Offline Downloads
One major improvement over HBO Now is that HBO Max will let you download your favorite shows and movies to tablet and mobile devices.
With HBO Max, your account can have a total of 30 downloads (across all profiles and devices). Once your account has 30 downloads, you’ll need to delete downloads on a device. The same show can only be on 5 devices at the same time.
Similar to other services you will need to refresh the download every 30 days, but an additional restriction is once you start viewing a show or movie you’ll need to finish it in 48 hours.
Parental Controls
For kids, you can create specific profiles. They will limit the content that the child sees, but also will disallow playback of certain types of shows and movies by rating.
To activate, you will set a PIN, which will allow you to unlock or change the restrictions.
What Movies and Shows Are Available on HBO Max?
HBO Max will include 10,000 hours of programming at launch, including the entire HBO service and library, a large offering of new original content and a slate of acquired and library programming. The app has separate hubs for content like HBO, DC, Sesame Workshop, Studio Ghibili, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CrunchyRoll, and Turner Classic Movies.
The service will be the exclusive streaming home for “Friends”, “The Big Bang Theory, “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, “South Park”, “The West Wing”, and more.
They also have exclusive rights to Sesame Street, bringing the franchise’s entire 50-year library to a streaming platform for the first time; they also secured the U.S. streaming rights for Japan’s Studio Ghibli and have ordered two unscripted kids competition series — “Karma” and “Craftopia.”
Prior to the pandemic, the company announced that there will be 50 new originals by 2021, including “The Flight Attendant” (Kaley Cuoco), “Love Life” (Anna Kendrick) and “Dune: The Sisterhood” (based on world created by Frank Herbert’s book Dune).
Original Series and Films
Dune: The Sisterhood
The Flight Attendant
Green Lantern
Made for Love
Raised by Wolves
Station Eleven
Strange Adventures
Full Bloom
Tokyo Vice
Love Life
Rydell High
Gossip Girl XOXO
DC Super Hero High
Rap Sh*t
College Girls
Conan O’Brien Stand-Up Specials
Ellen’s Home Design Challenge
Equal
Finding Einstein
First Dates Hotel
Gen:Lock
Generation
Generation Hustle
Heaven’s Gate
The Ho’s
Made for Love
Starstruck
Library Content
Friends
The Big Bang Theory
South Park (June 2020)
The West Wing
Batwoman
Doctor Who
Fresh Prince of Bel Air
Gossip Girl
Katy Keene
Luther
Pretty Little Liars
Rick and Morty
Sesame Street
The Office (UK)
Top Gear
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Impractical Jokers
Major Crimes
Rizzolli and Isles
Robot Chicken
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
The Bachelor
The Bachelorette
The Closer
The O.C.
This is Life with Lisa Ling
United Shades of America with Kamau Bell
HBO Shows
Angels in America
Ballers
Band of Brothers
Barry
Big Little Lies
Big Love
Boardwalk Empire
The Case Against Adnan Syed
Chernobyl
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Deadwood
The Deuce
Divorce
Entourage
Euphoria
Game of Thrones
Generation Kill
Girls
How to Make It in America
Hung
Insecure
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Leftovers
Life’s Too Short
The Newsroom
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
Real Time with Bill Maher
Russell Simmons Presents Def Comedy
Sex and the City
Sharp Objects
The Shop
Library & New Release Films
2001: A Space Odyssey
A Star Is Born
Aquaman
Austin Powers
Batman
Batman & Robin
Batman Begins
Batman Forever
Batman Returns
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Bridesmaids
Casablanca
Catwoman
Chariots of Fire
Citizen Kane
Constantine
Crazy Rich Asians
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Dangerous Liaisons
DC Films – All live action movies from the past decade
Stephanie Sengwe is writer based in New York who covers companies in the streaming industry including AT&T, Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Roku, and Netflix . She also contributes daily news coverage on streaming services and devices for The Streamable.