The most anticipated upcoming American subscription video-on-demand service, HBO Max, is all set to make its arrival next year. The service is from WarnerMedia Entertainment, a division of AT&T’s WarnerMedia and is going to launch in May 2020.
On 10th October 2018, WarnerMedia declared that it is going to launch an over-the-top streaming service in late 2019, which will feature content from its entertainment brands. Mainly, the original plan for the service called for three tiers with a late 2019 launch.
Later on 9th July 2019, WarnerMedia declared that their upcoming streaming service would be named HBO Max as well as it would launch in spring 2020. In addition to that, they also announced at that time was that the most popular show “Friends” would be taken off rival streaming service Netflix for the launch, while on the other hand Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine as well s Greg Berlanti was signed to production deals for the service.
On the other hand, HBO Max is going to draw from all corners of WarnerMedia as well as third-party content providers.
In the meantime, Casey Bloys, programming president of HBO, manages HBO Max programming while Kevin Reilly, on the other hand, who is the Chief Content Officer is also going to be the chief content officer of HBO Max which will take care of all new originals as well as library content.
Andy Forssell is the executive vice president and general manager of the service while still reporting to Otter Media CEO Tony Goncalves, who also leads development.
HBO Max Content
HBO Max is going to feature original programming produced for the service along with that it will also draw content from the namesake HBO network and additional WarnerMedia companies.
With the start of the 2019–20 television season, the series on The CW are being produced by Warner Bros. In addition to that, the television that debut from that season on is going to have their seasons that are placed on HBO Max a month in advance of the newest season premieres.
Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, as well as Greg Berlanti, were also signed to the production deals for an opening four movies in the young-adult genre as well as two films, correspondingly. WarnerMedia Entertainment also specified that the service will comprise a total of 10,000 hours of content.
On the other hand, AT&T chairman and CEO, Randall L. Stephenson in the meantime has not ruled out adding live content from Turner Sports in the future like the NBA on TNT, Major League Baseball on TBS, as well as NCAA March Madness. On 29 October 2019, it was confirmed that News and Sport are going to be incorporated in the year 2021.
Later on 1st August 2019, HBO Max also declared its acquisition of library rights to many BBC Studios series, which also comprise of the first 11 seasons of the 2005 Doctor Who revival, along with the future seasons twelve through fourteen, The Honourable Woman, Luther, Top Gear, also The Office British version. HBO Max is also going to stream future seasons of Doctor Who after their early run on BBC America.
HBO Max has also acquired the U.S. streaming rights to The Big Bang Theory on 17th September 2019, as part of a deal that also extends TBS’s off-network rights to the series through the year 2028.
This month, it was declared that HBO Max had acquired exclusive rights of U.S. streaming to the library of Japanese animation studio Studio Ghibli, through its North American distributor GKIDS.
On the other hand, it also marks the first time that the studio’s films are ever going to be presented on a streaming platform; the studio’s co-founder Hayao Miyazaki had generally been cautious to offer his films through these services, seeing a preference headed for a traditional theatrical experience.
A few days back on Oct 29, HBO Max claimed that the exclusive domestic streaming rights to South Park as well as the next three seasons in a shared deal with Viacom. The same day, it was confirmed that all the three seasons of Rick and Morty are going to be accessible on HBO Max.
In the meantime, it was also confirmed on the HBO Max Twitter account that the shows such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, The History of Comedy, The Bachelor, Impractical Jokers, The O.C., The West Wing, This Is Life with Lisa Ling, United Shades of America and Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, The Movies, Samurai Jack, are going to be accessible on HBO Max along with the movies like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, A Star is Born, Singin’ in the Rain The Shining and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
In addition to that HBO Max is also going to have podcasts about the movies as well as TV shows on the service.
There is going to be a proposed feature that will allow two users on the same account to combine their viewing preferences in order to receive tailored recommendations that seem to be like a cool idea if the company can get it to work.
HBO Max Price and Availability
HBO Max is all set to launch in May 2020 and it is going to cost $14.99 per month. One must take note that if you’re an HBO Now subscriber who subscribes directly through HBO or an AT&T cable provider (UVerse or DirecTV), then you are going to be automatically upgraded to HBO Max, without paying any additional cost. Your subscription is eventually going to be converted to an HBO Max subscription, as well as both cable providers will offer bundles featuring HBO Max. It is going to feature a large library of titles from across the WarnerMedia universe, as well as it will be the only platform where you can stream entertainment contents such as Friends or the films of Studio Ghibli.
Conclusion
At a presentation for investors which was held in Burbank, California, on Tuesday, October 29, WarnerMedia revealed its shiny new toy, formally entering the on-going streaming wars by directly pushing back in contradiction of its chief competitors, particularly Disney+ and Netflix. In the exceptionally controlled screenshots as well as snippets that Warner’s team showed off, the thing certainly seems to be very impressive.
