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BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Tony Goncalves, Chief Executive Officer of Otter Media, speaks onstage at HBO Max WarnerMedia Investor Day Presentation at Warner Bros. Studios on October 29, 2019 in Burbank, California.
HBO Max is getting a new name, Max, following the arrival of Discovery+ content on the streaming service this May as it tries to keep up with other competitors like Netflix. But that's not all. A "Harry Potter" series is officially on its way to the revamped streamer, Warner Bros. Discovery confirms.
Max debuts next month in the United States (US) with plenty of new upcoming titles, including the JK Rowling-produced show for Potterheads.
HBO Max and Discovery+ Merge as 'Max'
As per Variety, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Warner Bros. Discovery, David Zaslav, finally announced what is in store for their flagship video streaming platform in an event on Wednesday. First off, it will soon be simply "Max." Besides the apparent name change, its subscribers are getting an overwhelming number of new content to binge-watch.
The big boss of Warner Bros. Discovery touts that Max, the upcoming revamp of HBO Max, "is the one to watch." He boasts that it will come with thousands of series and movies.
The media conglomerate is launching the new streaming service, Max, on May 23 in the US. Once it is up and running, the giant streamer plans to add over 40 shows and new seasons of its series each month. In other words, it will flood its users with plenty of fresh content.
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BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: A general view of the stage at HBO Max WarnerMedia Investor Day Presentation at Warner Bros. Studios on October 29, 2019 in Burbank, California.
Max Pricing Starts at $9.99, But 4K Will Be More Expensive
Max is introducing three tiers once it debuts next month, contrary to the two plans that HBO Max currently offers. It starts at $9.99 for its "Max Ad-Lite" tier, which costs $99.99 annually. It delivers a standard 1080p HD resolution best for users without 4K TVs at home., alongside the 5.1 surround sound support. Two users may watch simultaneously, but they must catch up on the offline downloads feature.
This should be fine if you rarely watch shows or movies on the go; this should not be a problem. But if this is a deal breaker for you, the Max Ad Free, which costs $15.99 monthly or $149.99 annually, is the way to go. It offers 30 offline downloads on top of the similar offerings of the Ad-Lite.
The most expensive option, "Ultimate Ad Free," brings stunning 4K Ultra HD and immersive Dolby Atmos to $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Four users can watch simultaneously. Plus, it supports up to a whopping 100 downloads. The Verge notes that HBO Max delivers 4K starting at $15.99. With the revamp, you have to pay more.
Confirmed: 'Harry Potter' Series is Heading to Max
Potterheads has something to look forward to as Max launches in May. According to The Guardian, a "Harry Potter" series is confirmed to be coming to the revamped streamer.
JK Rowling is one of the executive producers of the series. Hence, the show is based on all the seven Harry Potter books she wrote from 1997 to 2007. It will "feature a new cast," according to Max.
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