HBO Max and Discovery Plus will merge into one app. It’s unclear if either will “win” and become the app the other lives inside of. We’ll explain why HBO Max should host Discovery Plus. HBO Max + Discovery Plus may merge into one service, ‘Max’. Earlier than expected. Good news? Prices won’t rise. A new HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger report suggest WBD may not force Discovery Plus subscribers to sign up.
The best streaming service will undergo significant changes (HBO Max). Since March 2018, HBO Max and Discovery Plus have been discussed, and recent events have raised concerns about a nightmare scenario in which HBO Max dies and becomes an HBO tab inside Discovery Plus.
How Much Is Hbo Max And Discovery Plus
The merger between HBO Max and Discovery Plus has led to speculation about how much the new app will cost. HBO Max costs $16 per month, and it is rumored that the new app will retain this price point. However, this may not last, as subscribing to HBO Max’s and Discovery Plus’s ad-free versions separately would cost $21.98 monthly. The total cost would be $14.98 per month for those who opt for the ad-supported versions.
It is worth noting that Discovery Plus members currently pay less than HBO Max members. To ensure that existing Discovery Plus members are not adversely affected, it has been suggested that they can keep their current pricing for a short period. The combined service is predicted not to exceed $19.99 per month for its ad-free plan and may limit its ad-supported plan to $12.99 per month. Warner Bros. Discovery aims to keep the combined package as close to $14.99 per month as possible, as they estimate that only four million people subscribe to both services.
HBO Max will also be adding content from Discovery Plus, such as programming from the Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network in September, which may serve as a test for audience interest in Discovery Plus content.
Hbo Max And Discovery Plus Merger—When Could That Happen?
At Warner Bros. Discovery’s Q2 Earnings Call, the “global product rollout” (the new combined service’s release) was scheduled for summer 2023 in the US. This window makes sense with no announced service and WBD still putting things together. However, the Washington Post reported the launch had been moved to Spring 2023.
Warner Bros. Discovery must find and market a service and app merger solution. Latin America will get the new service in the fall, European markets in early 2024, Asian-Pacific markets in mid-2024, and new markets in the fall of 2024.
Why Are Hbo Max And Discovery Plus Going To Merge?
Warner Bros. Discovery executives believe they need one streaming service. At the Deutsche Bank 30th Annual Media, Internet & Telecom Conference, Discovery CFO (now Warner Bros. Discovery CEO) Gunnar Wiedenfels said, “One of the most important items here is that we believe in a combined product as opposed to a bundle.” The breadth and depth of this content offering will be a great consumer value proposition.”
Utsav Techie has also Tweeted about the big merger. You can see the Tweet below
WarnerMedia and Discovery have completed their mega-streaming merger
Now, HBO Max and Discovery Plus are eventually expected to merge into a single service.
— Utsav Techie (@utsavtechie) April 11, 2022
On the WBD Q2 earnings call, CEO and president David Zaslav reiterated that one of their three strategic priorities is to operate as one combined company and be the world’s leading entertainment company.
Hbo Max-discovery Plus Merger Concerns
Customers’ biggest worry is paying more for the content they don’t like. As mentioned above, a small percentage of people are interested in HBO Max and Discovery Plus. Observers will wonder how shows and movies could suffer under David Zaslav. Creatives are struggling. Six Max Originals and Batgirl and Scoob! The sequels were canceled. Additionally, HBO Max no longer releases new movies 45 days after their theatrical release.
Warner Bros. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels stated on the Q2 earnings call that it will cut kids and animation content “without an adequate investment case against them.” Thus, small-scale animated content won’t be made. WBD has been canceling scripted shows like Snowpiercer, The Last O.G., and Made For Love.
With TNT, TBS, and truTV (the Turner networks, or T-nets) dropping scripted content, attention turns to HBO Max. The Wrap’s report(opens in new tab) was particularly dire but unconfirmed. Peacemaker showrunner James Gunn(opens in new tab) says season 2 is safe. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in Wonder Woman’s invisible jet (L to R)
HBO and HBO Max’s chief content officer, Casey Bloys, has stated that The Flight Attendant season 3 is possible, but the show’s producers must decide to return. He said The White Lotus season 3 would be the same. We hope The Rehearsal, Harley Quinn, Our Flag Means Death, and Hacks survive. Everything else is fine if the right shows stay and the price doesn’t rise. Discovery Plus may stay, which would annoy HBO Max users forced to switch.
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