HBO Max Streaming Service Launches Date on May 27
The subscription-streaming package, with some 10,000 hours of content out of the gate, will debut May 27 in the U.S., priced at $14.95 monthly (the same as HBO Now).
HBO Max will debut in the U.S. before rolling out to Europe and Latin America in the months and years ahead, the company said Tuesday. AT&T is spending a couple of billion dollars a year on HBO Max, its biggest initiative for the WarnerMedia division since the business was acquired for $85 billion almost two years ago.
The service will include all the programming from HBO; a slate of new original series; third-party licensed content like “Friends,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “South Park” and all Studio Ghibli films; and movies from Warner Bros., New Line and DC like “Joker,” “Suicide Squad” and “The Wizard of Oz.” In addition, HBO Max will be stocked with content from other WarnerMedia brands including CNN, TNT, TBS, truTV, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crunchyroll, Rooster Teeth and Looney Tunes.
HBO Now subscribers who are billed directly through HBO will get access to HBO Max at launch for no extra cost. In addition, HBO subscribers via one of AT&T’s TV services as well as Charter Communications will be automatically upgraded to HBO Max.
WarnerMedia earlier this month unleashed about 500 hours of free HBO content (available in the U.S.), available through April 30. HBO’s free-streaming buffet comprises every episode of 10 original series including “The Sopranos,” “Veep,” “Silicon Valley,” “Barry,” and “Big Little Lies.”
Walt Disney Co. is now seen as the leader among major media companies trying to embrace streaming. Disney+ signed up more than 50 million customers in its first five months, buoyed by an aggressive marketing campaign.
Comcast Corp.’s Peacock had a subdued debut last week, with the service only available to some of the company’s own cable subscribers.