By CE Critic - Buy Better Tech
If you're one of the loyal legacy subscribers to HBO Max, you might want to brace yourself for a bit of disappointment. When HBO Max rebranded as Max earlier this year, existing subscribers on the ad-free plan were assured that certain perks, like 4K streaming, would remain intact for at least six months. However, as that six-month mark approaches, it seems those perks are about to disappear.
A Not-So-Ad-Free Surprise
Max is now notifying affected legacy customers that while their monthly subscription price of $15.99 remains unchanged, they will no longer have access to certain benefits on or after December 5th. Specifically, 4K and HDR streaming, previously available to these customers, will be replaced with standard HD quality. Additionally, the extra concurrent stream, which allowed three simultaneous streams for legacy subscribers, will be downgraded to the standard two.
The big question now is whether there will be any exceptions or subsets of customers who can still retain these benefits, as Warner Bros. Discovery, the company behind Max, has yet to clarify this.
Offline Viewing Remains Unaffected
One piece of good news for both current and legacy ad-free customers is that the ability to download content for offline viewing will remain unaffected. Both groups can still save up to 30 titles on supported devices, ensuring that entertainment is still within reach even without a data connection.
Exploring the Alternatives
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, HBO Max offers a "with ads" tier for $9.99 per month. While this plan doesn't include offline downloads, it still permits two simultaneous streams and provides HD picture quality. Additionally, the recent introduction of a sports add-on, free until February 29th, allows sports enthusiasts to enjoy this feature at no additional cost, though it will require an extra $9.99 per month from March onwards.
These changes, which can be seen as a less-than-pleasant surprise, are just one of many instances where streaming services have altered their offerings to maximize profits. As media companies increasingly aim to generate revenue, adjustments to subscription plans have become the norm.
The Shifting Landscape of Streaming
Back in January, when HBO Max was still known as HBO Max, the service had already increased its prices. Moreover, Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO, David Zaslav, hinted in September that Max's pricing could continue to rise in the future. He expressed confidence that increasing prices for premium content wouldn't lead to a significant loss of customers.
As the trend suggests, streaming companies are pushing customers towards lower-tier, ad-supported plans, allowing them to build a larger audience that can attract advertisers. The "with ads" plan at $9.99 per month offers two streams and HD video but excludes downloads.
While the changes set to take effect in December might not be everyone's cup of tea, they reflect a broader shift in the streaming landscape as companies seek to balance costs and benefits while continuing to provide quality content to their customers.
