Plus, it looks like there will be one new service, as HBO Max + Discovery Plus may be just ‘Max’. And it’s going to happen slightly earlier than anticipated. Either way, big changes are in store for the best streaming service (HBO Max). The HBO Max and Discovery Plus combination has been a known topic since March of this year, and recent events have had people fretting about a nightmare scenario where HBO Max dies and becomes an HBO tab inside of Discovery Plus. That seems less likely, after Warner Bros. Discovery executives basically doubled-down on HBO Max’s value in a Q2 Earnings call that had HBO Max branding left, right and center. But, yes, a shakeup is afoot for HBO Max. So, since we’ve been tracking this since March, we’ve decided to break it all down for you.
HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger — how much will the new app cost?
This is going to be the biggest obstacle for most involved. Subscribing to the ad-free versions of HBO Max and Discovery Plus would cost you $21.98 per month when purchased separately. Getting both of the ad-supported versions totals $14.98 per month. Things get complicated, because Discovery Plus ($6.99 to $4.99 monthly) members spend much less than HBO Max ($14.99 to $9.99 monthly) members do. For this exact reason, it was noted near the end of the Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 earnings call that they plan to let Discovery Plus members stay ‘grandfathered’ into their original pricing for a (likely short) window of time at first. We think that the new combined service shouldn’t go above $19.99 per month (for its ad-free plan) because that’s the new highest price for Netflix (maybe limit its ad-supported plan to maybe $12.99 per month?). That said, Warner Bros. Discovery should keep the combined package as close to $14.99 per month as possible. On their own call, they explained that they estimate only 4 million people subscribe to both services. This all suggests that HBO Max customers, your higher-paying customers, don’t have a whole lot of interest in paying more for Discovery Plus (I am speaking from experience on this one). In what appears to be a little test, HBO Max will be gaining some content you might expect on Discovery Plus. Programming from the Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network is due to HBO Max in September. This could be a test of how interested HBO Max’s audience is in the Discovery Plus content pool. Also, we know Q1 numbers suggest the balance leans heavily in HBO Max’s favor. Back then, there were reportedly (opens in new tab) 76.8 million total HBO and HBO Max subscribers worldwide, and 24 million or so Discovery Plus subscribers. This paints a picture where HBO Max hits the upper limits for what customers are willing to pay for a service. At the same time, this suggests HBO Max is the stronger service — since it can get more subscribers to pay more cash. Further, this will end in tiers. Not only will the HBO Max and Discovery Plus service have a premium ad-free entry level, but it will also have an ad-supported plan (which WBD’s Q2 Earnings presentation referred to as “ad-lite” as well. There will also be a free third tier, which was referred to with an acronym many have never heard of before: FAST, which stands for “Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television.” That tier, which is seemingly coming later, is meant to get people in the door and interested in the product. Peacock does this with its free tier. Oh, and there will be another tier that has sports content.
HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger date — when could it happen?
At the Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 Earnings Call, it was announced that the plan for the ‘global product rollout’ (aka the release of the new combined service) is scheduled for summer 2023 in the United States. At this stage in the game, with no announced service ready to roll out — and WBD seemingly still putting things together — this window makes a lot of sense. A CNBC (opens in new tab) report, though, said the launch has been pushed up to Spring 2023. Warner Bros. Discovery not only needs to find a solution to its service and app merger issue, but it will need to spend plenty of time marketing this solution. Latin America will get the new service in the subsequent fall, European markets will get it in early 2024, Asian-Pacific markets in the middle of next year, and then new markets will be served that fall.
Why the HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger is happening
The executives at Warner Bros. Discovery see their future as best met with one single streaming service. This news first broke when a comment was made by Discovery CFO (now Warner Bros. Discovery CEO) Gunnar Wiedenfels (opens in new tab) at the Deutsche Bank 30th Annual Media, Internet & Telecom Conference, where he said “One of the most important items here is that we believe in a combined product as opposed to a bundle… We believe that the breadth and depth of this content offering is going to be a phenomenal consumer value proposition." This was reiterated on the WBD Q2 earnings call, as CEO and president David Zaslav stated that one of their three strategic priorities is to operate as one combined company and to be the premiere entertainment company globally.
Outlook: HBO Max and Discovery Plus merger concerns
The biggest concern customers probably have is being forced to pay more for content they don’t care about. Some people exist in the Venn diagram that shows interest in HBO Max and Discovery Plus, but that’s just a small fraction of the folks, as explained above. Those paying closer attention will be wondering how shows and movies could suffer in David Zaslav’s era. Things aren’t starting off well for creatives. The Batgirl and Scoob! sequels were canned, and six Max Original films have disappeared as well. Plus, new movies are no longer guaranteed to come out on HBO Max 45 days after their theatrical release. On the Warner Bros. Discovery Q2 earnings call CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels basically declared it has intent to cut down on kids and animation content “without an adequate investment case against them.” In other words, animated content that won’t be huge will not be developed. All along the way, WBD has been swinging the cancelation axe on a lot of scripted programming, including TNT’s Snowpiercer, TBS’ The Last O.G. and HBO Max’s Made For Love. So, with scripted content on the outs at TNT, TBS and truTV (the Turner networks, or T-nets), eyes turn to how HBO Max content will survive. A report from The Wrap (opens in new tab) was especially dire, but seemingly unconfirmed as of yet. James Gunn (opens in new tab), showrunner of The Suicide Squad-spinoff Peacemaker has said Peacemaker season 2 is safe. Casey Bloys, HBO and HBO Max’s chief content officer, has publicly said The Flight Attendant season 3 is definitely possible — and that it’s on that show’s producers to decide if they want to come back. The same, he said, is true for a potential season 3 of The White Lotus. We’re hoping The Rehearsal (still waiting on a second season pickup) Harley Quinn (currently waiting for a season 4 renewal), Our Flag Means Death (picked up for season 2) and Hacks (picked up for season 3) are among the shows that survive. As long as the right shows stick around, and the price doesn’t go up too much, everything else would be tolerable. When will we learn more? On the earnings call, we found out that the Investors Day Event at the end of the year is when we should expect more details. Next: Here’s how to watch Better Call Saul season 6 episode 12 online. Also, Netflix’s new Woodstock doc is 90% on Rotten Tomatoes — and it’s a trainwreck you need to see.
