HBO Max and Discovery+ will become one platform in 2023. A logical decision after the merger of Warner Bros. and Discovery, which already has major implications.
HBO Max is about to change. During its first earnings presentation since the giants’ merger a few months ago, Warner Bros. Discovery has announced its intention to merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming service, expected to launch in Summer 2023. At this stage, no one knows if this platform will be mentioned by HBO or not. Indeed, global streaming director JB Perrette said the company is still evaluating customer perception of the brand.
HBO Max and Discovery+ will become one platform in 2023
The news comes after the newly merged company posted a net loss of $3.42 billion in the second quarter. “In the end, bringing all the content together was the only way to run a viable business,” J.B. Perrett told analysts.
Warner Brazzers. plans to drastically overhaul its streaming offerings and also has to cut $3 billion in spending, sparking rumors of HBO Max’s demise. Executives did not reveal the name of this new platform or the price list, but did confirm that there are ad-free offerings and a less expensive offering partially funded by ads. It would be possible to consider a completely free offer, with advertising, of course.
A logical decision after the merger of Warner Bros. and discovery
During this presentation of the results, no mention is made of layoffs at HBO Max, which would be inevitable as the platforms go through a complete restructuring. Contacted on the topic, HBO Max has not yet spoken. We will update this article as needed.
which has serious consequences
In any case, it’s hard to say how this merger will affect the content of the new service. The company announced this week that it is canceling two HBO Max movies, Batgirl and Scoob! -. He also recently announced the cancellation of The Chronicles of Gordita, as well as the end of children’s and family live performance programs. A number of shows and movies have disappeared from HBO Max in recent weeks, including Moonshot, The Witches and American Cucumber. Others must follow.
One thing’s for sure, we’ll see significantly fewer blockbusters on this new streaming service. CEO of Warner Bros. David Zaslav of Discovery said that showing films in theaters generates more revenue. “That’s what most people work for in this industry – to be on the big screen when the lights go out. This is the magic, and this business model is much more reliable.”