HBO Max Increasing Prices and Stopping Password Sharing Starting January

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As a long-time Max subscriber who has been sharing my account with family members across different households for years, I must admit that I’m feeling a mix of emotions upon hearing the latest news about their upcoming password clampdown and price hikes. On one hand, I understand the need for streaming services to protect their content and maintain fair pricing for all users. On the other hand, I can’t help but feel like I’ve been given an eviction notice from my own home on Max Street.

Max, a popular streamer, has hinted at potential future password restrictions, following in the footsteps of other platforms such as Netflix. In response to the issue of multiple households sharing account passwords without additional subscriptions, several streaming services have introduced or planned to implement their own limitations. Now, Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette has announced that Max will send “subtle” signals as they embark on a similar journey.

Shows like The White Lotus, Euphoria, and the Harry Potter series, among others, are set to premiere soon on Max. However, those who have been sharing someone else’s account may need to get their own subscription if they wish to watch these shows.

“This process involves both art and science, aiming to distinguish between users who are genuinely active versus those temporarily away, such as on vacation or business trips. From the first quarter onwards, we plan to introduce new members and gradually improve our accuracy based on data collection. We’ll use a combination of explicit and implicit signals to assess our effectiveness. As we progress through 2025, you can expect the filters to become increasingly precise.

At present, the maximum number of subscribers are charged $20.99 for an uninterrupted premium service, $16.99 for a standard ad-free version, and $9.99 for one with advertisements. It’s worth noting that Perrette has hinted at potential price increases for these plans in the future.

Clearly, we are influencing prices significantly. Given that we have Max and HBO as our content category and brand, we aim to maintain a premium position in terms of pricing. Therefore, we intend to keep increasing prices as we move forward.

Max Unveils Release Windows for Some Big Shows

Although the announcement of a price increase and the limitation on sharing your subscription might not feel like a reason to cheer, the conference also revealed exciting updates about several eagerly awaited shows set to air on Max in the near future. For instance, “The White Lotus” will return for Season 2 in February 2025, while “The Last of Us” Season 2 is expected in the spring. The “Game of Thrones” spinoff “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is projected to debut towards the end of 2025, and “Euphoria” will premiere its third season in 2026. Furthermore, the new adaptation of the “Harry Potter” novels is now estimated to be released sometime between 2026 and 2027.

It appears that changes on some of the major streaming platforms, such as increased prices or stricter password policies, are inevitable – unless you choose to stop using them. Some individuals have managed to reduce costs by sharing subscriptions with family members residing in separate homes, but this practice is becoming less common. Instead, it seems that Max’s strategy will not be sudden and drastic, but rather a gradual transformation. This approach should allow subscribers the opportunity to evaluate their continued interest in Max and whether the extra expense is something they are willing to bear.

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2024-12-04 04:01