HBO Max Increasing Prices and Stopping Password Sharing Starting January

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As a long-time subscriber of various streaming services, I find myself once again bracing for impact as Max hints at tightening their password sharing policy and potentially increasing prices. It seems that the golden age of splitting subscription costs with family members is slowly fading away, much like my own youth.

Max is now hinting subtly at potential changes regarding password sharing, following the lead of other streaming platforms such as Netflix. Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming chief JB Perrette has suggested that Max may soon implement measures to restrict account password sharing, much like other services have done or are planning to do in the near future.

At a tech and media gathering held on Tuesday (as reported by Variety), Perrette disclosed information about some highly anticipated Max projects, such as the launch dates for The White Lotus, Euphoria, and the Harry Potter TV series. With these shows and others set to enthrall audiences, it’s likely that many will stay subscribed to the platform. However, individuals who are currently using someone else’s account may be unable to view these programs unless they sign up for their own subscription. In her remarks, Perrette pointed this out.

“This is an art and a science of trying to figure out who is actually sharing versus who may be actually at their vacation home or on a business trip and and so it’s an art and a science. We will offer a way to essentially add a member, starting in the first quarter, we will then start gradually as we get the data, and start figuring out, with some explicit and implicit signals, how good we are at detecting. And then as we go through ’25, you’re going to see the filters get tighter and tighter.”

At present, the maximum number of subscribers are paying:

Clearly, we will remain a key factor in setting prices. Given our association with Max and HBO as a premium content category and brand, it’s natural that we aim to be at the high-end of pricing. As such, we intend to keep raising prices as we move forward.

Max Unveils Release Windows for Some Big Shows

Although the prospect of higher prices and restricted sharing of subscriptions might not feel like something to cheer about, the conference also disclosed exciting news about numerous eagerly awaited shows coming soon to Max. Among them is the confirmation that The White Lotus will air its second season in February 2025, The Last of Us Season 2 is set for a spring arrival, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms spinoff from Game of Thrones is expected towards the end of 2025, and Euphoria will debut its third season in 2026. Furthermore, the new adaptation of the Harry Potter books has been tentatively scheduled for a release between 2026 and 2027.

It appears that changes on some of the larger streaming platforms, such as price hikes and stricter password policies, are inevitable. However, these adjustments won’t happen all at once like a sudden slamming gate (portcullis). Instead, it will likely be a slow transition, allowing subscribers to evaluate their continued interest in the platform and determine if the increased cost is something they can afford. While sharing subscriptions with family members living in different homes has been a common strategy for some, this option may become less viable over time.

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2024-12-04 04:34