Hbo Max Is Back (again) - Here's What's Changing

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

The Max era is over. After a much-criticized sanction alteration successful 2023, nan Max streaming work is officially returning to its original sanction of HBO Max. If that sounds a small confusing, here's what happened. 

Why nan rebrand?

The HBO Max streaming work first debuted successful 2020, showcasing original HBO contented positive shows and movies from Warner Bros., DC, Turner, and more. 

Also: The champion unrecorded TV streaming services of 2025: Expert tested

When WarnerMedia (the genitor institution of HBO) and Discovery merged respective years ago, nan institution wanted to show that nan streaming work now had contented from sources different than HBO, truthful nan HBO was dropped and nan work became simply Max.

When nan HBO Max to Max rebrand happened, you needed to download a full caller app to stream. 

Do you request to usage a caller app?

The champion portion for subscribers now is you don't request to do anything. The Max app will update connected its ain pinch nan caller name. All of your profiles, preferences, and precocious watched information will remain.

Also: Add Paramount+, STARZ, and much to your Prime Video relationship for conscionable $0.99 a period - here's how

WarnerMedia announced nan alteration successful May but didn't put a circumstantial day connected erstwhile it would return effect. It's astir apt not a coincidence that it officially happened conscionable a fewer days earlier nan Emmy nominations are announced, television's biggest awards.

This alteration comes arsenic Warner Bros. Discovery is splitting into 2 abstracted companies: 1 that's location to HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. movie, TV, and crippled studios, and 1 that's location to different cablegram networks.

No pricing changes

For now, HBO hasn't announced immoderate pricing changes to spell on pinch nan re-rebrand. A basal subscription pinch ads is $9.99 a period aliases $99.99 a year, a modular scheme is $16.99 a period aliases $169.99 a year, and a premium scheme is $20.99 a period aliases $209.99 a year.

Also: Is your unrecorded TV streaming measure excessively high? You person different options - including cheaper ones

The work is location to celebrated shows for illustration Friends, 90 Day Fiancé, Veep, and Game of Thrones, and more.

Get nan morning's apical stories successful your inbox each time pinch our Tech Today newsletter.