HBO Max/Discovery+ Merger

[Wobble]

Isn't it nice there are all these app selections to enjoy your entertainment needs. Choose what best fits your life style and what you can tolerate or not. Or willing to pay.

 

[Bruce]

Isn't it nice there are all these app selections to enjoy your entertainment needs. Choose what best fits your life style and what you can tolerate or not. Or willing to pay.

I just hate it, it is just so awful that we get so much more content, the same content from Paid Live TV in much better quality, now a lot of it in 4K, new release movies, for a much less expensive price.

I miss Traditional Providers, where they will raise your price, sometimes twice a year, for bit staved video, less and less new content, no way out of some of those fees, even if you never watch a certain channel, old equipment.

I really miss paying for over 150 Channels and the extreme majority of content is nothing but reruns.

It is also sad that I no longer pay over $130-up and broadcast channels/RSN/or just because you are our customer fees.

 

[ncted]

Watch the first episode of Regime, and decide if you want to say that again.

Thanks for the recommendation. I don't know that the quantity of good shows has declined on HBO. Just what my gut says.

 

[Yespage]

Odd, I was getting the vibe that you hated streaming and thought the traditional cable/sat TV model was destined to be the go to for the next several decades.

Meanwhile, Discovery et al has the MotorTrend thing going, and they announced and began their WEC coverage. They showed the Dubai 1812k race. Had the practice, qualifying, and race. I feel fortunate to have Max with my fiber, because paying for Max to pay for B/R would be a tough call. Streaming is getting to the point where people such as myself who can say no to boxes in every room are no longer capable of saving money by cutting the cord. The only people saving money will be the people who had 4 boxes in their house.

 

[klang]

Thanks for the recommendation. I don't know that the quantity of good shows has declined on HBO. Just what my gut says.

Was it actually a recommendation? The meaning was not clear to me.

 

[ncted]

Was it actually a recommendation? The meaning was not clear to me.

Well, I took it that way, but I guess I won't know until I try the show.

 

[NashGuy]

Thanks for the recommendation. I don't know that the quantity of good shows has declined on HBO. Just what my gut says.

I don't think you're alone in have a vague general feeling about a decline in HBO. Based on my actual analysis of the data (number/types of shows, award nomations, critical acclaim) I don't think that's true, either in terms of quality or quantity of HBO Originals output, since HBO was subsumed into HBO Max/ Max. (It is true, though, that we're seeing fewer recent theatrical films on HBO after their output deals with 20th Century and Universal expired, leaving them now with just Warner Bros. and a new deal with A24.)

So that begs the question, why does there seem to be a vibe on the internet that HBO isn't as good lately? I think it's really just about marketing and branding. Having the HBO prestige brand buried inside Max, which has crap like "1,000-lb Sisters" and "Dr. Pimple Popper" on its home page, isn't helping the brand. And folks always confuse Max Originals with HBO Originals. Now, some scripted Max Originals are great and could easily be HBO Originals (e.g. Hacks, Station Eleven, The Staircase), although that brand does include some stuff that feels more like basic cable fare that might have instead aired on TNT, TBS or TruTV, like Pretty Little Liars and Bookie, plus reality stuff like FBoy Island and Selena + Chef.

 

[David Ortiz]

Well, I took it that way, but I guess I won't know until I try the show.

It sounded like an order to me.

 

[KAB]

Was it actually a recommendation? The meaning was not clear to me.

NO, it wat NOT!!! Sorry if wording was confusing.

 

[klang]

NO, it wat NOT!!! Sorry if wording was confusing.

I've been reading some mixed reviews. Basically Kate Winslet is much better than this role allows her to be.

 

[Juan]

Odd, I was getting the vibe that you hated streaming and thought the traditional cable/sat TV model was destined to be the go to for the next several decades.

Meanwhile, Discovery et al has the MotorTrend thing going, and they announced and began their WEC coverage. They showed the Dubai 1812k race. Had the practice, qualifying, and race. I feel fortunate to have Max with my fiber, because paying for Max to pay for B/R would be a tough call. Streaming is getting to the point where people such as myself who can say no to boxes in every room are no longer capable of saving money by cutting the cord. The only people saving money will be the people who had 4 boxes in their house.

You missed this

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/motortrend-streaming-service-cancelled/#:~:text=The%20subscription%20streaming%20service%2C%20originally,at%20the%20end%20of%20March

 

[Yespage]

I don't think you're alone in have a vague general feeling about a decline in HBO. Based on my actual analysis of the data (number/types of shows, award nomations, critical acclaim) I don't think that's true, either in terms of quality or quantity of HBO Originals output, since HBO was subsumed into HBO Max/ Max. (It is true, though, that we're seeing fewer recent theatrical films on HBO after their output deals with 20th Century and Universal expired, leaving them now with just Warner Bros. and a new deal with A24.)

So that begs the question, why does there seem to be a vibe on the internet that HBO isn't as good lately? I think it's really just about marketing and branding. Having the HBO prestige brand buried inside Max, which has crap like "1,000-lb Sisters" and "Dr. Pimple Popper" on its home page, isn't helping the brand. And folks always confuse Max Originals with HBO Originals. Now, some scripted Max Originals are great and could easily be HBO Originals (e.g. Hacks, Station Eleven, The Staircase), although that brand does include some stuff that feels more like basic cable fare that might have instead aired on TNT, TBS or TruTV, like Pretty Little Liars and Bookie, plus reality stuff like FBoy Island and Selena + Chef.

I think Game of Thrones was simply too big.

 

[lakebum431]

I think Game of Thrones was simply too big.

Too big for what or in what way?

 

[Yespage]

Too big for what or in what way?

It left a massive void. They tried to temper that by making the last two seasons nonsensical, but in the end Game of Thrones was just huge and impossible to replace.

 

[Wobble]

The app we have for HBO is MAX. Wife watches the series and there is not much in the way of HBO Movies, for me. Roku has a movie selections and the ads are 25 Sec, for the most part. I also use TUBI for free movies and can zip the ads. Netflix and Prime are put to use for movies and wife has some shows she watches. On some of these apps, I might watch a short series. for a day or 2. We never run out of entertainment......lol

 

[teachsac]

I signed back up for Max. I dropped it a month ago because they started charging $50 a year more for UHD. It used to be included. They are now having a promotion. I got the UHD plan for $139 instead of $199.

S~

 

[Bruce]

Warner/Discovery 1st Quarter Report is tomorrow, I am predicting it might be disastrous based on this news-

Today Bloomberg reported that Warner Bros. Discovery will be cutting more staff and raising the price of Max. The exact details have not been announced, but people who are knowledgeable about the matter have talked to Bloomberg about the price hike and job cuts.

Warner Bros. Discovery is Reportedly Planning to Raise The Price of Max & Cut More Staff | Cord Cutters News

Today Bloomberg reported that Warner Bros. Discovery will be cutting more staff and raising the price of Max. The exact details have not been announced, but people who are knowledgeable about the matter have talked to Bloomberg about the price hike and job cuts. Warner Bros. Discovery declined...

cordcuttersnews.com

I just renewed MAX last month for the 4K plan at $140 a year, so I am good.

Since the regular price for monthly is at $20 ($200 for the year), I predict as much as $25 a month, since they are desperate for cash.

 

[Bobby]

Warner/Discovery 1st Quarter Report is tomorrow, I am predicting it might be disastrous based on this news-

Today Bloomberg reported that Warner Bros. Discovery will be cutting more staff and raising the price of Max. The exact details have not been announced, but people who are knowledgeable about the matter have talked to Bloomberg about the price hike and job cuts.

Warner Bros. Discovery is Reportedly Planning to Raise The Price of Max & Cut More Staff | Cord Cutters News

Today Bloomberg reported that Warner Bros. Discovery will be cutting more staff and raising the price of Max. The exact details have not been announced, but people who are knowledgeable about the matter have talked to Bloomberg about the price hike and job cuts. Warner Bros. Discovery declined...

cordcuttersnews.com

I just renewed MAX last month for the 4K plan at $140 a year, so I am good.

Since the regular price for monthly is at $20 ($200 for the year), I predict as much as $25 a month, since they are desperate for cash.

Me too! I am good until next April.

 

[ncted]

Warner Bros. Discovery made a big streaming profit even as it missed earnings estimates

The entertainment giant's stock slipped after first-quarter revenue fell short of expectations

qz.com

 

[Bruce]

Warner Bros. Discovery made a big streaming profit even as it missed earnings estimates

The entertainment giant's stock slipped after first-quarter revenue fell short of expectations

qz.com

While I am good till April with MAX, if this allows me then to pay Hulu for MAX, then I can use the Hulu gift cards I get with my CC points, so saves me cash since I use them now to pay for Hulu, Disney and ESPN.

Also reading the naysayers at other sites about this, basically becoming just like paid Live TV with these bundles.

With Paid Live TV , you are forced to get a bundle and cannot choose what channels you want, with any of these services, you are not forced to get all 4 for example, subscribe to just Hulu if you wish, not a problem.

But, for myself, since I get all 4, it will save me money.