It’s about time this conglomerate got its act together and correctly merged these two platforms. Warner Bros. Discovery has finally announced the release date of MAX, the new streaming service merger of HBO Max and Discovery+, and the hundreds of questionable content decisions coming along with it.
Obviously, I like the idea of merging the two massive streaming platforms into one, simplistic service, but some of the new content ideas are absolutely asinine.
So, as many probably know by now as the news has simmered for the last 5 or so days, Warner Bros. Discovery, the mega-conglomerate parent of Warner Bros. and Discovery, has officially unveiled the new, united streaming platform of both HBO Max and Discovery+: MAX. Yeah, not a terribly creative name.
Anyways, I like the idea of creating a new, all-inclusive service rather than just sticking with one platform (which I heard was the case before the announcement a few days ago) or keeping the two separate as it not only provides the consumer (aka: all of us) far more and less expensive content in a central hub, but it also provides a fresh interface and user experience.
Personally, I would have chosen a less boring name than just MAX for this brand new, unique idea (having a combined streaming platform of this scale hasn’t been done before to my limited knowledge) as the name MAX really has nothing to do with either Warner Bros. or Discovery.
Sure, everyone knew HBO Max was a thing, but Warner Bros. Discovery President David Zaslav specifically stated the company was trying to distance itself from the limiting HBO branding and that “HBO is not TV. HBO is HBO. It needs to stay that way.”
And I would tend to agree with that if content from Warner Bros. Pictures (aka: Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, The Dark Knight Trilogy, DCEU, DC Studios, Inception, etc.) and Discovery (Animal Planet, Food Network, HGTV, TLC, Investigation Discovery, etc.) was merged onto a platform called “HBO Max” as that would indicate, even if everyone who has a basic understanding of how these services work knew otherwise, only HBO products were own it.
Yet, in my opinion, to just call it MAX is a big marketing goof.
I’ve never heard a single person call the platform just “Max” as it’s not only super confusing as to what one’s talking about, but it also sounds stupid to call it Max. Everyone and their mother call it HBO Max and the executives at Warner Bros. Discovery should have done the proper research before naming their brand new, potentially company-saving streaming service MAX.
I mean, there’s a billion dollars at stake and the Warner Bros. Discovery executives want to take a risk of consumers confusing their streaming service with Max from Stranger Things or their best friend living three houses next door?
The thing I have a bigger issue with than the name is the proposed 40+ new movies and T.V. shows coming to the streaming service per month!
Yeah, you read that right. MAX, which I’m presuming is going to carry over all the content already on HBO Max and Discovery+, is going to get 40 new movies and/or shows every single month, which adds up to a whopping 480 projects/year and 10 new movies and T.V. shows/week. That’s INSANE!
Yes, I know Netflix released 891 Netflix Original titles in 2022, but that’s not only way too many projects in the first place, but it also has the added benefit of being the trail breaking streaming service platform. Everyone knows 75% of the shows and movies on Netflix are crap anyway, while the remaining 25% has the necessary time, precision, and care given to make it one of the best movies/shows on air.
Seeing how Netflix’s reputation and bottom line have taken some massive hits in recent times, I don’t see why Warner Bros. Discovery would want to emulate the over-inflated production that has stagnated Netflix’s growth.
Do you?
Images Source: Featured Image: (Warner Bros. Discovery) (Introducing Max – The One to Watch | Official Promo | Max – YouTube)
Other Sources: (Variety.com) (HBO Max Renamed Max With Discovery+ Merger; Price and Launch Date – Variety)
