The successor to HBO Max is already having issues, with reports emerging that Max is down on the day of its launch. After Warner Bros. merger with Discovery Inc. last year, it was announced that a new and improved streaming service with increased content offerings would also be coming, with a launch date set for Tuesday, May 23.
Now, however, ABC News reports that Max is suffering from an outage on its launch day. A spokesperson for Max has since released a statement addressing the issues, but it's still unclear when exactly the service will be up and fully operational. Read Max's statement below:
"You must always anticipate issues on a tech rollout of this scale. We can share that only minor ones have emerged and were quickly remedied."
How Max Differs From HBO Max
Following Warner Bros. merger with Discover Inc. and the announcement of a merged streaming service, many questions were raised regarding how this service would work. HBO Max, after all, Warner Bros.' former streaming service, offered very different content from Discovery+, which is mostly a hub for unscripted reality programming. In order to avoid confusing or alienating potential s, it was ultimately decided that Discovery+ would remain its own streaming service, with select titles moving to Max.
In of pricing, Max subscription options now include three distinct tiers. The tiers include Max Ad-Lite for $9.99 per month, Max Ad-Free for $15.99 per month, and a new option called Max Ultimate Ad-Free for $19.99 per month. HBO Max's visual presentation and interface are also getting an update, with Max offering higher-quality video playback as well as upgraded navigation and personalization options. Notably, however, playback in 4K Ultra HD is now only included for s subscribed at the highest price tier.
The launch of Max could be a major game-changer for Warner Bros. Discovery, solidifying the company's commitment to the streaming landscape for years to come. Although the company caught a lot of flack last year for its cancelation of the Batgirl movie and subsequent removal of content from the platform, similar cost-cutting measures are now also occurring at other streamers, including Disney+. The verdict is still out on whether Max will be a major success or not, but launching with major outages on the first day means the service is off to something of a rough start.
Source: ABC News