HBO Max now has an official launch date of May 27. With two other HBO streaming services available, HBO Go and HBO Now, you might be wondering what the difference is between the three and which is the right choice for you. We’re breaking down these three services, below.
What is HBO Go?
HBO Go is a service for cable subscribers, allowing viewers to stream HBO content. HBO Go is included with a HBO subscription through a TV provider.
What is HBO Now?
HBO Now launched in 2015 and became the streaming option for those who wanted to watch HBO content, including fan-favorite series like Game of Thrones, without a cable subscription. HBO Now costs $14.99/month.
What is HBO Max?
HBO Max will launch on May 27, 2020. The service will include HBO shows and movies, along with WarnerMedia partner content. HBO also has a slate of original content lined up, though many of the new shows have been delayed due to coronavirus. These are the HBO Max Originals that will be available at launch. The cost of the new service will be $14.99/month.
Are HBO Go and HBO Now Being Eliminated?
In June 2019, when AT&T’s WarnerMedia announced HBO Max, the company said that HBO Now would not be eliminated when the new service launched. “Nothing will happen with HBO Go or HBO Now. HBO Max will be a distinct offering. As a distinct offering, you would not automatically become a Max subscriber,” AT&T said in a statement at that time.
Which One Should You Choose?
AT&T will be making HBO Max its main focus when the service launches, and the company is hoping that current HBO Now and HBO Go subscribers will migrate over when they see what the HBO Max has to offer.
HBO Max will have all of the content offered by HBO Now and HBO Go and much more, with 10,000 hours of content available at launch. The service will also have original content that won’t be available on HBO Now or HBO Go. If you want to have access to HBO’s content library in addition to the new and original content being created for the new service, HBO Max is the right choice.
Will Current HBO Subscribers Get HBO Max for Free?
AT&T has said that HBO Now customers who subscribed directly through HBO Now and are billed by HBO will get an automatic upgrade to HBO Max.
For those subscribed to HBO through their cable or streaming service, there are still some unknowns. Current subscribers will be able to continue watching HBO and HBO Go as normal, for now.
Comcast customers with HBO through Spectrum will “gain immediately access to HBO Max,” according to an HBO Max spokesperson. New subscribers will be able to sign up through Charter at launch.
On Friday, Hulu announced that it had made an agreement with WarnerMedia to make HBO Max available as an add-on for subscribers. Hulu subscribers who already have the HBO add-on will get instant access to HBO Max at no additional cost at launch.
In February, WarnerMedia announced that it had also made a deal with YouTube TV to offer HBO Max as a bundle deal. Details about pricing haven’t yet been provided.
AT&T, the parent company of HBO Max, will make free trials or free subscriptions available to “millions of customers.”
As the launch date of HBO Max gets closer, we expect to hear more details about bundles, discounts, and availability of the streaming service.
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