If you’re subscribed to Max then you probably have noticed that your homepage looks differently once you open the app and that’s by design.
Since December 2023, Warner Bros. Discover has been launching a new homepage personalization system, and now, it has been implemented to all adult subscribers’ profiles across the US, according to a new report from Variety.
What Changes to the Max Homepage Will Subscibers See?
With the update, the home screen is now more efficient by giving users smarter recommendations based on each individual profile, so they can stream the TV shows and movies that they’d enjoy instead of unwanted titles.
While speaking with Variety, Warner Bros. Discovery group senior VP of streaming global product Liesel Kipp explained how the new system organizes recommendations in the horizontal and vertical rail order based on users preferences:
“We’re really leaning into title de-duplication so that we can improve the catalog exposure by removing repeat titles and balancing that also with watched content suppression,” she said. What that means, Kipp explained, is that after customers continue to ignore titles after multiple impressions — or if they’ve already watched them — “we have enough information about what they’ve watched, and we remove these to make way for other titles to be surfaced and perhaps more relevant content to be viewed.”
The news of the more personalized experience comes shortly after the launch of a new Disney+, Hulu & Max bundle for only $16.99 per month. As Max continues to offer users a better experience, paired with the bundle, this is a perfect time for those who want to explore shows and movies that are on the streamer.
The Homepage Personalization System Increased Key Metrics for Max & WBD
WBD calls the changes in homepage personalization “Whole Page Optimization (WPO),” and the company has seen four of its metrics increase since making the switch with Kipp telling Variety the following:
“Obviously, the more value you are getting from the catalog, the more likely they are to choose Max and more likely to stay with us,” Kipp said. “Those are the top four that we’re always looking at.”
The Four Key Metrics That Have Increased
- Homepage Efficiency (the frequency with which a homepage visit turns into playback)
- Time Watched in the Product
- Number of Return Visits to Max
- Diversity of content watched
What Updates to Expect on Max in the Future
From the report, future updates to the WBD streaming platform include a restart button that allows you to watch the title from the beginning, which is more efficient than rewinding it yourself, and finally, an option to rate titles choosing from Love, Like, and Not for Me rating.
Max is known for its premium content from HBO and the reality shows from Discovery, and sports, however, WBD and its streaming future with the NBA is in doubt. With thousands of titles to choose from, as it continues to upgrade the user interface, it’ll look to continue to grow in a tough streaming market.
Kipp stated that the platform plans to use generative AI technology to develop ways for their algorithms to “pick up additional context on titles, including social and emotional context from scenes within programs.” In turn, users will be recommended relevant titles and those four key metrics should continue to increase for WBD.
For as low as $9.99 per month, you can begin to find classics, blockbusters, documentaries, originals, sports, and more to watch on Max today!