HBO Max subscribers are in for quite a surprise, as the streaming platform recently announced a price hike that will affect both new and current users. This increase is said to be a response to the ever-rising costs of production and content.
According to reports from Deadline, the price adjustments will apply to both ad-supported and ad-free plans. The monthly fee for the basic ad-supported plan will increase by $1, resulting in a new price of $10.99, while the annual subscription will rise by $10, totaling $109.99. Meanwhile, the standard plan’s monthly fee will go up by $1.50, reaching $18.49, with the annual subscription increasing by $15, bringing the total to $184.99.
For the premium plan, the price will rise by $2, bringing the final price to $22.99. Users who pause their annual subscription will need to pay $229.99 upon resuming, with the annual fee increasing by $20.
New users will subscribe at the new prices starting from today, while existing users will have a brief grace period. HBO Max will notify current monthly subscribers 30 days in advance, giving them time to prepare before their next renewal. If they decide to continue using the service, existing users will be charged at the new rates starting from their next billing cycle or on November 20.
HBO Max has joined the price hike trend among streaming platforms, following in the footsteps of Netflix, which raised its ad-free and premium subscription prices earlier this year. Apple TV+ has increased its rates by a staggering 30%, while Hulu’s live TV service now costs $89.99 per month. Disney+ has also adjusted the costs of several tiers and packages, raising them by $2 to $3.
Looking back at 2022, WarnerMedia merged with Discovery Inc., leading to HBO Max being rebranded as Max in 2023, which now incorporates the reality, lifestyle, and documentary content from Disney+. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery is undergoing significant transformation, with numerous companies, including Netflix, showing interest in acquiring parts or all of its business. After rejecting an initial bid from Paramount, WBD announced plans to split the company into two parts in the upcoming spring.
