HBO Max HBO Max (Official Thread) (2 Viewers)

[Garysb]

Everything is speculation until Warner Media makes their official announcement on pricing. Service is not due to launch until the first quarter of 2020. I think I read there will be a beta version available in the Fall. If true, who knows how many people will have access to it. TVline speculates that Warner Media should launch the service with a big event, like a revival of "Friends".

https://tvline.com/2019/06/11/friends-revival-jennifer-aniston-reunion-warnermedia/

I think if they did that they would end up with "Friends: The Next Generation". It would be the children of Monica and Chandler and Ross and Rachel graduated from college and hanging out at Central Perk. Perhaps Phoebe and Mike and Joey and whoever could also have had kids since 2004. It would be awful.

 

[Cranston37+]

WarnerMedia looking to bring back Step by Step, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and Hangin with Mr. Cooper. I'd be all over that...

https://deadline.com/2019/07/warner...ily-matters-hangin-with-mr-cooper-1202640674/

 

[Chris Will]

I’ll give the chance but I’m not sure if this is what audiences really want. I’d rather them make the originals available instead of watching unfunny reboots. I gave the new One Day at a Time a shot but halfway through season 2 I realized I just wasn’t laughing much. Haven’t watched it since.

When Fuller House started, we watched it as a family but my wife and I grew tired of almost every episode being about the adults getting laid. We stopped watching and don’t let our kids watch it anymore. It may not bother most but, we didn’t like it.

Neither of those shows are anywhere close to as good as the originals.

 

[Cranston37+]

The rumored name of the service -

HBO Max

 

[Chris Will]

Wait, are you joking?


If not, why tie it to HBO? I just canceled HBO Now, which is $15 a month. I no longer have interest in HBO and do not want to pay for it anymore. HBO Max sounds like it will cost even more. So, Disney gonna charge $7 a month and Warner is going north of $15? Seems stupid to me, no chance I pay that much for a single studio.

 

[Cranston37+]

If not, why tie it to HBO? I just canceled HBO Now, which is $15 a month. I no longer have interest in HBO and do not want to pay for it anymore. HBO Max sounds like it will cost even more. So, Disney gonna charge $7 a month and Warner is going north of $15? Seems stupid to me, no chance I pay that much for a single studio.

I'm just not sure how you can decide something is too expensive before pricing is even announced...

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'm just not sure how you can decide something is too expensive before pricing is even announced...

Because people jump to conclusions all the time. It's human nature. That being said, I have my own reservations about this upcoming streaming service, but I'm waiting on the details to be shown to us before I act one way or another.

 

[Cranston37+]

Because people jump to conclusions all the time. It's human nature. That being said, I have my own reservations about this upcoming streaming service, but I'm waiting on the details to be shown to us before I act one way or another.

To be fair, you did say the service can "go pound sand" because they "keep trying to screw their consumers with their corporate greed"

 

[Robert Crawford]

To be fair, you did say the service can "go pound sand" because they "keep trying to screw their consumers with their corporate greed"

I say a lot of things when you post as much as I do on this board. Furthermore, didn't you post something in which this service will be free for me since I'm a DirecTV Premium subscriber and have all my phone and internet service through AT&T?

 

[Cranston37+]

I say a lot of things when you post as much as I do on this board. Furthermore, didn't you post something in which this service will be free for me since I'm a DirecTV Premium subscriber and have all my phone and internet service through AT&T?

That is certainly the word around town, so to speak, that if you are already paying for AT&T services, or get HBO through a pay TV provider, that this service will be free.

Deadline also had an article this week that said they could offer a free version supported by ads.

That's why I'm trying to temper people deciding that this service is too expensive before all details are even announced!

 

[Garysb]

They have confirmed the name of the service is:

Still no word on pricing or launch date . Will have new CW series such as Batwoman and Katy Keene. Older shows presumable will remain on Netflix. Many original series per posting on TVline.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WarnerMedia today unveiled HBO Max as the name of its new streaming service, which will offer an impressive direct-to-consumer experience for everyone ranging from families with young children to adults of all ages. Anchored with and inspired by the legacy of HBO’s excellence and award-winning storytelling, the new service will be “Maximized” with an extensive collection of exclusive original programming (Max Originals) and the best-of-the-best from WarnerMedia’s enormous portfolio of beloved brands and libraries.

New deals with Warner Bros. Television and others for HBO Max announced today include:

HBO Max, scheduled to launch commercially in spring of 2020, is anticipated to premiere with 10,000 hours of premium content.

“HBO Max will bring together the diverse riches of WarnerMedia to create programming and user experiences not seen before in a streaming platform. HBO’s world-class programming leads the way, the quality of which will be the guiding principle for our new array of Max Originals, our exciting acquisitions, and the very best of the Warner Bros. libraries, starting with the phenomenon that is ‘Friends,’” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman, WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-To-Consumer. “Under the leadership of two of the strongest creative visionaries — Casey Bloys (HBO) and Kevin Reilly (original content and acquisitions) — and two of the most experienced digital experts — Tony Goncalves and Andy Forssell — I have no doubt they and their dedicated teams will deliver the world’s best storytelling to audiences of all ages wherever and whenever they want it.”

Max Original series previously announced include:

Highlights of HBO programming previously announced for 2020 and 2021 include:

Casey Bloys, programming president of HBO, continues to oversee content on the HBO service, with investment in HBO original programming having been increased 50% over normal spending.

Kevin Reilly, president of the Warner Media Entertainment Networks that include TNT, TBS, and truTV, also serves as chief content officer of HBO Max overseeing all new Max Originals and library content.

Tony Goncalves, CEO of Otter Media, now oversees the development of HBO Max with Andy Forssell, also from Otter Media and formerly CEO of Hulu, as the general manager.

Some of Hollywood’s most successful creators and producers are looking forward to the new service, including the following who are either producing for HBO and/or an upcoming HBO Max Original:

Anna Kendrick

“WarnerMedia has three things going for it with this new streaming service. One, they have an incredible history and legacy of storytelling. Two, they’re super future-focused and trying to be the best. And three, they’re letting people like me embarrass myself episode after episode until I find love. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this family.”

Issa Rae

“What’s exciting about HBO Max is that we have so many more resources and so many more voices of support for our show, and it’s an opportunity for other creators to have a bigger platform. I’m thrilled that my show will still be on HBO but now it will also be part of a new service that will reach more and more people.”

Greg Berlanti

“What I’ve always loved about creating shows that connect with a young audience is that these fans grow up with the programs and will remember them for the rest of their lives. Now I get to do even more of that for HBO Max, where viewers will be able to discover shows on their own time, in their own way. Like any great novel, these shows will be there waiting for you. As a fan, what I’m personally most excited to watch on the service are all the great Warner Bros. movies that affected our entire culture and changed the way we live.”

Damon Lindelof

“Working with HBO has been an entirely different level. People really care about these shows and they invest at such a high level. And now with HBO Max in the family, what I'm feeling is a greater sense of understanding and belonging that the family went from being a nuclear family to now there's a couple more kids and there's aunts and uncles and there's cousins and they're all cool. I want to go to that family reunion!”

Lena Dunham

“To be able to work for a company that’s allowed me to grow as an artist, as a woman, as a creator is a real gift. I love being part of this specific group of HBO programs that have meant so much to me. And lots of people are obsessed with the concept of streaming and now HBO Max is the future of the medium because it’s all just about continuing to tell really smart stories, and to me, that’s evergreen. I’m working on more projects for HBO as well as something very exciting for HBO Max and I’m just in heaven.”

Nicole Kidman

“It’s the dream of every artist to create art that inspires and even changes people. I’ve had a glorious experience doing ‘Big Little Lies’ on HBO and I’m so happy to also be developing a brand-new original drama series for HBO Max. This bigger platform will enable even more people to see the work that I and so many of my friends have poured our hearts into creating.”

George R.R. Martin

“Back in 1991, after a decade in television, I began writing a series of novels that I knew would never be filmed. A GAME OF THRONES and its sequels were too big, too complex, too dark, too sexy, with a cast of thousands, gigantic battles, massive castles, direwolves, ice wights, and dragons. Too sprawling for a feature film, too expensive for television. I should have remembered, ‘It's not television, it's HBO.’ Working with HBO during the past decade has been a dream come true. What they did could not be done, but they did it anyway. And now they are embarked on a new venture. No, they won't be tying their shows to the legs of ravens as I suggested... instead they are launching an exciting new streaming platform that will carry all the great HBO programming around the world... classic old shows and thrilling new shows, including (I hope) a return to my world of Westeros. Sign me up!”

Kaley Cuoco

“I have been part of the Warner Bros. Television family for over 12 years. I treasure my time on ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ and I am thrilled that our relationship continues to flourish in my new role as a producer on ‘The Flight Attendant.’ When I read the book more than a year-and-a-half ago, I was instantly obsessed with it — and with the idea of bringing it to the screen. I could not be happier to collaborate with the team at HBO Max to make this dream a reality. WarnerMedia has a long history of supporting storytellers and empowering them to fulfill their greatest potential. I am proud to be working with them on this series and cannot wait for viewers to have the opportunity to see it.”

_________________________________

“Friends” was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman and aired for 10 seasons on NBC from 1994 to 2004. The show revolved around six friends and made stars out of its ensemble -- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television.

“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was created by Andy Borowitz and Susan Borowitz, and ran for six seasons on NBC from 1990 to 1996. The show revolved around Will Smith as a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his wealthy aunt and uncle in their Bel-Air mansion after getting into a fight in his hometown. The show made Smith a star. Also starring in the comedy were James Avery, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Janet Hubert-Whitten, Alfonso Ribeiro, Karyn Parsons, Tatyana M. Ali and Joseph Marcell. It was produced by The Stuffed Dog Company, Quincy Jones Productions-Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment and NBC Productions.

“Pretty Little Liars” was developed by I. Marlene King, based upon a series of books by Sara Shepard, and aired for seven seasons on ABC Family/Freeform from 2010 to 2017. The series follows the lives of five high school girls whose clique falls apart after the leader of the group, Alison, goes missing. The series features an ensemble cast, including Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Sasha Pieterse and Janel Parrish. It was produced by Alloy Entertainment, Long Lake Productions and Russian Hill Productions in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television.

About Warner Media

Warner Media is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, HBO Now, HBO Max, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, truTV, CNN, DC Entertainment, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. Warner Media is part of AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T).

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in AT&T’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

 

[Cranston37+]

Deadline: "A free, ad-supported offering is also in the works, though subscription will be the first phase."

 

[Lord Dalek]

This is either amazing or horrifying news based on the lack of information about pricing and how this service impacts subscribers of Now and GO (if it does at all).

 

[Sam Posten]

https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/9/2...riends-streaming-details-subscription-service

 

[Robert Crawford]

I think classic film lovers could be disappointed with this streaming service as far as number of titles available.

 

[Cranston37+]

I think classic film lovers could be disappointed with this streaming service as far as number of titles available.

Yep

 

[Robert Crawford]

Yep

I guess that's a good thing for the TCM channel.

 

[Cranston37+]

I guess that's a good thing for the TCM channel.

Although, it's worth noting that just after the AT&T/Warner deal closed and they shuttered FilmStruck, the story was that they had bigger plans for a direct to consumer service and to consolidate everything around that, so who knows...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Although, it's worth noting that just after the AT&T/Warner deal closed and they shuttered FilmStruck, the story was that they had bigger plans for a direct to consumer service and to consolidate everything around that, so who knows...

Who knows with these guys which is why I have some reservations about this streaming service.