The platform formerly known as HBO Max

Succession’s Logan Roy popping zits on Dr. Pimple Popper. Game of Thrones’ Jon Snow fixing up his Winterfell abode on Fixer Upper. Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver getting a makeover on Queer Eye.

These are just a few of the crossovers that will soon be possible on Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s new streaming platform that combines HBO Max with Discovery+.

Announced at a press event yesterday, Max will strive to combine HBO’s “appointment viewing” with Discovery+’s “comfort viewing.” The platform will launch in the US on May 23 with three plans (pictured above). If you already have HBO Max, you will automatically get access to Max.

🤔 So why lose the “HBO”?... Many experts were confused by the name change – why lose what is arguably the most prestigious part of the brand? According to WBD’s president and CEO of global streaming and games, JB Perette, the HBO brand isn’t “exactly where parents would most eagerly drop off their kids. And yet Warner Bros. Discovery has some of the best-known kids’ characters, animation, and brands in the industry.”

Plus from our anecdotal experience, fans of HBO Max and its shows are… intense about their allegiance to the platform. Meaning they’ll probably stick around, regardless.

👀📈 Looking ahead… WBD reported a total of 96.1 million global subscribers across its streaming services at the end of 2022. And in order to reach its goal of 130 million by 2025, it’s gonna need to be like a kid on an Easter egg hunt and bring some new peeps into the fold. But how, you ask?

Bringing back two of the most successful franchises in history certainly can’t hurt. As part of yesterday’s announcement, the studio hard-launched a decade-long reboot of the Harry Potter series with an entirely new cast, along with a new Game of Thrones prequel.