For decades yes. Lately Apple has been chipping away at that.I never understood this max branding, HBO is hands down the most well known, well regarded and most premium network brand out there.
What didn't make sense from a WBD perspective was putting the Discovery content on MAX when they already had a Discovery+ streaming app for it. I have always had the 4K version of HBO / Max and when they added the Discovery, HGTV, and Magnolia Network channel content to it I was able to cancel my separate Discovery+ ad-free account so it was great for me. I would like to see that content stay in the new HBO Max to keep me from subscribing back to Discovery+. I never understood people that subscribe to HBO / Max were so upset when they added the Discovery content. No one was forcing them to watch it if they detest it so much. The Discovery content didn't taint the HBO / Max content just by being on the same service.Moving Discovery content to a separate pricing tier makes sense. Why would you want to pay HBO premium pricing ($15+) for lifestyle shows that used to be available for, I think, $8? Unlike some brand portfolios, the overlap in viewership between lifestyle content and premium shows/movies really is stark and WB doesn't have anything that sits between those categories that could entice people to want to whole enchilada.
My only problem with adding Discovery to MAX, because they use the excuse of that additional content to cut back on HBO type content.What didn't make sense from a WBD perspective was putting the Discovery content on MAX when they already had a Discovery+ streaming app for it. I have always had the 4K version of HBO / Max and when they added the Discovery, HGTV, and Magnolia Network channel content to it I was able to cancel my separate Discovery+ ad-free account so it was great for me. I would like to see that content stay in the new HBO Max to keep me from subscribing back to Discovery+. I never understood people that subscribe to HBO / Max were so upset when they added the Discovery content. No one was forcing them to watch it if they detest it so much. The Discovery content didn't taint the HBO / Max content just by being on the same service.
I'd bet that adding Discovery content had no bearing on the cutback of HBO content creation. That was just Zaslav being an idiot...which he still is.My only problem with adding Discovery to MAX, because they use the excuse of that additional content to cut back on HBO type content.
Today's HBO is a pale imitation of what it used to be.
You are correct, HBO content was always going to be cutback, but adding the Discovery shows was the cover for that.I'd bet that adding Discovery content had no bearing on the cutback of HBO content creation. That was just Zaslav being an idiot...which he still is.
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