Max (streaming service)
- For other uses, see Max.
Max, formally known as HBO Max in the United States, is an American subscription video on demand streaming service from Warner Bros. Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched in the United States on May 27, 2020 as HBO Max, and on May 23, 2023 after its rebranding as Max.
The service is built around the libraries of Warner Bros., Discovery Channel, HBO, CNN, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Eurosport, and their related brands. The service also carries first-run original programming under the "Max Originals" banner, programming from the HBO pay television service, and content acquired via third-party library deals (such as those with film studios for pay television rights) and co-production agreements (such as those with BBC Studios and Sesame Workshop among others). Tom and Jerry in New York, Jellystone!, Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs, and Velma are considered "Max Originals."
Since the April 2022 merger of WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. to form Warner Bros. Discovery, Max is one of the combined company's two flagship streaming services, the other being Discovery+ (which primarily focuses on factual programming from the Discovery brands).
In reference to the changes fans did not like about the character of Velma in Velma, the official teaser trailer has the character (voiced by Mindy Kaling) make an angry social media post directly to HBO Max in regards to their new origin story for Judy Jetson.
History
On August 3, 2022, it was reported that multiple Max Original films and HBO series had been quietly removed from the service without prior notice, as part of cuts to direct-to-streaming films, as well as to write-off films and series that have underperformed as tax losses. This followed news that had broken the previous day that then-upcoming Max Original films Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt had been both abruptly cancelled, despite being nearly complete. During an earnings call the next day, WBD CEO David Zaslav stated that the company would cut children's programming, and emphasize theatrical films over direct-to-streaming releases.
Later that month, more programs were pulled from the streaming service, including animated and unscripted series, which was met with heavy backlash from fans, critics, actors, and creators alike. Among the series that were removed that month, Yabba-Dabba-Dinosaurs was one of them.
On April 12, 2023, it was announced that a new streaming service called Max will replace HBO Max on May 23, 2023 as a part of the merger between that service and Discovery+. The company ultimately chose to retain Discovery+, however, and went on with an associated revamp of HBO Max that launched first in the U.S. on May 23, 2023, simplifying the service name into Max and adding more Discovery content among other new series and films.
