After numerous postponements and a name change, the SVOD Max platform will finally arrive in France. The launch is planned before the start of the Olympic period.
Streaming platforms have been multiplying for several years, and they are sometimes intertwined with each other thanks to distribution agreements. If the market is dominated by Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video, there are many others, more or less specialized. In the coming weeks, the offer will become richer with the arrival in Europe of Max, which we previously knew under the name HBO Max.
An expected service repeatedly postponed
Launched in 2020 in the United States, the HBO Max streaming service was expected in Europe in 2021, but not for everyone. A first wave concerned six countries, while a second concerned 14 others. No date was given for France and, ultimately, the platform launch was canceled in France. Instead, Warner Bros., which had just merged with Discovery, announced the development and upcoming launch of a more global platform covering more broadly the vast catalog of the newly merged company.
It was finally during the Séries Mania festival in Lille that Warner Bros Discovery announced that the new platform, simply named Max, will be launched in Spain, Portugal and Central Europe from May 21. In France, Poland, the Netherlands and Belgium, the launch will take place before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on a date which has yet to be precisely defined.
“ Max, the Warner Bros Discovery platform, capitalizes on our rich heritage in Europe by merging a multitude of content into a single destination. […] » said Jean-Briac Perrette, CEO of streaming and video games at Warner Bros Discovery. For his part, Clément Schwebig, president of WBD Western Europe & Africa, adds: “ Max’s arrival in France marks a decisive moment for our commitment to the public. By providing unprecedented access to a very wide variety of content in a single destination […] »
The Olympic Games as a launching pad
If Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) insists so much on the fact that Max will be launched before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 25 different European countries, it is not for nothing. Through Eurosport, Max will allow its subscribers to follow all of the events. Dedicated content, Paris 2024will also be integrated into all subscription plans.
A good way to attract curious sports fans, to then offer them the rest of the catalog. WBD is obviously focusing a lot on sport since beyond the Olympics, a sport option will allow Max subscribers to follow the Grand Slam tournaments, the 24 hours of Le Mans, the three Grand Tours, the Tour de France Femmes or even the various winter sports events.
For the rest of the content, subscribers will find original HBO content such as The Last of Us, Game Of Thrones, Succession, The White Lotus, Euphoria, True Detective: Night County or The Regime. To better integrate into the market, two Max Originals programs have been carried out in France: A Devoted Friend with Laure Calamy, Malditos (working title), and the adaptation of the book Living With Our Dead.
On the cinema side, many Warner Bros. films will be available, Matrix, Harry Potter, The Dark Knight And A Star is Born on your mind. Regarding linear channels, French subscribers will have access to CNN Internation, Warner TV, Eurosport, Cartoon Network, TLC and Discovery Channel.
The different offers revealed… But without the prices
To conclude its announcement, Warner Bros Discovery revealed the different subscription plans available at launch. However, the prices will only be revealed soon, at a “ closer to launch “. It remains to be seen whether Warner Bros. Discovery will align the price of Max subscriptions with those of competitors, or if an aggressive offer will be offered as part of the launch.
Basic with advertising
- Lower price, presence of advertising
- Two devices can use the Max app simultaneously
- Launch in France and nine European countries, then elsewhere
- Full HD content
Standard
- Two devices can use the Max app simultaneously
- Full HD content
- Download 30 contents for offline viewing
Premium
- Four devices can use the Max app simultaneously
- Content in Full HD or 4K with Dolby Atmos (subject to availability)
- Download 100 content to watch offline (with limits)
Sports option
- Additional offer, dependent on the broadcasting rights of each country.
Source: Warner Bros. Discovery (press release)
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