HBO Max has announced their very first price hike since launching two years ago as Warner Bros. Discovery eyes their planned HBO Max/Discovery+ integration this spring, and the changes are effective immediately.
New signups for the HBO Max no-ads monthly subscription in the United States will now increase from $14.99 to $15.99 (plus applicable taxes) which accounts for a near 7% increase, while existing customers paying $14.99/month will see their monthly rate increase to $15.99/month effective their next billing cycle on or after Saturday, February 11th, 2023.
“This price increase of one dollar will allow us to continue to invest in providing even more culture-defining programming and improving our customer experience for all users,” the company said in an official statement, via Variety.
The price increase comes as Warner Bros. Discovery has made a number of content cutbacks as they look to reduce expenses.
Among the cuts were a number of exclusive films and original series, 200 older “Sesame Street” episodes, removed 256 classic “Looney Tunes” shorts, three seasons of “The Flintstones”, and also canceled HBO Max original series “Minx” (reversing the Season 2 renewal) and “The Nevers.”
HBO Max is planning also remove content including “Westworld,” “The Nevers,” “Raised by Wolves,” “FBoy Island,” “Legendary,” “Finding Magic Mike,” “Head of the Class” and “The Time Traveler’s Wife” so that they can license them to third-party, ad-supported TV partners.
