HBO Max Is Rolling Out a New Ad-Supported Plan at $9.99 per Month
Published on June 3, 2021
- HBO Max is reaching out to a wider audience with an ad-supported plan that makes access to its content more affordable.
- There will be some limitations like in the streaming quality and the offline watching options.
- The ads themselves will follow some standards to help in making them more enjoyable and less frustrating.
HBO Max has decided to enter the field of ad-supported and more affordable plans to lure streaming fans to a subscription, so it’s rolling out a new plan at $9.99 per month. The ad-free plan remains at $14.99 per month, not much higher. However, for those who don’t have a problem with a few interruptions in their content consumption, that $5 per month can make the difference in the long term. Paying upfront for a full year drops the price down to $99.99, which is a great bargain.
The idea of all relatively big (but not as established) streaming platforms is to offer a plan that is easier to snatch for someone who is already paying for another platform. If they get hooked, they may then jump to the ad-free plan. If not, the platform will still get to profit from the subscription and also the ad-generated revenue. So, these ad-supported plans are essentially an invitation to the wider audience, and this is precisely what HBO is doing right now.
HBO’s content catalog is certainly impressive, featuring works from the company itself, Warner Bros., DC, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, and more. Some highlight titles include Game of Thrones, Euphoria, Westworld, His Dark Materials, Mare of Easttown, Lovecraft Country, The Flight Attendant, Hacks, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Unfortunately, the lower tier of the HBO Max will bring some limitations there in terms of streaming quality. The resolution will be capped at 1080p, which isn’t bad - However, if you are looking to enjoy your 4K TV in its full glory, you’ll have to go for the ad-free plan. Of course, you should note that not everything is available in 4K resolution, so be aware of the specifics. Also, they don’t offer offline viewing by downloading content on the ad-supported tier, which may be a bummer for those who cherish the freedom to watch stuff whenever they like.
As for the ads themselves, 35 brands from across the entire industry spectrum have already signed with HBO and will work with 72 creatives who will prepare their campaigns on the platform. There will be frequency caps to protect you from frustration (and brainwash), and advertisers will be encouraged to focus on variation and creative formats that enhance the consumer experience instead of degrading it.
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