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Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

theverge.com

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Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#11

Post by cameldrv »

sarchertech wrote: post #3

I cannot for the life of me understand the rebrand. This has got to be some idiot exec who just wanted to put their stamp on things. One of those decisions that isn’t for the benefit of customers or shareholders—just the exec.

I think that the point of the rebrand was to eliminate the expectation that HBO shows would be available on HBO Max. For example, Westworld is no longer available on Max.

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#12

Post by 1letterunixname »

sarchertech wrote: post #3

I cannot for the life of me understand the rebrand. This has got to be some idiot exec who just wanted to put their stamp on things. One of those decisions that isn’t for the benefit of customers or shareholders—just the exec.

Mergers allow concentration of power while antitrust regulators are nowhere to be found. Blithe unconcern about enshitification of goods and services but for more money equals higher profits. Consumers are dumb and will keep giving us more money whenever we ask for any excuse. is the mantra.

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#13

Post by blindriver »

If you try to cancel, they will offer you 3 months for 7.99. I'm going to take that deal and then cancel after 3 more months. I'm also cancelling Netflix this month. There's nothing that I can't bittorrent or borrow one of my friend's accounts for one-off viewing.

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#15

Post by spondylosaurus »

mathieuh wrote: post #9

Baffles me why all these streaming companies are shooting themselves in the foot. For about 18 months there was a golden age where it was easier to pay for things than to pirate. Now we’re in a situation where it’s even /harder/ than it’s ever been. People will pay for media if it’s easy and a good experience. The barrier to piracy is non-existent these days and you actually get a far better experience.

For HBO/Max's foot-shooting specifically, David Zaslav is why.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-communications/can-...

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#16

Post by IggleSniggle »

1letterunixname wrote: post #4

"Legacy" marketing wank. I signed up last year. They want 33% more ($150 -> $200) for absolute no value at all. A greedy profit-price spiral cash-grab is what it is. Canceling the day before the renewal and back to torrents I guess. https://auth.max.com/cancel-subscription

I haven't done it in over a decade. Is the bay still the way it's mostly done by casuals?

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#17

Post by bigstrat2003 »

strangesmells02 wrote: post #14

Does anyone care about 4k? Ive been using either 720 or 1080p for years and never had an issue

Some do, yeah. I have a friend who is real upset about the change, for instance. But I get you - I don't even have a device with 4k resolution, and I am perfectly content.

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#18

Post by orev »

cameldrv wrote: post #11
sarchertech wrote: post #3

I cannot for the life of me understand the rebrand. This has got to be some idiot exec who just wanted to put their stamp on things. One of those decisions that isn’t for the benefit of customers or shareholders—just the exec.

I think that the point of the rebrand was to eliminate the expectation that HBO shows would be available on HBO Max. For example, Westworld is no longer available on Max.

It was supposedly more related to the fact that they’re now also streaming tons of non-HBO content, and so they didn’t want to dilute the perception of quality of the HBO brand by having all that junk under the “HBO” app.

Re: Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers

#19

Post by spondylosaurus »

sarchertech wrote: post #3

I cannot for the life of me understand the rebrand. This has got to be some idiot exec who just wanted to put their stamp on things. One of those decisions that isn’t for the benefit of customers or shareholders—just the exec.

Just linked this in reply to another comment, but the idiot exec in question in named David Zaslav. The alleged rebrand is because Max "mixes premium HBO content with some of Discovery’s more down-market shows."

https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-communications/can-...

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