The Vergecast HBO vs. Max and Twitter vs. Substack
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Apr 14, 2023 Dive into the streaming wars as HBO rebrands to 'Max' and grapples with content strategy. Explore Sony's bold move into mobile gaming and the challenges it faces against Microsoft. The heated discussion on Twitter's controversies reveals the platform's struggles under Elon Musk's rule, juxtaposed with the rising popularity of Substack. Plus, a lighthearted take on the quirks of modern media, including an intelligent car assistant and AI integration in everyday apps.
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Max Rebranding Rationale
- Warner Bros. Discovery justified renaming HBO Max to just Max by claiming HBO was too elitist.
- They argued Discovery Plus retained viewers better because people actively searched content, unlike HBO Max, where viewers mostly watched from the home screen.
Zaslav's Content Strategy
- David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, prioritizes cheaper, high-volume content over expensive, prestigious shows.
- This strategy, focused on profit rather than prestige, might eventually lead to HBO's decline within the platform.
Max Pricing Tiers
- The new Max pricing tiers are considered very user-hostile.
- The plans offer limited downloads, expensive 4K upgrades, and an ad-light plan starting at $9.99, implying a non-existent ad-heavy tier.