HBO Max is not yet dead. But it will be by the summer of 2023, with a new service replacing both HBO Max and Discovery Plus, according to Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav on an earnings call today.
“We believe that product is going to be terrific,” Zaslav added later in the conference, after assuring listeners that the firm will not eliminate HBO Max. This comes after a week of worry for users. Early this week, the studio decided to withdraw the almost finished Batgirl off the release schedule and relegate it to the vault. Additional HBO Max-exclusive films have vanished from the service, but are still available for purchase or rental.
During the call, Zaslav attempted to allay any anxieties by stating that the HBO Max programming was generally excellent and backed by the firm. During the call’s question and answer session, Zaslav said that HBO Max has begun to become a brand in and of itself—one that is explicitly linked with excellence. It’s unclear what Warner Brothers Discovery will name the new integrated service, but we’re sure to hear more when Zaslav shakes up his new firm even more in the next year.
