HBO Max introduces a lower-priced, ad-supported subscription plan

HBO’s online streaming platform HBO Max has launched a lower-priced, ad-supported subscription tier. The new plan will be priced at $9.99 USD a month as opposed to $14.99 USD a month for a standard, ad free subscription. HBO has also promised the “lowest ad load in streaming,” with a maximum of only four minutes of ads per hour of watching time. For comparison, cable TV usually has roughly 12 minutes of ads for each hour of programming. The new plan allows viewers to get content from the HBO network for a lower price, while compromising on a few features of its higher-priced counterpart.

The major drawback of this lower priced subscription will be that it would not enable viewers to watch Warner Bros’ 2021 movies like Space Jam 2 and the upcoming Matrix sequel the same day they release in theaters. Viewers will also not be able to download shows to watch offline, and video resolution is capped at a standard 1080P HD instead of 4K Ultra HD present in the higher priced plan.

In a conversation with Deadline, HBO Max EVP & GM Andy Forssell said, “Advertising is a time-tested way to reduce the cost of great entertainment and reach a wider audience. We’ve worked hard to create an elegant, tasteful ad experience that is respectful of great storytelling for those users who choose it, and which we’re confident will deliver for our advertising partners as well.”

Given the fact that HBO Max’s standard $14.99 USD a month price is one of the most expensive monthly subscription costs in the entertainment industry, the 33 percent discount supplied by the ad-supported tier offers appealing savings.