Though it doesn’t really concern the Indian audience, events like these show how OTT platforms are making it tougher for regular users to opt for multiple subscriptions. This time, WBD’s own Max is causing some disruption.
A few days ago, SonyLIV did the same thing. With the UEFA Champions League on the horizon, they increased the price of their packs, and by a significant margin.
Now, HBO is doing the same, just before the release of House Of The Dragon’s season 2. Being a series from the Game Of Thrones universe, it has the potential to be a fan favorite, as the first season was truly loved by fans.
But the price increase will definitely turn off a plethora of fans. It’s not like they are adding new plans; they are just increasing the prices of their existing plans.
To paint a picture, even though they are increasing prices by $1 or a couple more in the U.S. market, this is something the fans don’t want.
Starting June 4, Max’s ad-free tier in the U.S. will increase from $15.99 to $16.99 per month, with the annual plan rising from $149.99 to $169.99. The “ultimate” ad-free tier will go up by $1 monthly to $20.99 and by $10 annually to $209.99. The ad-supported version remains unchanged at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.