With the existence of multiple streaming media platforms ins, fierce competition has begun between them. Each platform wants to position itself as a leader and works on providing users with a quality of service that they might not find in another platform. So, what is the case when it comes to HBO?
What are HBO’s Pricing and Subscriptions?
According to author Helen Hejran in her article “The streaming wars in 2021: Netflix, HBO MAX and Disney +”, HBO Max’s 14.99$ subscription rate is technically the highest despite Netflix’s price increase over the past 6 years. This is going to change as HBO Max adds an ad-based subscription tier that is lower. It is also important to note that HBO has a challenge, which is that not all of its subscribers have activated their subs. This is the consequence of the millions of cable subscribers getting a free HBO Max as add-on. In addition, HBO Max joined among the different streaming services Peacock and offered a subscription tier that is ad-supported tier. This tier doesn’t allow access to the day-and-date movies releases’ in theatres.
However; ads won’t be shown on the platform’s original productions like “Game of Thrones” and “The Sopranos”. In addition, with the transition that took place removing HBO Now and HBO Go, their current subscribers were allowed to use HBO Max at no extra cost. This is very interesting in the unknown author of “The current state of HBO Max” opinion; users get premium content without premium conveyance (i.e., no 4K). It makes them work for the capacity to reach it.
What is HBO’s Content, Licensing, and IP?
Hejran continues to argue that HBO needs to work more about raising their brand awareness as well as brand identity when it is related to HBO Max. This has prevented it from reaching its highest growth potential. So, basically even though HBO’s cable channel has a wide library yet HBO Max is more tied to all WarnerMedia content. It might not be very clearly stated to potential subscribers with the name HBO Max that it has a wide library of Warner Bros., CN, HBO, and even half of the CW as well.
What are the Streaming options?
HBO Max has a very important competitive edge when it comes to showing movies on the platform at the same time they are being screened in theatres and throughout the Covid-19 lockdown, they pushed to get more subscribers and to position themselves as Netflix’s biggest competitors.
Let’s talk about the different methods for Password Sharing?
When it comes to password sharing, HBO Max allows up to 5 profiles per account. It is interesting to note that they never allowed more than one also on HBO Now when it was still available. Furthermore, if any suspicious devices were noticed, HBO Max reduces it to 3 devices.
What are HBO’s Strengths and Target Market?
Author Hejran continues to argue in her article that she believes HBO Max should continue highlighting its wide library and benefit more from their popular existing IP. With that she means, that the brand needs to show that subscribers cannot only find “The Big Bang Theory” only yet they can also find Studio Ghibli and an entire library of HBO originals. HBO should let this wide library lead to an increase in the number of subscriptions.
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Works Cited –
The Current State of HBO Max. (2021, April 14). The Streaming Blog. https://www.thestreamingblog.com/the-current-state-of-hbo-max/
The Streaming Wars in 2021: Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. (n.d.). AMT Lab @ CMU. Retrieved November 16, 2021, from https://amt-lab.org/blog/2021/8/streaming-wars-netflix-hbo-max-and-disney