HBO Max is making a comeback! Yes, it’s officially May—not one of those prank days where people concoct wild stories. This announcement is legit: Warner Bros. Discovery is reverting the name of its Max streaming service back to HBO Max.
For some context, you might remember that in 2020, we transitioned from just “HBO” to “HBO Max.” This change brought in Turner networks like TNT and TBS, alongside a slew of classic cartoons, including Looney Tunes. The service was solid, even with the quirky “Max” addition, as HBO continued to reign as the leader in streaming with enhanced offerings.
Then, in 2023, Warner thought it would be a good idea to drop “HBO” entirely, simply rebranding it as “Max.” Given HBO’s iconic status as a premium streaming platform known for its top-tier original programming, the response from the audience was overwhelmingly negative: “What are you thinking, Warner?”
Now, it seems the leadership at Warner has realized their error and will be restoring the HBO Max name. In an attempt to put a positive spin on this change, Warner stated:
Returning the HBO brand to HBO Max will enhance the service and highlight the uniqueness that subscribers expect. This decision reflects WBD’s commitment to repeatedly fine-tuning its strategy based on consumer feedback to position itself effectively for success.
This last statement translates to, “Our customers told us that ‘Max’ was a bad name, so we’re bringing HBO back.”
The name change will take effect this summer, and here’s the new logo. Let’s hope they don’t make us download a new app like last time!
// Warner Bros Discovery