With the recent launch of its new streaming service, HBO has become even more of a convoluted mess, offering not one, not two, but three separate platforms (Go, Now, and Max). Thankfully, WarnerMedia has taken notice of the complexity and is taking some steps to reduce the confusion, if only by a wee bit.
The changes planned (and a primer on what the differences are between the Go, Now, and Max services) are outlined below, but in short, HBO is getting rid of its Go app and rebranding HBO Now, its standalone steaming service, to just “HBO” for brevity. Evidently, Go is obsolete because subscribers can also stream HBO content through HBO Max – but this could be an issue for Roku or Amazon Fire TV users, as the Max app isn’t available on these platforms yet.
HBO GO is a streaming service offered by HBO that is included free with your HBO subscription through a TV provider, and offers original content from HBO, including series, documentaries, specials and more, plus a large selection of movies. A cable or TV package that includes HBO is required. The HBO GO app will be removed from U.S. platforms by July 31, 2020 and only be available via HBOGO.com through August 31, 2020; most customers who have traditionally used HBO GO to stream HBO programming are now able to do so via HBO Max using the same login credentials.
HBO NOW is a standalone streaming service offered by HBO that does not require cable or satellite TV and offers original content from HBO, including series, documentaries, specials and more, plus a large selection of movies. Current HBO NOW subscribers (billed directly by HBO or via in-app purchase) also have access to HBO Max at no additional cost. In the coming months, the HBO NOW app and desktop experience will be rebranded to HBO. Existing HBO NOW subscribers will have access to HBO through the rebranded HBO app on platforms where it remains available and through play.hbo.com.
HBO Max is a platform offered by WarnerMedia that features 10,000 hours of premium content bundling all of HBO together with even more movies, shows and Max Originals for the whole family, including Friends, South Park, The Big Bang Theory, Wonder Woman, the Studio Ghibli collection and much more. HBO Max is available through many TV and internet providers. If your TV or internet provider supports HBO Max, you can sign into HBO Max using your provider account credentials (just as you would for HBO GO).
“Now that HBO Max has launched and is widely distributed, we can implement some significant changes to our app offering in the U.S.,” reads a statement from WarnerMedia. “As part of that plan, we will be sunsetting our HBO GO service in the U.S. We intend to remove the HBO GO app from primary platforms as of July 31, 2020. Most customers who have traditionally used HBO GO to stream HBO programming are now able to do so via HBO Max, which offers access to all of HBO together with so much more.”
“Additionally, the HBO NOW app and desktop experience will be rebranded to HBO. Existing HBO NOW subscribers will have access to HBO through the rebranded HBO app on platforms where it remains available and through play.hbo.com. HBO Max provides not only the robust offering of HBO but also a vast WarnerMedia library and acquired content and originals through a modern product.”