Warner taking movies to HBO MAX for 2021

[Todd Anderson]

Interesting move on Warner's part. They'll be releasing movies in the theater and on HBO MAX.

I'm not entirely familiar with the battle, but it sounds like this move is a power play to get Roku to adopt HBO MAX into its streaming universe. Roku totally dominates the streaming market and HBO's inability to get Roku to play ball has hindered its adoption into homes.

Thoughts?

 

[tripplej]

This is bad news for the theater chains - AMC, Cinemark, IMAX, etc.

With covid and various rules, lot of theaters are hurting big time, lots of lost revenue.

Further loss and possibly closure in the future for them if other studio's do the same.

This could be the final nail in the coffin so to speak for them.

 

[Todd Anderson]

It's possible. I'm assuming this will only be a 2021 arrangement... could be wrong, though.

The X factor will be how the masses react once covid is under control. I'd imagine that people are going to be flocking to public events... so there could be a huge resurgence to theaters.

 

[tripplej]

Yeah, possibly but who knows when covid will end!

Till then, these theater chains are barely hanging on and if streaming is the way to go, people will not go to a theater, they will just stay home and stream..

Time will tell, but if more studio's do this, the theater chains are in trouble.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I, for one, am excited about this move. I have free HBO Max with my AT&T Mobile account.
I am much more excited, however, that they announced Atmos and UHD HDR along with it. Having their slate of releases in 1080p was nowhere near as exciting.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

I don't subscribe to HBO, so this would mean I'd have to subscribe to see new Warner releases. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

 

[Travis Ballstadt]

I don't subscribe to HBO, so this would mean I'd have to subscribe to see new Warner releases. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

Not necessarily. I am assuming this is simply the old theatrical release window with HBO Max added in. I'm sure if you're willing to wait there will still be a disc/digital release, and eventually they will make their way to the other services just like they do today. Or you can go to the theater.

I highly doubt they are going to lock them into HBO Max exclusively in perpetuity. Same windows, but your friends with HBO Max will be able to watch at home before you are.

 

[Sonnie Parker]

Ahhh... okay, makes sense.

 

[Todd Anderson]

@Sonnie

I believe you can subscribe to HBO MAX as a streaming service for $14.95/month without subscribing to HBO on cable or sat.

 

[mechman]

Excellent! I already get HBO Max.

 

[mechman]

This is a BAD deal for consumers. I have to subscribe for a month to a bunch of junk I don't want to watch a single 2 hour movie I do want? No way, I'll stick to rentals via Vudu, Redbox, etc. I'll wait until it is ready for non subsrcibers.

How so exactly? You can go to the theater if you don't want to "have to subscribe for a month to a bunch of junk I don't want to watch a single 2 hour movie I do want?".

They make it seem like you are saving money on movie tickets but they really need to battle with Amazon doing their own releases now.

I have no idea what you're saying here.

"They make it seem like you are saving money on movie tickets" - how would you not save money on movie tickets? Not sure how things are done where you are at but even if my wife and I go to a local theater for a matinee it still costs north of $20. And that's in a crappy theater.

"but they really need to battle with Amazon doing their own releases now" - what major movie has been released on Amazon only? Not saying there hasn't been any, I just cannot recall a single one. Amazon, like other streaming services (HBO included), has a lot of wonderful content, I just can't recall a single major motion picture ever being Amazon released only.

As for HBO, I think their 30 Emmys last year alone speak for themselves.

 

[mechman]

Hi Mechman, good questions. These execs need to do what is best for shareholders, I get it. When you lock a customer into a subscription that is recurring revenue which CEO's love. Ticket buyers are fickle, it is non recurring revenue. You spent $500mm on some blockbuster and no one shows, you eat it right? Take that same movie put it on HBO and the studio gets paid from recurring revenues. If no one watches it doesn't stand out as much to shareholders right? They may have attrition of subscribers but not a black hole of red ink.
Let's talk family, you go to the theater if and when you want to, how often is that, every day? You PAY everyday with a subscription service whether you use it or not. Nobody subsidizes empty seats in the theater.
As for Amazon releases I don't know what you don't get about Amazon Studios, maybe it will help if you read this:

The Amazing Rise of Amazon Studios

When the 89th Academy Awards celebration begins on February 26, Roy Price is sure to be in the audience. If early predictions are accurate, he will be anticipating an award or two for Manchester by the Sea, a film thats been the smash hit at all four major North American film festivals this...

www.seattlebusinessmag.com

I am not judging what content is "wonderful" I am judging what % of that content a subscriber actually wants. If I go to Redbox I may hate 90% of the discs but I only pay for the ones I rent. With HBO you pay and pay and pay. If you watch a lot, all good, if you only want the occasional "new releases" you don't need a monthly subscription.
Capiche?

I asked no questions. Well I did ask how exactly Warner Bros releasing movies on both HBO and in theaters is bad for consumers. And then I just went over how your post makes no sense whatsoever. Kinda like this one. You keep babbling like you have to subscribe to HBO to watch the movie. You do not. If you do not want to pay for HBO, then by all means, go to the theater. Warner will get recurring revenues from HBO regardless, they own it.

The whole Amazon line makes absolutely no sense. I never said that I don’t get Amazon Studios. I do, I watch more content on Prime than probably anywhere else. But that’s not the point that I was making. The point that I was making, again, is that Amazon has had zero major movie releases on their platform - none. So you’re comparing apples to oranges. Or to be a bit more to the point, you’re picking and choosing parts to each service even though it makes no sense because they have no common ground.

That last paragraph is completely bonkers. Are you comparing HBO Max to Redbox?!?! The point of this thread is that Warner is releasing it’s movies to both HBO Max and movie theaters next year. If you want to watch it in the theater, then by all means do so! If you want to wait a year or so before it comes out on disc, you can do that as well!

I’ll leave you with a piece of advice and I suggest you to consider this strongly. Think about what you’re saying and maybe reread your post(s). You make no sense. Period. I’m not saying this to be mean or spiteful or anything else, I’m just telling you that you have no point with regards to the purpose of this thread.

 

[mechman]

Post removed and troll banned

 

[Todd Anderson]

Well... Roku and HBO have reached a deal that’s set to go live right before WW is released. Looks like the insider article i read (can’t remember where I read it) was right... HBO’s move had more to do with pressuring Roku than other factors... was right.

Now, HBO MAX is available on the largest streaming platform in the planet. This will undoubtedly give MAX the subscriber boost it needs.

 

[mechman]

You know I saw that last night and I was wondering what that was all about. Cause I had just finished watching one of my HBO shows on a Roku the day before but I didn’t even notice that it was still thru the old HBO app.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'm surprised that HBO GO app is still working! Originally, they had given it a fairly fast death rate.

Yes, HBO needed roku to adopt MAX.

 

[mechman]

I vaguely recall thinking “Why isn’t this the HBO Max icon?”

 

[ddude003]

In my opinion there has been too much consolidation over the last 25 years as now 5 media conglomerates owns 95% of all forms of media... With new information coming forward about the CCP $$$ influence and infiltration into US and other countries industries I expect to see some very strange things happen in the near future to these media conglomerates... Antitrust at a minimum... Even harsher things via EO 13848 are possible... We live in interesting times...