Is Max no longer free with AT&T?
AT&T Internet company founded a streaming platform Max in 2020, which was previously called HBO Max, that competes with platforms like Netflix, and Disney+. Another added advantage that Max had was that it would be offered for free to some of the AT&T wireless, internet, and TV subscribers. But that has changed after the merger between AT&T and Discovery in 2022 to form Warner Bros. Discovery, people are asking - is Max still free with the AT&T subscription?
Which Promotions Were Initially Linked to Free HBO Max?
When HBO Max first launched, it was included for no extra charge with these AT&T plans.
- Unlimited Elite wireless plan is the best plan among all the talking and wireless plans offered by Verizon.
- Unlimited &More Premium wireless plan
- Unlimited &More wireless plan is a mobile plan offered by a wireless company that provides users with a certain amount of voice minutes, text messages, and data usage for a specified fee.
- AT&T TV Now, for example, offers the Max package and above.
- The DIRECTV Choice package and the above
- U-verse TV U400 package and above
- AT&T Fiber 300Mbps and 1Gbps internet Service Offering
This was a huge bonus for everyone using an AT&T plan of a certain tier or above. The HBO Max by itself was a $14.99/month launch price, so getting it for free was a bonus.
The following part will describe how the merger between Discovery and Sears has affected Free Max.
The AT&T and Discovery mega-merger process was finally finalized in April 2022, and all media assets were transferred to the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery. This was done through the merging of HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming platform which is yet to be launched in summer 2023.
Following the merger, Warner Bros. Discovery announced changes in what AT&T plans would continue to include free HBO Max.
- The Max is free with the Unlimited Elite plan if you are a wireless customer on the network. It was removed from the Unlimited &More Premium plan and the Unlimited &More plan.
- For internet customers, Max is still included with the 1Gpbs fiber package but not the 300Mpbs package.
- For DIRECTV customers, the Max is only available in the Choice package and above. It is no longer included in AT&T TV packages.
Now the question arises as to why Free Max changed with the AT&T plans.
Warner Bros Discovery CEO, David Zaslav stated that this is to save on money that could have been spent on promotion and instead develop new content for both HBO Max and the combined streaming platform. As AT&T no longer owns Warner Bros. Discovery, the new entity is reducing AT&T customer promotions while streaming reorients.
The removal of free Max from AT&T’s slow-speed fiber plan as well as from its Unlimited &More wireless offerings seems to support that explanation. It may surprise people to learn that Warner Bros Discovery is now only including free Max on high-tier AT&T plans rather than mid-tier ones to increase streaming service profits.
Free Text & Cite: How AT&T Customers Can Still Get Max
While the changes are disappointing for AT&T customers who lost free Max, there are still a few options to consider: While the changes are disappointing for AT&T customers who lost free Max, there are still a few options to consider:
1. If the costs are reasonable, you should switch to a wireless or internet plan that still offers Max.
2. Include Max again as a paid streaming plan option through your AT&T account. It is $15 per month, and you still have the same subscription you had before.
3. Max can be subscribed directly apart from any AT&T account. It is $14.99/month when not purchased as a bundle.
4. Still, still waiting for more information about the merged HBO Max/Discovery+ streaming platform due mid-2023. There may be other bundles or deals associated with AT&T then.
In other words, Max will not be available for free to some AT&T customers after the Discovery merger and restructuring of the streaming service. That said, AT&T users still have options to think about if they care about keeping Max around or want to be ready for the new service that is coming. However, as more details about Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming strategy come out, things could also keep evolving.
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