I ponder whether this is more about the DVR, than the fee. Streaming provides most of everything on demand... but you can't keep it. We've got all sorts of stuff on our DVR that was recorded from previous subscriptions we no longer have. Streaming (and HDMI encryption) ends that.
While broadcasters have always hated the DVR, this is all about the fee.
Look at it from Warner's view, I have heard, but not sure, that Warner gets 70%, Providers 30%.
So for a $20 per month fee, that is $14/6.
If 20 Million subscribe to the 4K plan, by keeping it, that is $400 Million a month, $4.8 Billion a year
If 10 million of that 20 million subscribe to the 4K plan via a provider, they are losing $60 Million a month, $720 Million a year.
The new rumor is, when the contracts are up, is no more online access, you can still get HBO via a provider, but no more MAX, only way is direct/online.
Or, your only online access will be with Commercials, since the other rumor is the middle tier (1080P no commercials) will also be going away, raising the with Commercials price to $15 , then the other tier, is the upgrade to 4K( have not heard if that price will be going up, but I do not doubt if that will happen).
By the way, Viacom is already about to do this with Showtime, the only way to get online is with Paramount+, for the same price you would pay a provider for just Showtime, online access goes away in 2 weeks I believe.
It'd make a lot more sense to have a Max 4K add-on for provider accounts than to anger the customers, especially the Sat TV folk.
If this was 2016, I would agree, DirecTV/Dish total sub numbers were , roughly, 35 Million Subscribers between the two, today, about 15 Million for both, Comcast has more then DirecTV/Dish added together .
Their power is waning.