Apple TV+ Is the New HBO

[ncted]

Netflix wanted to be the next HBO, but I've been thinking AppleTV+ is the one that actually pulled it off.

Apple TV+ Is the New HBO

Max just isn’t what it used to be. Apple TV+ is where you need to go for must-watch prestige television.

www.wired.com

 

[klang]

I agree with that sentiment. Best value for my expanding streaming bucks. Best quality IMO as well.

 

[Bruce]

Netflix wanted to be the next HBO, but I've been thinking AppleTV+ is the one that actually pulled it off.

Apple TV+ Is the New HBO

Max just isn’t what it used to be. Apple TV+ is where you need to go for must-watch prestige television.

www.wired.com

I remember having conversations with others here on what the future outlook for HBO will be like once they merged Discovery + content into it.

Unfortunately, it looks to be I was correct, they are using that content, which is already paid for since it airs on their Cable Channels, to mask they are not producing as much HBO type content and for cost savings.

I have always had HBO, even in the old days, my year is up in July, gone, I will subscribe to it once a year for a month to catch up, but based on their future outlook, might be a couple of weeks to get current with shows.

 

[ncted]

I remember having conversations with others on what the future outlook for HBO will be like once they merged Discovery + content into it.

Unfortunately, it looks to be I was correct, they are using that content, which is already paid for since it airs on their Cable Channels, to mask they are not producing as much HBO type content and for cost savings.

I have always had HBO, even in the old days, my year is up in July, gone, I will subscribe to it once a year for a month to catch up, but based on their future outlook, might be a couple of weeks to get current with shows.

Yeah, Max is no additional monetary cost to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have it most of the year.

 

[NashGuy]

Unfortunately, it looks to be I was correct, they are using that content, which is already paid for since it airs on their Cable Channels, to mask they are not producing as much HBO type content and for cost savings.

You've made this assertion before, always without any evidence. I don't think this is true. I think WBD continues to produce/license just as much original content for HBO (original series, docs, specials) now that it is a part of Max as they did before. Any recent dip in output is, I believe, attributable to last year's strikes which paused film and TV production for several months, but that has affected all streamers/networks, not just HBO.

It's true that HBO carries fewer first-run theatrical films than they used to, now that their output deal with Universal has expired, leaving them at the moment with just Warner films. But they have a new deal in place with A24; those movies should be hitting the service before long.

Now, it is true that Warner has reduced or eliminated original output at TNT, TBS, TruTV and Cinemax, choosing to shift those resources toward Max Originals. But it seems to me that they continue to be very protective of their crown jewel, HBO. Will be interesting to see over the next few years if HBO continues to stream only as a sub-brand within Max or if it goes back to a standalone brand (perhaps as an add-on/step-up tier)...

 

[Bruce]

You've made this assertion before, always without any evidence. I don't think this is true. I think WBD continues to produce/license just as much original content for HBO (original series, docs, specials) now that it is a part of Max as they did before. Any recent dip in output is, I believe, attributable to last year's strikes which paused film and TV production for several months, but that has affected all streamers/networks, not just HBO.

Except the other streamers are not having the same problems, Netflix is putting out as much as ever, Disney+ already has 3 Star Wars/2 more Marvel shows done and set for this year, has 1 Marvel Show done for next year, 1 Star Wars (Andor) in post for 2025, Ahsoka season 2 for 2025 and 2 more Marvel shows filming right now for 2025.

Paramount+ has enough ready until the end of summer, Peacock I have no idea.

Yet some of the big shows Warner announced in 2023, have not even filmed yet, Last of Us #2 does not have all the scripts done yet, now that Pedro Pascal‘s shoulder was broken, looking at late next year.

Then we have the Harry Potter series, which does not even have a showrunner yet, so looking at about 3 years for that.

Now, it is true that Warner has reduced or eliminated original output at TNT, TBS, TruTV and Cinemax, choosing to shift those resources toward Max Originals.

There is no evidence they did that, the reason why is because is because 3 of those channels have lost up to 30 Million per sub fees, Cinemax original series production stoppage was decided a couple of years ago.

So, the only reason was cost savings, not moving production/ development costs to MAX-

UPDATED: TNT and TBS are pausing their scripted game under new parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, which CEO David Zaslav has promised will find $3 billion in cost savings across the new company in the post-merger era, Variety has learned exclusively.

Warner Bros. Discovery Cuts Scripted Programming Development at TBS, TNT (EXCLUSIVE)

TNT and TBS are moving out of the scripted game under new parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, Variety has learned exclusively.

variety.com

But it seems to me that they continue to be very protective of their crown jewel, HBO.

The only thing they are protective of is cost savings…$$$$.

 

[savarese04]

I agree with the sentiments here. I think MAX is probably the weakest of the six big streamers (others being Peacock, P+, D+/Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV).

MAX just hasn't produced anything worth watching AND they are the most expensive. It is still resting on the HBO premium channel price, but hasn't produced anything close to premium channel content. The show pipeline is dried up and the movie licenses mean nothing today compared to the 90s. They've even cannibalized the catalog content by making some of it available on Netflix. If I didn't get it free from my grandfathered AT&T wireless pacakge, I would not be paying $15/mo or whatever it is now.

I know some here think Peacock is terrible, but I actually do like some of the catalog content + WWE + sports, which, given the very appropriate price point of $5/mo, is fine for me. I actually just found the old Las Vegas tv show with James Caan on there recently and have been enjoying that (recommend as a fun/campy alternative to the endless stream of procedural shows).

 

[SandFarmer]

"I'd like to think so."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[KAB]

"I'd like to think so."


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Care to elaborate?

 

[SandFarmer]

Care to elaborate?

Since posting, all the Streaming Services have been reported to be in "Bundling Talks" and "Ownership Mergers" that will supposedly increase content availability and decrease prices. Since we are Streaming 99% of our programming and still have all the worthwhile service, "More for Less" is just fine with me.

. . . and once again Tapatalk threw me into an old thread. But not all that old.

 

[Teehar]

Since posting, all the Streaming Services have been reported to be in "Bundling Talks" and "Ownership Mergers" that will supposedly increase content availability and decrease prices. Since we are Streaming 99% of our programming and still have all the worthwhile service, "More for Less" is just fine with me.

. . . and once again Tapatalk threw me into an old thread. But not all that old.

Decrease prices lol....that ain't happening no matter what they claim.

 

[Bruce]

Decrease prices lol....that ain't happening no matter what they claim.

As of now, bundles have reduced pricing for streaming .

For example, I get Hulu, Disney and ESPN+ for $25 a month, for the commercial free/4K tier, separately, it would be over $40 a month.

Then we constantly get deals, for example 2 months ago, received the 4K MAX plan for $139, the non 4K plan for HBO via Cable/Satellite would be $180 for the year ( and about to go up).

Right not, you can get a year of Paramount+ w/Showtime for $60, it would be $144 via Cable/Satellite, so $84 in savings.

So yes, decreased prices.

 

[Teehar]

As of now, bundles have reduced pricing for streaming .

For example, I get Hulu, Disney and ESPN+ for $25 a month, for the commercial free/4K tier, separately, it would be over $40 a month.

Then we constantly get deals, for example 2 months ago, received the 4K MAX plan for $139, the non 4K plan for HBO via Cable/Satellite would be $180 for the year ( and about to go up).

Right not, you can get a year of Paramount+ w/Showtime for $60, it would be $144 via Cable/Satellite, so $84 in savings.

So yes, decreased prices.

Yay for you....if you feel that is a great value then I'm happy for you.What I see is a constant increase of streaming prices then after they raise the rates for the 2nd or 3rd time in a year they will come back and say oh hey we now have a cheaper bundled price.All I know is it costs me and my family more than it did last year,or the year before,bundle or no bundle.But you keep sipping that bundled tea cheers

 

[navychop]

Cheaper costs - for THEM!

 

[Bobby]

Yay for you....if you feel that is a great value then I'm happy for you.What I see is a constant increase of streaming prices then after they raise the rates for the 2nd or 3rd time in a year they will come back and say oh hey we now have a cheaper bundled price.All I know is it costs me and my family more than it did last year,or the year before,bundle or no bundle.But you keep sipping that bundled tea cheers

Like Bruce I went for the bundle. I was actually paying that $40 a month for the three separate sevices. Now I am paying $25. I’m going to continue to watch all three services and it just made sense to me to save that $15 a month to apply it somewhere else. Like the grocery store.

 

[Teehar]

Like Bruce I went for the bundle. I was actually paying that $40 a month for the three separate sevices. Now I am paying $25. I’m going to continue to watch all three services and it just made sense to me to save that $15 a month to apply it somewhere else. Like the grocery store.

But don't you feel you are getting less value?I mean seriously the content and quality these services offer just seem to go down while the price goes up.I mean it's like with inflation,potato chips still taste the same,we just pay more and get less of them now lol.

See what I do is get these services on black friday or promotional deals,or use a membership perk for say Paramount Plus etc.I pay like $5 for Hulu and Disney with ads for a year.Paramount Plus comes with my Walmart+ membership.To each their own,but to me that bundle is not worth $25 a month.

 

[Bobby]

But don't you feel you are getting less value?I mean seriously the content and quality these services offer just seem to go down while the price goes up.I mean it's like with inflation,potato chips still taste the same,we just pay more and get less of them now lol.

See what I do is get these services on black friday or promotional deals,or use a membership perk for say Paramount Plus etc.I pay like $5 for Hulu and Disney with ads for a year.Paramount Plus comes with my Walmart+ membership.To each their own,but to me that bundle is not worth $25 a month.

Hulu ad free is $15 a month. ESPN+ is $11 a month. I use these all the time. So, for $1 less I also get Disney+ ad free. I am a Star Trek fan and my 6 year old granddaughter likes a lot of the programming on Disney. It makes perfect sense to me to pay 25 over 40.

 

[Bruce]

But don't you feel you are getting less value?I mean seriously the content and quality these services offer just seem to go down while the price goes up.I mean it's like with inflation,potato chips still taste the same,we just pay more and get less of them now lol.

I feel the same way about Cable/Satellite TV, price goes up every year, get less and less new content.

But since streaming services has all the same new content from paid Live TV plus the streaming shows and movies, in a much better quality, with a much less expensive price, it was a easy decision to drop live tv.

See what I do is get these services on black friday or promotional deals,or use a membership perk for say Paramount Plus etc.I pay like $5 for Hulu and Disney with ads for a year.Paramount Plus comes with my Walmart+ membership.To each their own,but to me that bundle is not worth $25 a month.

I find that it is worth it, I went over what I pay for streaming, I am amazed I get this much content and spend so much less.

These are all at commercials free and 4K tiers ( Peacock and ESPN+), when there is a deal, I take advantage of it.

Hulu Bundle $25 a month
Netflix $23 a month
Paramount with Showtime $60 for the year, so $5 a month
MAX/HBO $139 a year, so $11.60 a month
Peacock $20 a year, so $1.66 a month
Apple TV+ $30 a year, so $2.50 a month ( Costco special a couple of years ago, bought 6 years worth)

So all that for under $69 a month.

 

[Bruce]

Hulu ad free is $15 a month. ESPN+ is $11 a month. I use these all the time. So, for $1 less I also get Disney+ ad free. I am a Star Trek fan and my 6 year old granddaughter likes a lot of the programming on Disney. It makes perfect sense to me to pay 25 over 40.

I am also, but I believe you mean Star Wars on D+.

Just watched the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte, really good, mad at myself for not waiting till the series was done so I could binge it, now I want more of it.

 

[Bobby]

I am also, but I believe you mean Star Wars on D+.

Just watched the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte, really good, mad at myself for not waiting till the series was done so I could binge it, now I want more of it.

Yes, I meant Star Wars in this case although I equally like Star Trek on Paramount+. I was just coming back in to edit that but you caught me too quickly.