HBO Max/Discovery+ Merger

[KAB]

Not surprised by this:

HBO Max Overtakes Disney+ To Become The Third Largest Streaming Platform In The US.

Competition between the streaming services continues to get more fierce, with studios spending billions on creating new content for their streaming platforms, in addition to many spending billions on acquisitions. Some ...

whatsondisneyplus.com

 

[Bruce]

Not surprised by this:

HBO Max Overtakes Disney+ To Become The Third Largest Streaming Platform In The US.

Competition between the streaming services continues to get more fierce, with studios spending billions on creating new content for their streaming platforms, in addition to many spending billions on acquisitions. Some ...

whatsondisneyplus.com

In the United States maybe, the problem is they include all of regular HBO in with the numbers, not every HBO subscriber gets MAX ( they can and should), Disney has a big lead globally.

As of 4th quarter, 2021-

HBO/MAX
United States-47 million
Global-73.8 million

HBO, including HBO Max, ends 2021 with 73.8 million global subscribers | TechCrunch

HBO, including the HBO Max streaming service, now reaches 73.8 million global subscribers as of the end of 2021, according to news shared by parent

techcrunch.com

U.S.: number of HBO subscribers 2021| Statista

As of December 2021, HBO had an estimated 47 million domestic subscribers, including subscribers to HBO Max.

www.statista.com

Disney+ -
United States-42.9 million
Global-129 million

Global number of Disney+ subscribers 2025| Statista

How many subscribers does Disney Plus have? In Q2 2024, the number of Disney+ subscribers stood at around 153.6 million.

www.statista.com

Disney Plus Ends 2021 With Nearly 130 Million Subscribers, Smashing Growth Forecasts

At the end of 2021, Disney Plus had 129.8 million paying customers worldwide, gaining 11.8 million for the quarter ended Jan. 1, 2022.

variety.com

 

[NashGuy]

In the United States maybe, the problem is they include all of regular HBO in with the numbers, not every HBO subscriber gets MAX ( they can and should), Disney has a big lead globally.

As of 4th quarter, 2021-

HBO/MAX
United States-47 million
Global-73.8 million


Disney+ -
United States-42.9 million
Global-129 million

Silly to say that HBO subs who don't use the included Max app shouldn't be included in the total count. They pay the same $15/mo. Doesn't matter if they're only availing themselves of a certain portion of the overall Max content (i.e. the HBO hub) -- no one who subscribes to any service watches *everything* it offers.

Yes, Disney+ has a big lead in the global subscriber race. But two caveats there. First, HBO Max is still only part-way through their global expansion (and may have to wait a few more years to show up in various key markets like Canada, UK, Germany, etc., where HBO content remains tied up in long-term output deals with other groups like Crave, Sky, etc.). But the service still has additional European markets to launch this year.

Second, Disney+ sells for less around the world than does HBO Max. Here in the US, D+ (ad-free) costs $8 vs. HBO Max at $15, nearly twice as much. (A cheaper ad-supported version of D+ will launch later this year. My guess it will cost $5-6/mo versus HBO Max's $10/mo price.) And in India, where the service is called Disney+ Hotstar, it sells for super-cheap. Plans start at US $0.69 per month (with ads, 720p, 1 mobile device) and top out at $19.63 per year (ad-free, 4K, 4 devices including TVs). Meanwhile, Warner has yet to launch a streaming product in the huge Indian market.

So comparing the number of global D+ vs. Max subs is a little like comparing global sales of, IDK, Hyundai vs. BMW.

 

[NashGuy]

Not surprised by this:

HBO Max Overtakes Disney+ To Become The Third Largest Streaming Platform In The US.

Competition between the streaming services continues to get more fierce, with studios spending billions on creating new content for their streaming platforms, in addition to many spending billions on acquisitions. Some ...

whatsondisneyplus.com

This doesn't surprise me either. But once Disney combines Hulu into Disney+ within the next couple years, they'll probably move back ahead of Max.

 

[Bruce]

Just noticed that The Batman is going up for sell on Vudu/itunes/etc the same day (4/18) it will be on HBOMAX, I believe this is something they should not do, if the goal is to attract new subs to MAX with these 45 days later premieres, they should keep it a exclusive for a month.

 

[SamCdbs]

And after less than a month, CNN+ will be shut down.

All 17 subscribers will get refunds.

 

[klang]

No idea what CNN was thinking.

 

[Juan]

And after less than a month, CNN+ will be shut down.

All 17 subscribers will get refunds.

Actually I heard they had to return their sign up bonus

 

[MikeD-C05]

No idea what CNN was thinking.

They were thinking of staying with the current trend to add a PLUS to your app. Which was a stupid idea ,when you consider their ratings aren't that great for viewers for the cable channel version.

Pandora now Pandora Plus
Discovery now Discovery Plus
Cbs All Access then Paramount and now Paramount Plus

 

[klang]

They were thinking of staying with the current trend to add a PLUS to your app. Which was a stupid idea ,when you consider their ratings aren't that great for viewers for the cable channel version.

Pandora now Pandora Plus
Discovery now Discovery Plus
Cbs All Access then Paramount and now Paramount Plus

My confusion was their thinking many would want to pay extra for it while the regular channel is mostly free.

 

[Juan]

My confusion was their thinking many would want to pay extra for it while the regular channel is mostly free.

You do have to subscribe to cable

 

[klang]

You do have to subscribe to cable

I'm guessing that most that don't have access probably don't want it.

 

[ncted]

You do have to subscribe to cable

Or wait a little while to watch clips on YouTube. Or better yet, watch live news from a variety of sources for free on YouTube.

 

[lakebum431]

Can't blame the new owners for shutting CNN+ down if the numbers are accurate (10k daily users and spending of more than $400m). Better to cut it now, then wait a year and spend more money.

 

[ncted]

The fact that a lot of CNN's most popular content wasn't on the channel due to exclusivity agreements with cable/satellite/live streaming providers, I don't know how they ever thought it would be successful.

 

[NashGuy]

The fact that a lot of CNN's most popular content wasn't on the channel due to exclusivity agreements with cable/satellite/live streaming providers, I don't know how they ever thought it would be successful.

Yeah, the whole concept was misguided. They could at least have included the previous night's primetime shows on-demand in CNN+ without running afoul of their MVPD agreements for CNN. MSNBC is now doing that on Peacock and Fox News does it on Fox Nation.

But CNN+ wasn't designed to draw in cord-cutters. It was clearly designed to appeal to CNN super-fans, who already watched CNN on cable and yet were willing to spend a few bucks more per month for MOAR CNN. What kind of flawed market testing did they do to lead them to think that this was a viable business proposition? I don't think they would ever have found enough folks willing to pay $3-6 per month for CNN+ to make it profitable (at least as long as CNN+ remained ad-free).

 

[Bruce]

Paramount+ is a little boy trying to play against the big boys.

To continue on with this, Paramount+ just added another 6.8 subscribers in the first quarter and just upped their sub number projections from 65-75 million to now 100 million by the end of 2024.

Also this-

Paramount+ is to launch in the UK and South Korea next month and will be in India next year.

Launches in Italy, Germany, France and Austria will follow in the second half of this year.

Paramount+ Sets UK Launch Date, Reveals India 2023 Plans

Paramount+ is to launch in the UK and South Korea next month and will be in India next year, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has revealed.

deadline.com

Paramount+ Adds Strong 6.8 Million Subs In Q1, But Higher Streaming Costs Squeezes Profits At Parent

Paramount+ added 6.8 million subscribers last quarter to hit 40 million.

deadline.com

 

[ncted]

To continue on with this, Paramount+ just added another 6.8 subscribers in the first quarter and just upped their sub number projections from 65-75 million to now 100 million by the end of 2024.

Also this-

Paramount+ is to launch in the UK and South Korea next month and will be in India next year.

Launches in Italy, Germany, France and Austria will follow in the second half of this year.

Paramount+ Sets UK Launch Date, Reveals India 2023 Plans

Paramount+ is to launch in the UK and South Korea next month and will be in India next year, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has revealed.

deadline.com

Paramount+ Adds Strong 6.8 Million Subs In Q1, But Higher Streaming Costs Squeezes Profits At Parent

Paramount+ added 6.8 million subscribers last quarter to hit 40 million.

deadline.com

Yeah, I can see Paramount+ easily making it on their own, but I could also see them sucking up little Peacock if the conditions are right.

 

[KAB]

Yeah, I can see Paramount+ easily making it on their own, but I could also see them sucking up little Peacock if the conditions are right.

Even with the increase of Subs, the company as a whole is just treading water.

 

[Juan]

Yeah, I can see Paramount+ easily making it on their own, but I could also see them sucking up little Peacock if the conditions are right.

Don't think so