HBO Gets Dune And The Penguin Series, Max Losing Prestige Streaming Status?
There has been much talk in the last couple years about the bubble perhaps being on the verge of bursting for streaming platforms. With more streaming options than ever, slowing numbers of sign ups, and rising prices, many feel streaming platforms are facing an imminent collapse. It seems that HBO might also be sensing this, as they have recently adjusted some of their upcoming original programming from being exclusive to Max to now being featured on the HBO channel as well.
This change began last month when numerous shows that were supposed to be exclusive to Max—Harry Potter, Lanterns, and Welcome to Derry—all got shifted over to being rescheduled as HBO originals. Now HBO is taking that a step further by taking The Penguin and Dune: Prophecy away from being Max exclusives as well.
No Longer Streaming Exclusive
To be clear, none of the mentioned shows are being removed from their streaming debuts for Max; they will merely no longer have exclusivity to Max. They will now premiere on the HBO channel as well as on Max. However, that does call into question whether this is a move to strengthen the HBO channel or if faith is being lost in Max as a long-term option.
Streaming Exclusives Have Been More Miss Than Hit
HBO was one of the networks that first helped establish the idea of prestige television, but as more people have shifted to cutting the cord on cable, it has prompted a lot of companies to get into putting their content on streaming services like Max. Disney+ still uses its platform as the exclusive way to see all of the Star Wars and Marvel TV shows that they have created.
Max Content Is Dwindling
The ease of use of streaming platforms has come under fire more and more as Netflix has lost its monopoly in that area. It used to be customers could simply use Netflix as their one stop hub for shows and movies from all different companies. However, as companies like HBO have created services like Max, they have taken back their content and left each streaming platform with far less for customers to access.
HBO Could Benefit From Airing Streaming Series
Many customers have complained about the necessity to have to subscribe to three or four streaming services just to watch everything that interests them. A lot of people are questioning how the current environment is any better than what cable currently offers.
Perhaps these recent adjustments from HBO are in reaction to that feedback and they are feeling like their channel actually has more value than Max right now.
The Black Widow Precedent
There is potential that the teams attached to the shows have also weighed in about where they want the show to be featured. A few years ago, Scarlett Johansson got into a legal battle with Disney over a guarantee she had that the Black Widow movie would have a period of exclusivity in theaters but then Disney put it on Disney+ for streaming at the same time.
Having violated their agreement, Johansson successfully sued Disney. The minds behind the shows that HBO has moved from exclusively being on Max might have had similar preferences.
Regardless, with Max now losing exclusivity for so many of the big-name shows it had coming out, it will be curious to see what use HBO sees in Max for the long haul.
