Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming app, Max, is set to bring live sports to its platform.
Starting from October 5th, Max will introduce a new tier that will simulcast live sports events already available on the company’s traditional TV networks TNT and TBS. This tier will launch just in time for Major League Baseball’s postseason, which airs on TBS.
The new membership, called “Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports Add-On,” will also include NHL, NBA, NCAA March Madness, and U.S soccer games. For a limited time, Max subscribers will have free access until February 29th. After that, it will cost an additional $9.99 per month.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s move to add sports to Max is an attempt to attract a younger audience that has been moving away from traditional pay-TV bundles, as previously reported by CNBC.
Media companies are exploring various strategies to make their streaming services more appealing and profitable.
In the first half of the year, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming segment was profitable, and the company expects this trend to continue throughout the year.
Max has undergone several changes in the past year and has been enhancing its content offerings for the fall.
In May, the streaming platform was rebranded as Max after the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, combining the content of HBO Max and Discovery+ apps.
The company also struck a deal with AMC Networks to feature over 200 episodes of recent shows from the cable-TV network for two months, starting this month and lasting through Halloween.
Sports and news have been highly anticipated additions to the Max app. During the company’s earnings call this summer, CEO David Zaslav confirmed that these changes would happen soon.
On September 27th, the app will also introduce CNN Max, a 24/7 live news hub featuring content from the network’s top anchors.
The price of Max was increased earlier this year, but no further price hikes have been implemented since. The ad-free tier of Max currently costs $15.99 per month, while a cheaper option with commercials is available at $9.99 per month. Company executives have indicated the possibility of raising prices again in the future.
In addition to MLB’s postseason, the Max sports tier will feature 60 live NHL regular season games, 65 NBA regular season matchups, and postseason games for both leagues. It will also offer live video and other content from Bleacher Report.
