Netflix has signaled it will keep HBO Max as its own service. Until the acquisition is completed — which could take more than a year, consumers will continue to pay one subscription fee to Netflix and
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/will-netflix-hbo-max-streaming-services-be-combined-1236601322/Open linkView original on piefed.social114
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When it is completed, consumers will pay one subscription fee to Netflix that is more expensive than Netflix and HBO Max combined.
Just cancel arrr 🏴☠️
This is true? Apologies, but I’m sick with influenza and a chest infection at the moment, so my cognitive function is masked by medications lol.
I thinks it’s probably plausible conjecture at this point
Sad that it’s gotten to this point.
Nah they've got too much competition in Apple TV, Amazon, Hulu and Disney+ OP's being a doomer.
I hope so. I’m getting too old for this, haha.
Theyll more likely add hbo as an addon, have it free for the first month, youll see a popup saying to opt in, most ppl will see free and do it, either forgetting to cancel the addon or not knowing they have to
Man, $25 for Netflix right now is just low enough to be fine with it. They bump it to closer to 50 or higher, I'm out. Netflix is the only subscription I've had since it started just cause it has had enough content to entertain the family.
And the combined service won't be worth either of the fees individually.
I guess this the beginning of the end of the streaming wars. It was fun while it lasted.
Soon all the cutting edge series’ will be replaced by the low effort high “engagement” slop that Netflix produces.
Well you say that but HBO haven't exactly been firing on all cylinders lately on their own back.
Well, yeah…they couldn’t afford to, because of all the other consolidations that came before this one: other “losses” in the streaming wars have been Fox, MGM, Discovery, etc
…but I think that losing HBO, who did at one time really push the others to up their game to compete with Game of Thrones etc, really bookmarks a place in time where the quality is going to drop off a cliff. Netflix hasn’t made an interesting series since early when Stranger Things/Narcos/Ozark were fighting in the streaming wars. They’re going to be even more motivated to produce easy clickbait slop going forward because it’s pretty much just Amazon as competition now - since Disney and Paramount mostly put out “niche” stuff.
Like…what the hell is that new Game of Thrones comedy thing they teased right before this happened? That has to have been produced to be Netflix-friendly.
Apple TV currently for more 'high-tier' content.
Forgot about Apple, sorry. I always comment off the top of my head because I’m lazy. I even just watched the new Pluribus ep.
it's duncan & egg, the tale of a hedge knight, a series of side stories from westeros GRR Martin wrote. Actually pretty fun story, and looks like they're doing it justice.
netflix is already mostly slop, if you considered thier soon cancelled shows.
Totally agree. I meant they’d turn HBO into slop as well. They just wanted them for their back catalogue
they want thier subscriber base most of all.
Antitrust? That's woke! Let Enshittification commence.
Thankfully the streaming wars gave us a nice back catalog of material, and of course everything from before that and everything from elsewhere on the globe. Don't hit & run, remember to seed.
And if all that isn't enough, there's still books.
The enshittification begins (continues?)
I think begins.
This signals the “streaming wars” are beginning to wrap up. Soon everybody will buy each other out and we’re either going to be served Disney slop or Netflix Slop.
We’re down to what: Netflix, Disney, Paramount, Apple, Amazon?
Don't forget DropOut and Nebula and Tubi. And a bunch of Anime ones, I think?
Tubi is Fox…But I’m talking about major players tho. There’s lots of others like the BBC group of channels etc
Pluto and Roku are pretty big too
Neither Pluto nor Roku make shows that I’m aware of…they’re just mediums (that will be gone, soon enough). If they do make shows…they’re not competing in the streaming wars.
Roku has originals and it is worth 10 Billion, I just found out that Pluto got bought by Paramount recently
cool i can keep getting it for free for another year since they still think i'm being billed through youtubetv, which i haven't had for like 3 years.
Sounds like a nice hole. May it loop forever!
One year on: “hey, this is actually great! Wait, come back.”
I swear capitalism is the dumbest thing ever.