Max Reverses Course, Won’t Charge Extra for Live Sports and News

In a surprise move, Max has decided not to charge an extra $10 monthly fee for live sports and news content, as was previously announced. According to a statement from Warner Bros. Discovery, the plan to charge extra for this content has been shelved, and instead, the content will be removed from the ad-supported tier starting next month.

Background

In 2023, Max announced that its Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports Add-On tier would only be free until February 2024, after which it would become a $10 add-on for all tiers. However, the deadline passed without any news of the extra fees being implemented. It wasn’t until last September that Bloomberg reported that the $10 fee was still in the works and could arrive as soon as that month.

Current Developments

Today’s news brings relief to paying subscribers, as they will continue to have access to live sports and news content without any additional charges. However, ad-supported members will lose access to B/R Sports and CNN Max, the news network’s streaming service, on March 30. Those who want to retain access to sports and news can visit the Max Help Center for more information.

Impact

B/R Sports streams over 1,700 live games and events annually across various leagues, including the NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, and NASCAR. CNN Max is Warner CEO David Zaslav’s latest attempt to turn a CNN streaming service into a revenue stream, which is much needed for the debt-ridden company. This month alone, the company made sweeping cuts to its games division and began offering some of its movies on YouTube.

Future Uncertainty

Although Max subscribers will welcome today’s announcement, there’s reason to question whether the free integration will be permanent. In its press release, Max only said it won’t pursue the extra fee "for now," leaving room for potential changes in the future.

Consider checking out the Max streaming service, which offers a range of content, including live sports and news. Visit Max to learn more.