Streaming is in trouble, Max slashing prices now

Yes, I expect 2024 will be a year of slim pickings for TV shows.

Interesting - I was just considering cancelling Max after the first of the year. For whatever their issues, Hulu and to a certain extent Netflix - seems to try; their content is a mixed bag, but they're putting new stuff out there. Max is now larded with a bunch of reality TV/cooking/home improvement (and those awful Magnolia people) crap. Very disappointing.

This feels like desperation. The Discovery merger has hurt the HBO brand because now the app is polluted with stupid reality shows instead of the prestige TV HBO is known for. But HBO hasn't had a zeitgeist-capturing show in a while (i.e., "The Last of Us"); with the strikes, this will probably continue into the next year.

I'll never understand why Discovery chose to ruin a marquee name like HBO.

Because the intention was to sell it.

Remember Who Framed Roger Rabbit? “I bought the Red Car so I could dismantle it?”

Same sitch.

OP, it’s Black Friday. They always give deals.

^Possibly, but I think it's still a recognition that they've got nothing. At this point, I don't even expect any prestige HBO-style TV - I'd just like another season of Stanley Tucci starring in "Italy in Tight Pants"

True Detective will be on in January.

[quote]This feels like desperation.

If it is, it's the same desperation on display at other streaming services every holiday season –- I've subscribed to Hulu, Disney+, Paramount+ and Apple in past years around the holidays, for varying lengths of time at under $2/month.

I agree with the commenter on the article at OP's link: ad-supported offering should be free. And here's the thing: I'm about to subscribe to MAX to watch [italic]The Gilded Age[/italic] (when the entire season is available to binge) but will probably pay the $20/month offering because I want it in high def with good sound; but I will not watch ads on a channel to which I've paid any subscription fee. And then I'll cancel the subscription because MAX has little else of interest (although Hubby says there's a movie he wants to watch while we have it).

The amount of streamers has created so much Churn that it’s rendered the whole house of cards about to fall.

I think we will see a major consolidation within the next year - originally I had thought Netflix would be bought by Apple but now I think Apple may buy HBO á la carte from WBD (I expect Warner Bros. Studio to be sold to Comcast.)

I’m canceling everything and will start over if they offer great promotions.