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Between returning gems like Hacks, new shows like Conan O’Brien’s delightfully wacky travelogue Conan O’Brien Must Go, and international fare like Gomorrah (possibly my favorite TV show of all time), Max is a streamer I don’t think I could ever part with. And with Netflix caught in a vortex of mediocrity these days, what an opportune time for Max to be part of what could amount to one of the staunchest Netflix rivals to date.
A new triple-play streaming bundle combining Disney+, Max, and Hulu is coming later this summer, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery announced today — a package that will be available for purchase from any of those platforms’ individual websites, and in both ad-free and ad-supported versions.
“On the heels of the very successful launch of Hulu on Disney+, this new bundle with Max will offer subscribers even more choice and value,” Disney Entertainment’s Joe Earley said in a news release. “This incredible new partnership puts subscribers first, giving them access to blockbuster films, originals, and three massive libraries featuring the very best brands and entertainment in streaming today.”
The bundle will make content from all of the following entertainment brands, for the first time, available in one place: ABC, CNN, DC, Discovery, Disney, Food Network, FX, HBO, HGTV, Hulu, Marvel, Pixar, Searchlight, and Warner Bros.
Honestly, it makes a lot of sense to do this, given that ordinary consumers probably have room in their budgets for, say, three or four streamers at most. Netflix is always thought to be #1, and until this announcement I’d have picked probably Max to be everyone’s #2. Collapsing all of those into one offering will certainly be an attractive proposition to many consumers — though, of course, the devil is in the details and it will matter where the decision-makers land when it comes to pricing.
