Warner Bros. Discovery has announced a significant shift in its streaming strategy for Max, its flagship platform. The company will no longer pursue plans to introduce a separate sports tier that would have required subscribers to pay an additional fee. Instead, live sports and news content will be integrated into the existing Standard and Premium subscription tiers at no extra cost.
This decision comes after the initial announcement in September 2023 of the B/R Sports Add-On, which was slated to launch as a $9.99 per month premium offering in March 2024. However, due to technical challenges and evolving market dynamics, the company has opted to include this content within its current subscription models. JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, stated, “Over the last year plus, we had the opportunity to assess how users engage with sports and news on Max. We believe that the best place for that content for now is within the Standard and Premium tiers.”
While this move benefits subscribers of the Standard ($16.99/month) and Premium ($20.99/month) plans, those on the Basic with Ads tier ($9.99/month) will experience changes. Effective March 30, 2025, the Basic tier will no longer include access to live sports and news content, including CNN Max and Bleacher Report Sports. Subscribers wishing to continue accessing this content will need to upgrade to one of the higher-tier plans.
This strategic adjustment aligns with broader industry trends, as streaming services increasingly bundle live sports and news to enhance value and attract subscribers. Competitors like Peacock and Netflix have also expanded their live sports offerings, prompting platforms like Max to reevaluate their content distribution models.
In addition to this development, Warner Bros. Discovery, along with Disney and Fox, recently decided to discontinue their planned joint venture, Venu Sports—a mid-priced streaming service intended to bundle major sports leagues for cord-cutters. The venture faced legal challenges and evolving market conditions, leading the companies to focus on their existing products and distribution channels.
As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, Warner Bros. Discovery’s integration of sports and news content into its existing Max tiers reflects a commitment to providing comprehensive entertainment options without additional costs to its subscribers.
Sources:
- Max’s ad-supported tier is losing CNN and the Bleacher Report
- Warner Bros Discovery’s Max to offer sports, news content at no extra cost for premium, standard users
- Max Says It’s Game Over for Sports Tier Add-On
- Warner Bros. Discovery Drops Plan for Max Sports Tier
- Max is keeping sports and news content free, but there’s a caveat
- Max cancels sports upcharge, but there’s bad news for basic plan
- Max ditches B/R Sports add-on, will include sports in Standard and Premium tiers
- Max reverses course, won’t charge extra for live sports and news
- Max (streaming service)
- Venu Sports
- Media companies scrap Venu Sports streaming service before it even started
- Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Scrap Venu Sports. Their Stocks Are Sliding.
- Sports-Streaming Bundle Spiked Before the Kickoff
- DirecTV Pursues Sports Fans With New, Slimmer Streaming Bundle
