When HBO Max launches on March 26, NOW Entertainment subscribers are getting something nobody expected \u2013 Warner Bros. films included in the app, at no extra cost.<\/p>\n
HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s streaming service, is finally launching in the UK later this month. NOW Entertainment subscribers are getting it bundled into their existing membership \u2013 but until today, the assumption was that this would cover TV shows only, with films remaining the territory of the separate NOW Cinema membership.<\/p>\n
We can now reveal that NOW Entertainment & HBO Max members will have access to a selection of Warner Bros. films directly within the NOW app, as part of their existing membership.<\/p>\n
This covers the same back catalogue films included in HBO Max\u2019s own Basic with Ads tier \u2013 older releases and classic titles from the Warner Bros. library.<\/p>\n
(Photo: Deposit Photos) <\/p>\n
To be clear about what \u201ca selection\u201d means: these are Warner Bros. back catalogue titles, not the newest theatrical releases. The most recent blockbusters will only be available on HBO Max\u2019s Standard with Ads tier or above when subscribing directly, or through NOW Cinema for NOW subscribers.<\/p>\n
But the broader Warner Bros. film library? That\u2019s now included with NOW Entertainment & HBO Max.<\/p>\n
What Do You Get With HBO Max? <\/p>\n
HBO Max is Warner Bros. Discovery\u2019s streaming service, launching in the UK on March 26. It brings together HBO\u2019s complete prestige drama back catalogue \u2013 Game of Thrones, Succession, The Sopranos, The Wire \u2013 alongside newer productions like the Emmy-winning The Pitt, Warner Bros. films, and TNT Sports, all in one app.<\/p>\n
The Pitt <\/p>\n
Direct subscriptions are available at four tiers:<\/p>\n
Basic with Ads \u2013 \u00a34.99\/month: Two devices, Full HD (1080p). HBO shows and Warner Bros. back catalogue films included, but not the newest theatrical releases. No offline downloads. Standard with Ads \u2013 \u00a35.99\/month: Two devices, Full HD, 30 downloads. Adds those newest theatrical releases. Standard \u2013 \u00a39.99\/month: Same as above but ad-free. Premium \u2013 \u00a314.99\/month: Four devices, 4K Ultra HD, Dolby Atmos, 100 downloads, ad-free. <\/p>\n
TNT Sports is available as a separate add-on at \u00a330.99\/month.<\/p>\n
Pre-registration (to install the app) is open now on the App Store and Google Play ahead of the March 26 launch.<\/p>\n
Most Sky TV customers \u2013 on Sky Stream, Sky Glass, and Sky Q with Sky Ultimate TV \u2013 are getting HBO Max Basic with Ads bundled into their existing subscription at no extra cost, with a full standalone HBO Max account included. We covered the full Sky and NOW picture in detail here.<\/a><\/p>\n NOW Entertainment subscribers are getting HBO Max too \u2013 but the implementation works differently.<\/p>\n What NOW Subscribers Are Getting From HBO Max <\/p>\n From March 26, all existing NOW Entertainment members will automatically be upgraded to NOW Entertainment & HBO Max at no extra cost \u2013 so the change is seamless.<\/p>\n HBO Max shows AND Warner Bros. films will simply appear in the NOW app alongside Sky\u2019s existing content \u2013 yes, even if you\u2019re not subscribed to NOW Cinema.<\/p>\n Sky confirmed this to us directly \u2013 and it\u2019s a meaningful change from what was previously understood about the NOW implementation.<\/p>\n However, remember that the HBO Max content inside the NOW app streams in 720p without a Boost upgrade. That\u2019s lower than the Full HD 1080p you\u2019d get subscribing directly to HBO Max at \u00a34.99\/month.<\/p>\n Adding Boost (\u00a36\/month) brings everything up to Full HD and removes on-demand adverts, while Ultra Boost (\u00a39\/month) gets you 4K and Dolby Atmos. Without any Boost, you\u2019re also limited to one simultaneous stream.<\/p>\n Also, there\u2019s another option that many people won\u2019t be aware of \u2013 and it\u2019s worth knowing about.<\/p>\n The Standalone HBO Max App Option <\/p>\n NOW subscribers aren\u2019t limited to watching HBO Max content through the NOW app.<\/p>\n As we revealed earlier this week<\/a>, \u201cNOW Entertainment & HBO Max\u201d members (including EE TV customers with a NOW Entertainment membership) \u2013 will be able to activate a fully standalone HBO Max account, giving them direct access to the HBO Max app.<\/p>\n What does that mean in practice? Rather than watching HBO Max content through NOW\u2019s interface, you\u2019d have your own HBO Max account \u2013 one you can use on any device that supports the HBO Max app, logging in with your own credentials, just as you would if you\u2019d subscribed directly.<\/p>\n To activate it, you\u2019ll need to contact NOW via live chat, after which you\u2019ll receive a unique activation link. It\u2019s not automatic, and it takes a bit of effort \u2013 but for many people it\u2019ll be worth it.<\/p>\n The standalone HBO Max app streams in Full HD 1080p as standard, with no Boost required, and gives you two simultaneous streams on the Basic with Ads tier.<\/p>\n The Warner Bros. back catalogue films are included here too \u2013 the same selection that\u2019s now confirmed to be in the NOW app as well.<\/p>\n The main trade-offs: you can\u2019t upgrade your HBO Max plan within the app if you\u2019re accessing it through a NOW subscription, and your watchlist and continue watching lists won\u2019t sync between the NOW app and the HBO Max app.<\/p>\n But for anyone who doesn\u2019t want to pay for Boost just to get a decent picture on HBO content, the standalone app is a very useful option<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The same applies to Prime Video Channels subscribers \u2013 they\u2019ll also be able to activate a standalone HBO Max account and use the HBO Max app directly, on top of watching through Prime Video as normal.<\/p>\n The NOW Deals Right Now \u2013 And Where Cinema Fits In <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Photo: Deposit Photos \/ ChetRoni <\/p>\n