HBO Max Launches 24/7 Channels for Friends & Game of Thrones
â–¼ Summary
– HBO Max is launching a new feature of curated channels, allowing users to watch continuous feeds of specific series or genres with standard playback controls.
– The launch includes 12 themed channels dedicated to genres like adult animation and franchises such as Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
– Netflix recently announced an $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros., which includes HBO and HBO Max.
– Paramount subsequently made a hostile $108 billion takeover bid for all of Warner Bros. Discovery, which the company says it will review.
– These new curated channels are available to all adult-profile users on the homepage, expanding on always-on linear channels introduced last year.
HBO Max is introducing a new way for viewers to experience its vast library with the launch of curated, 24/7 streaming channels. This feature allows subscribers to instantly dive into a continuous, scheduled feed of popular shows, functioning much like traditional television but with the added control of a streaming platform. When you select a channel, the service starts you at the beginning of whatever is currently playing, while still offering the flexibility to rewind, fast-forward, or skip directly to the next episode in the lineup.
The initial rollout includes twelve distinct channels. Several are dedicated to specific genres, such as adult animation, true crime, and holiday specials. Others are entirely franchise-focused, providing non-stop content from major properties. At launch, viewers can tune into dedicated feeds for Friends, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Rick and Morty, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and the DC Universe.
This move follows a period of significant corporate maneuvering in the streaming and entertainment sector. Last week, Netflix revealed a massive $83 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros., which includes the HBO and HBO Max brands. That announcement was quickly followed by a hostile $108 billion takeover bid from Paramount, aimed at purchasing the entirety of Warner Bros. Discovery. Company leadership has stated it will “carefully review and consider” the unexpected offer from Paramount.
The concept of curated channels on HBO Max has been in development for some time. The platform first experimented with the format last year by launching always-on channels that mirrored the live programming on its linear HBO cable networks. These new, themed channels are now available to all users on adult profiles, accessible directly from a dedicated “channels” section on the service’s homepage.
(Source: The Verge)
