Max, the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service that debuted in the United States almost exactly a year ago, has launched in the Czech Republic from today, May 21. Current subscribers to the previous HBO Max platform will be automatically upgraded to the new Max service. New pricing for existing customers will take effect from the end of July.
The new Max platform launches with a highly-anticipated title: the sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two, just three months after its debut in Czech cinemas. A quick browse of the new platform reveals that not much has changed; additional documentary content from Discovery has been added, while some of the more obscure art films have been removed. Max will also broadcast sports events including the 2024 Paris Olympics, which kick off from Friday, July 26.
Warner Bros. hits like Barbie, Wonka, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom are currently streaming on Max. Additional Max programming viewers can look forward to include the second season of House of the Dragon, which premieres on June 18, and upcoming spinoffs from the Harry Potter franchise, DC comics (The Penguin) and The Big Bang Theory (Georgie & Mandy).
Max represents the merger of HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services. This merger is part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy following the 2022 merger of Warner Media and Discovery. Initially, the plan was to fully combine both platforms, but concerns about losing Discovery+ subscribers led to only a partial integration, with Discovery+ still operating as a standalone service (but not yet available in the Czech Republic).
The new Max platform in Czechia offers selected Discovery+ content including true crime series from Investigation Discovery, reality shows from TLC like 90 Day Fiancé, MILF Manor, and Dr. Pimple Popper, and popular Discovery series like Naked and Afraid, Ghost Adventures, and Deadliest Catch. Most of this content will be new to HBO Max subscribers in the Czech Republic.
In other markets, Discovery programs also include content from Animal Planet, HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, and CNN, which could make its way to Max for viewers in the Czech Republic in the future.
Additionally, Max now offers live sports from Eurosport, which is unique among local streaming options and will include major events like the upcoming Summer Olympics, tennis Grand Slams, the Grand Tour cycling races, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. Apart from the Olympics, the Eurosport content comes with an additional monthly fee.
Max subscribers can continue to look forward to content from HBO that was previously available through HBO Max (and HBO Go before it), including a library of DC comic book films and series, Cartoon Network shows, and Warner Bros. feature films including new hits that typically make their way to the streaming platform within a few months of hitting cinemas.
According to a press release from Max, the amount of content on the platform compared to the previous HBO Max has effectively doubled. In addition to launching in the Czech Republic, Max also launches in other markets in Central and Eastern European as well as Scandinavia from today. A launch in Poland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium is slated for later this year.
In addition to the expanded content, the new Max streaming service also comes with a price increase for Czech customers, split over two subscription plans. The standard plan runs CZK 219 per month for content in full HD, while a premium plan costs CZK 299 monthly and offers content in ultra HD (4K) resolution.
An annual subscription is also available at CZK 2190 for the standard plan and 2990 for the premium plan, saving the cost of two months per year. Access to live sports from Eurosport runs an additional CZK 70 per month, but the Summer Olympics will be available on both plans at no extra charge. A cheaper ad-supported plan, which is currently available in the United States, is not yet offered on the Czech market.
Existing HBO Max subscribers in the Czech Republic will retain their current subscription price for at least 60 days. From July 23, 2024, their subscription will convert to the Standard plan pricing. Subscribers with a promotional discount will continue to enjoy their savings under the Standard plan, but the discount does not apply to the Premium plan.
HBO Max subscribers will be automatically transitioned to the new Max platform. Login details, watch history, profiles, and other settings will carry over. However, offline content will need to be re-downloaded. The service is available on smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, set-top boxes, game consoles, and other platforms.
For more information about the Max in the Czech Republic, visit the streaming service’s official website.
2 Responses
Hello Mr.Pirodsky,
I am very disappointed to find that some films are not streamed in original language, example Nowhere in Africa, which is only in Czech. In old HBO Max and previous platforms, it was always possible to choose the language.This is very annoying for people who do not like czech dabbing. Is this going to be changed ?
Thank you.
Eva Velinger
Hi Eva,
There’s a major issue with the Czech localization of Max, and all foreign (non-English, non-Czech) content appears to only be available in dubbed versions and not their original language. I would expect this to be resolved in the near future. I’ve reached out to WarnerMedia but have yet to hear back.