Warner Bros Discovery Abandons Plan To Merge HBO Max With Discovery+ – Report

deadline.com:

In a change of strategy, Warner Bros Discovery has ditched plans to merge streaming services HBO Max and Discovery+, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In a report this morning citing unidentified insiders, the news outlet said the decision came after research suggested Discovery+ subscribers could balk at paying a higher price.

A WBD rep did not immediately respond to Deadline’s request for comment. HBO Max costs $16 a month, or $10 with ads, compared with $7 and $5 for the respective equivalents of Discovery+.

Over the past several months, WBD execs have talked of combining the two into a single offering. HBO Max has been featuring Discovery titles more prominently on its home page, even though the ultimate fit between prestige HBO fare and Discovery mainstays like 90-Day Fiancé has been questioned both inside and outside of the company.