Warner Bros. Discovery CEO Confirms Upcoming HBO Max Price Increase

📅 Published: 9/11/2025
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:30:46 PM
📊 15 updates
⏱️ 9 min read
📱 This article updates automatically every 10 minutes with breaking developments

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has confirmed that an **HBO Max price increase is forthcoming**, describing the streaming service as "way underpriced" and signaling plans to raise subscription fees gradually over time. This announcement came during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 10, 2025, where Zaslav emphasized the company's confidence in the quality and breadth of HBO Max's content as justification for higher prices[1][3][4].

The price adjustment is seen as a strategic move rather than...

The price adjustment is seen as a strategic move rather than an immediate change, with Zaslav indicating that the company intends to implement increases carefully to avoid shocking subscribers or triggering significant cancellations. Instead, the hikes will be timed around major content releases or platform enhancements, ensuring that the value proposition remains strong for users[3].

Currently, HBO Max offers several pricing tiers, including a...

Currently, HBO Max offers several pricing tiers, including a $9.99 monthly ad-supported plan and a $16.99 ad-free tier. Existing subscribers have already been notified of a **$1 increase to $15.99 per month** for the ad-free plan, effective for new subscribers immediately and for current users starting in February 2026. This is the first price increase since HBO Max's launch in May 2020. Warner Bros. Discovery stated that the modest increase will help fund **investment in more culture-defining programming and improve the overall customer experience**[2].

Zaslav also highlighted the platform's expanding internation...

Zaslav also highlighted the platform's expanding international presence, with recent launches in Australia and plans to enter European markets in 2026, which are expected to support further monetization efforts. The CEO’s comments come after a complex period for the service, including a rebranding from HBO Max to Max in 2023 and then back to HBO Max in mid-2025, a move that incurred significant marketing costs but aimed to strengthen brand clarity[4].

In addition to price hikes, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to...

In addition to price hikes, Warner Bros. Discovery plans to intensify efforts to crack down on password sharing, further enhancing revenue potential from existing subscribers[1].

Overall, the upcoming HBO Max price increase reflects Warner...

Overall, the upcoming HBO Max price increase reflects Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategy to align subscription costs more closely with the platform’s premium content offerings and competitive streaming market dynamics, while aiming to maintain subscriber satisfaction through gradual and well-communicated changes[1][3][4].

🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:10:16 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference on September 10, 2025, that HBO Max is "way underpriced" and signaled upcoming price increases, highlighting "real opportunity" for hikes due to the platform's quality content and expanding international presence[1][2][4]. Current pricing stands at $9.99/month for the ad-supported tier and $16.99/month for the ad-free plan, but no exact date for the increase has been provided; Zaslav emphasized the company will raise prices gradually to avoid subscriber shock[2][3][4]. Additionally, a crackdown on password sharing is planned as part of efforts to improve streaming economics[4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:20:23 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference that HBO Max, currently priced at $9.99 for the ad-supported tier and $16.99 for the ad-free option, will see **gradual price increases** due to the service being "way underpriced" considering its "quality" content slate[1][2][4]. Industry experts interpret this move as Warner Bros. Discovery leveraging premium shows like *Succession* and a growing international footprint to boost profitability without shocking subscribers with sudden hikes[2][3]. Zaslav also highlighted upcoming stricter enforcement on password sharing as part of maximizing revenue per user[4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:30:32 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed that HBO Max, currently priced at $16.99 for its standard ad-free plan and $20.99 for its premium 4K ad-free plan, is "way underpriced," signaling imminent price increases to boost profitability amid growing user engagement and international expansion[2][3]. He emphasized the platform's strong content lineup and expanding markets, including Australia and Europe in 2026, as key factors justifying these hikes[2]. Additionally, Zaslav indicated that the price increase strategy will be gradual and coupled with a crackdown on password sharing to enhance revenue per user[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:40:30 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's confirmation of an upcoming HBO Max price increase has sparked mixed reactions among consumers. Many subscribers, already paying $9.99 for the ad-supported plan and $16.99 for the ad-free tier, expressed frustration over the potential hike, fearing rising costs amid an increasingly crowded streaming market. Some users took to social media warning others about the imminent price rise and stricter password-sharing crackdowns, while others acknowledged the platform's high-quality content but remain concerned about affordability[1][3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:50:38 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed that HBO Max is "way underpriced" and indicated upcoming price increases, citing "real opportunity" to raise prices as user engagement grows. Following his remarks at the Goldman Sachs conference, Warner Bros. Discovery’s stock experienced a decline of over 1% in midday trading, reflecting investor caution amid the anticipated shift in streaming revenue strategy[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:00:40 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav has confirmed HBO Max is "way underpriced" and signaled upcoming price increases amid intensifying competition in the streaming market. Currently, HBO Max's ad-free plan costs $16.99 per month, slightly below Netflix’s $18 standard ad-free plan, but Zaslav indicated "real opportunity" exists to raise prices as user engagement grows and the platform expands internationally, including to Europe in 2026[2][3]. This price adjustment reflects a strategic move to capitalize on HBO Max's premium content and strengthen profitability alongside a crackdown on password sharing.
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:10:39 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s confirmation of an upcoming HBO Max price increase led to a notable market reaction, with WBD shares dropping 4.80% to $12.20 on the latest trading day before the announcement[2]. Zaslav described HBO Max as “way underpriced” and signaled a future price hike as part of the company’s strategy to enhance profitability, citing the platform’s premium content and expanding international presence[3][4]. Despite recent analyst optimism and upgrades, investors appear cautious, reacting negatively in the short term to the prospect of higher subscription costs[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:20:44 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed that HBO Max, currently priced at $9.99 for the ad-supported tier and $16.99 to $20.99 for ad-free options, is "way underpriced" and poised for price increases "over time" due to its strong content quality and expanding international reach, including launches in Australia and planned European expansion in 2026[1][2]. Zaslav also highlighted plans to intensify password-sharing crackdowns by the end of 2025, aiming to increase revenue per user as part of a broader streaming profitability strategy amid fierce market competition[3]. These moves indicate a strategic shift to monetize HBO Max more aggressively while leveraging its premium content lineup such as
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:30:42 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed that HBO Max will soon raise its subscription prices, stating the service is currently "way underpriced" given its premium content lineup. Presently, HBO Max plans cost $9.99 for the Basic with Ads tier, $16.99 for Standard ad-free, and $20.99 for Premium; Zaslav indicated these rates will increase but did not specify new prices or timing. Additionally, the company plans to intensify enforcement against password sharing to boost revenue amid rising production and licensing costs[1][2][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:40:44 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's confirmation of an upcoming HBO Max price increase has sparked mixed reactions among consumers. Some subscribers expressed frustration over rising costs, especially since the current Basic with Ads plan is $9.99, Standard ad-free is $16.99, and Premium is $20.99, with expectations that these rates will climb further[1][4]. Others acknowledge the service's high-quality content but worry about affordability and password-sharing crackdowns limiting access, reflecting broader concerns about streaming service price hikes in a competitive market[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:50:45 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed upcoming price increases for HBO Max, calling the service "way underpriced" compared to competitors like Netflix, whose standard ad-free plan costs $18 monthly versus HBO Max's current $16.99[2][3][4]. This move comes amid a competitive streaming landscape with giants like Netflix and Disney+, as Warner Bros. Discovery seeks to boost profitability while expanding internationally, including planned European launches in 2026[1][2]. Zaslav also highlighted forthcoming measures to curb password sharing to protect subscriber revenue amid this market pressure[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:00:44 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s confirmation of an upcoming HBO Max price increase has led to a notable market reaction, with WBD shares dropping 4.8% to $12.20 following the announcement[4]. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, with Barrington Research recently upgrading WBD from Market Perform to Outperform and setting an $18 price target, reflecting confidence in the company’s content and profitability outlook despite short-term stock volatility[4]. Zaslav emphasized HBO Max’s current pricing as “way underpriced,” suggesting further hikes driven by strong content and international growth opportunities[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:10:42 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed an upcoming price increase for HBO Max, currently priced at $9.99 for the ad-supported tier and $16.99 for the ad-free plan, stating the service is “way underpriced” relative to its premium content and competitor pricing[1][2]. The last increase in 2024 saw the ad-free plan rise by $1 to $17 and the premium 4K tier to $21, positioning HBO Max slightly lower than Netflix’s standard $18 ad-free plan[3]. This move, alongside planned crackdowns on password sharing and international expansion into Europe in 2026, aims to optimize revenue as the platform targets $1.3 billion in earnings this year
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:20:40 PM
There are currently no specific regulatory or government responses reported concerning Warner Bros. Discovery’s upcoming HBO Max price increase, as confirmed by CEO David Zaslav. While Zaslav announced plans to hike prices and crack down on password sharing at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology conference on September 10, 2025, no government agencies or regulators have publicly reacted or intervened in the planned price adjustments[1][2][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:30:46 PM
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed an upcoming price increase for HBO Max, describing the service as “way underpriced” given its premium content[1][3]. Following the announcement, Warner Bros. Discovery shares saw a notable market reaction, trading down 4.80% to $12.20, reflecting investor caution amid the price hike news[2]. Despite the dip, some analysts remain optimistic, with Barrington Research upgrading the stock to Outperform and setting an $18 price target based on strong subscriber growth and profitability prospects[2].
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