TV News: Zaslav Says There’s ‘Real Opportunity’ to Raise HBO Max Prices

[playahaitian]

HBO Max is going to get a lot more expensive, CEO promises​

David Zaslav also said a password sharing crackdown is imminent.​

Ian Carlos CampbellContributing Reporter
Updated Wed, September 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM EDT
1 min read

41

REUTERS / Reuters
David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, plans to make HBO more expensive, and passwords a lot harder to share, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Zaslav shared his general outlook on the state of television at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, with the main theme being that HBO Max's content is good and Zaslav thinks he should be charging a lot more for it.

"The fact that this is quality — and that’s true across our company, motion picture, TV production and streaming quality — we all think that gives us a chance to raise prices," Zaslav said. "We think we’re way underpriced." ​

HBO Max most recently raised prices in 2024, back when it was temporarily called Max. As of right now you can get an entry-level Basic with Ads plan for $9.99 per month, while the ad-free Premium plan costs $20.99 per month. Zaslav clearly thinks he can get more, though.

Warner Bros. Discovery has been more open about its plans to address password-sharing. During an earnings call in August, the company said it wanted to close all loopholes for sharing passwords by the end of the year. While it's great that people continue to be drawn to HBO content, "it’s all tricky with the password sharing," Zaslav said. "We’re going to begin to push on that."

Price hikes and password sharing crackdowns have been thoroughly normalized by Netflix and other streamers. HBO Max following suit should be more than expected. Stating those plans so plainly doesn't improve the image of Zaslav as a Hollywood villain, but that's the least of his worries given the planned break-up of Warner Bros. Discovery.

David Zaslav Says There's 'Real Opportunity' to Raise HBO Max Prices

He also said HBO Max would begin a more aggressive push on its password sharing crackdown

www.thewrap.com

HBO Max is going to get a lot more expensive, CEO promises

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirms that prices are going up and HBO passwords will be harder to share.

www.engadget.com

 

[playahaitian]

@tallblacknyc
@ViCiouS
@TheFuser
@jawnswoop

 

[jawnswoop]

@tallblacknyc
@ViCiouS
@TheFuser
@jawnswoop

You already know what I'm about to do.

That doesn't matter to me.

 

[playahaitian]

 

[jawnswoop]

4ever

 

[jawnswoop]

He could raise the prices to the damn sky, I wouldn't give ah damn because I know how to get it for free or less.

 

[TheFuser]

He could raise the prices to the damn sky, I wouldn't give ah damn because I know how to get it for free or less.

This! Have at it, dickhead

 

[RUDY RAYYY MO]

He could raise the prices to the damn sky, I wouldn't give ah damn because I know how to get it for free or less.

Cinema HD?

 

[jawnswoop]

Cinema HD?

I don't talk about it on the main board.

 

[RUDY RAYYY MO]

I don't talk about it on the main board.

Software forum?

 

[jawnswoop]

Software forum?

Check the movies and TV shows subforum.

 

[King Mob]

the only people gonna be making money is ISPs and VPNs

 

[playahaitian]

the only people gonna be making money is ISPs and VPNs

^^^^

 

[playahaitian]

I don't talk about it on the main board.

the only people gonna be making money is ISPs and VPNs

I think that is EXACTLY what these corporations are betting the house on.

Its not as EASY or SIMPLE to get the pirate way for the average family.

But what they don't understand is Uncle Swoop gonna tell 'em its not THAT hard and once they realize that they Uncle gonna help them set it up and always be therefor support?

Zazlav and them just created the new wave of napster kids and by THEN? Won't be able to put the genie BACK in the bottle.

They just need to create a cable version of streaming with all this sh*t in one package with one price.

Before its too late.

Money is getting tight. BEEN TIGHT. No confidence in the government.

Cause the 7 Seas looking REAL GOOD right now.

 

[playahaitian]

​

 

[jawnswoop]

I think that is EXACTLY what these corporations are betting the house on.

Its not as EASY or SIMPLE to get the pirate way for the average family.

But what they don't understand is Uncle Swoop gonna tell 'em its not THAT hard and once they realize that they Uncle gonna help them set it up and always be therefor support?

Zazlav and them just created the new wave of napster kids and by THEN? Won't be able to put the genie BACK in the bottle.

They just need to create a cable version of streaming with all this sh*t in one package with one price.

Before its too late.

Money is getting tight. BEEN TIGHT. No confidence in the government.

Cause the 7 Seas looking REAL GOOD right now.

They seem to not learn their lesson from those PPV fights when they were overcharging with people illegally streaming it.

Also, that's why Dana white waved that white flag because he couldn't stop people from illegally streaming UFC that he joined paramount+ to make it affordable all in one price.

 

[jawnswoop]

​

They will learn the hard way that greed is never good.

 

[World B Free]

Opportunity to raise prices? Who says shit like this? They need the guillotine....

 

[playahaitian]

Opportunity to raise prices? Who says shit like this? They need the guillotine....

that man is evil - World trust and believe.

 

[World B Free]

that man is evil - World trust and believe.

It's sad, man, I bet every major corporation says this behind closed doors.

 

[playahaitian]

It's sad, man, I bet every major corporation says this behind closed doors.

EVERY SINGLE ONE

 

[tallblacknyc]

Looks over at the price of free,com still notices the same price of free.,shrugs shoulder

 

[D24OHA]

Jumping up higher than $20.99 is wild.

Yes, there are some live sports and some people can use it to supplement their other streaming options (a MAX subscription comes with access to live HBO channels, I haven't checked for Cinemax channels)...... but Flix has WWE AND PPV boxing included for a few dollars more, PLUS a vastly more extensive streaming library

Max is not in their ballpark content wise and it shouldn't be pricewise either

 

[jawnswoop]

Jumping up higher than $20.99 is wild.

Yes, there are some live sports and some people can use it to supplement their other streaming options (a MAX subscription comes with access to live HBO channels, I haven't checked for Cinemax channels)...... but Flix has WWE AND PPV boxing included for a few dollars more, PLUS a vastly more extensive streaming library

Max is not in their ballpark content wise and it shouldn't be pricewise either

Besides who watch HBO max for that CAC to think people want to pay those high ass prices. FOH.

Greed usually humble people when their pockets are hurt.

 

[D24OHA]

Besides who watch HBO max for that CAC to think people want to pay those high ass prices. FOH.

Greed usually humble people when their pockets are hurt.

I didn't know the price had jumped to $20.99

I've got MAX for free with my AT&T internet......once AT&T takes that away...... bye bye MAX

 

[jawnswoop]

I didn't know the price had jumped to $20.99

I've got MAX for free with my AT&T internet......once AT&T takes that away...... bye bye MAX

Yup, but I love watching things for free. Cord cutting forever.

 

[playahaitian]

They seem to not learn their lesson from those PPV fights when they were overcharging with people illegally streaming it.

Also, that's why Dana white waved that white flag because he couldn't stop people from illegally streaming UFC that he joined paramount+ to make it affordable all in one price.

Oh sh*t Black Jawn Sparrow spitting pirate bars...

Ahoy muthafukas

 

[playahaitian]

I didn't know the price had jumped to $20.99

I've got MAX for free with my AT&T internet......once AT&T takes that away...... bye bye MAX

Bro I'm about to do what I been needing to do for MONTHS.

Sit down and check ALL my accounts and see what the hell I'm really paying for every month.

What the family really watches.

I got a bunch for free through my cell phone plan but I still gotta investigate.

 

[jawnswoop]

Bro I'm about to do what I been needing to do for MONTHS.

Sit down and check ALL my accounts and see what the hell I'm really paying for every month.

What the family really watches.

I got a bunch for free through my cell phone plan but I still gotta investigate.

Them free channels aren't gonna last, stay on top of it because they will charge your card without you knowing it. It happened to me a few times because I didn't check my account and cancel it on time once it expired that they automatically charge my card without notifying me.

 

[playahaitian]

Them free channels aren't gonna last, stay on top of it because they will charge your card without you knowing it. It happened to me a few times because I didn't check my account and cancel it on time once it expired that they automatically charge my card without notifying me.

Captain we gonna need to have a serious private chat about the 7 seas soon. Appreciate you and you always trying to share the knowledge bro.

 

[jawnswoop]

Captain we gonna need to have a serious private chat about the 7 seas soon. Appreciate you and you always trying to share the knowledge bro.

No problem because I'm a vet when it comes to this cord cutting. Also, I dealt with these networks and I've also had my fair share of wasting money in the past. But you live and learn from those mistakes with always finding new ways to watch things saving money.

I'm always doing my research along with reading the news about these services.

 

[Maxxam]

el oh el, bitch. That lifetime plex pass is one of my top 5 best purchases ever. I had no idea that shit cost so much
I have my close circle subbed to Negroflix for just $50/yr to cover new drives every few years and all is well. These streamers are raping with no Vaseline. God help those who aren’t tech savvy enough to obtain entertainment

 

[tebriel69]

These companies are beyond greedy. They think because they have a few hit shows that come out every 2-3 YEARS make them worth keeping around. I’m not doing it. The hit shows are only 8 episodes or so. I’m not waiting 3 years for the next house of dragon episode while paying 20 bucks or more. They have no sports, and some services (like stupid ass Disney) CHARGE u MORE if you want to stream with no ads!!! they can kiss the blackest part of my ass. This is why piracy will never die

 

[xxxbishopxxx]

 

[tallblacknyc]

el oh el, bitch. That lifetime plex pass is one of my top 5 best purchases ever. I had no idea that shit cost so much
I have my close circle subbed to Negroflix for just $50/yr to cover new drives every few years and all is well. These streamers are raping with no Vaseline. God help those who aren’t tech savvy enough to obtain entertainment

For the most part 50-100 bucks for monthly entertainment isn’t bad.. if you can narrow down your services and see what you can do without you can get a variety of streaming networks.. the reality most people don’t watch all these series out here or movies, and there’s pretty much only a few people actively watch consistently.. some people probably watch Netflix way more than the others.. some you get Netflix and maybe a few more and call it a day, if you were a paying supporter.. it still would be cheaper than paying for cable… I’m a black Jew so cheap and free are my fave words.. so once I learned this internet thoroughly I cut the cord probably over 16 yrs ago and enjoyed all this free, prior to that I kinda stop watching tv in early 2000s and noticed it definitely became kinda useless paying a monthly service for something I watch only for certain things