Max reboot set to launch for Czech users later this year

Warner Bros. Discovery is gearing up to launch the revamped Max application in the Czech Republic, reports Czech tech server Lupa.cz. In the coming months, Czech viewers can expect to see a redesigned Max application, replacing the current HBO Max service.

In March 2022, the Czech Republic joined the last wave of countries where the HBO Max application was launched, just before its parent company announced cost-cutting measures and reorganized. The American management decided to comprehensively redesign, rename, and reboot the entire product.

The new generation, now named Max, debuted in the domestic American market in May of the same year. Subsequently, it is set to be introduced in the countries where the original HBO Max is currently operational, encompassing regions such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in 2024.

In addition to the classic subscription, the Max application will introduce a more affordable subscription plan featuring advertisements for international users. “This flat rate is currently only in the U.S., but we will launch it in more than forty global markets by the end of this year,” announced the CEO David Zaslav. 

The Max application will roll out in additional European markets, including France and Belgium. The European launch aligns with the Summer Olympics in Paris, leveraging Warner-owned Eurosport for extensive digital coverage alongside traditional broadcasts.

Earlier this year Warner announced plans to introduce a 24-hour Warner TV broadcasting channel in the Czech Republic. The channel will focus on series, films, documentaries, and other American productions, broadcast free of charge in DVB-T2, with potential satellite distribution. Series and movies will mainly be dubbed, but some shows may be subtitled. 

Recent data unveiled by JustWatch, a company specializing in streaming industry insights, found that Netflix dominates the Czech market, boasting a stronger position than Prime Video and HBO Max combined. Netflix commands a substantial 38 percent share, while Amazon’s Prime Video VOD service follows with 20 percent, and HBO Max secures a 15 percent share.