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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteIn September 2025, then-Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said HBO Max was “way underpriced,” arguing that the quality of the company’s film, television and streaming output gave it room to raise prices. That was his view—not an objective measure of what subscribers should pay. As of October 8, 2026, HBO Max’s U.S. plans cost $10.99 to $22.99 per month, and Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has since closed, with plans to unify HBO Max and Paramount+ over time but no confirmed new service name or pricing impact.
Why did Zaslav call HBO Max underpriced?
At the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference in San Francisco on September 10, 2025, Zaslav tied the claim to the quality of Warner Bros. Discovery’s output. Ars Technica quoted him: “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 price. We think we’re way underpriced.” Ars Technica reported the remarks.
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| 1 |
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Best of Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection (BD) [Blu-ray] | $259.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Venture Bros.: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (Blu-ray) | $10.89 | Buy on Amazon |
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Maverick (BD) | $11.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Maltese Falcon, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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WB 100th 25Film Collection Vol 1 Award Winners (Blu-ray) | $199.00 | Buy on Amazon |
He also compared present-day content spending with spending a decade earlier: “Consumers in America would pay twice as much 10 years ago for content. People were spending, on average, $55 for content 10 years ago, and the quality of the content, the amount of content that we’re getting, the spend is 10 or 12 fold and they’re paying dramatically less. I think we want a good deal for consumers, but I think over time, there’s real opportunity, particularly for us, in that quality area, to raise price.” Those figures are Zaslav’s comparison as quoted in the report, not independently established industry statistics.
The comments show that Zaslav believed the service could charge more; they do not establish that subscribers agreed, that HBO Max was objectively underpriced, or that he was announcing a specific future increase.
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How much does HBO Max cost in the U.S.?
HBO Max’s U.S. help center listed the following prices on October 8, 2026. Prices are before applicable taxes; international, partner-billed and promotional offers may differ. See HBO Max’s current U.S. plans and pricing.
| U.S. plan | Monthly | Annual | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic with Ads | $10.99 | $109.99 | Ads; Full HD; two devices at once |
| Standard | $18.49 | $184.99 | Ad-free; Full HD; two devices at once; up to 30 offline downloads |
| Premium | $22.99 | $229.99 | Ad-free; 4K UHD; four devices at once; up to 100 offline downloads |
Some content categories may have download restrictions. Annual prices are the listed amounts for a year of service, not monthly rates. The help center also lists Basic with Ads at $5.49 per month for eligible U.S. students whose enrollment is verified through UNiDAYS, for up to 12 months. A Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max bundle and limited-time promotions are also listed; eligibility and terms depend on the offer.
How do the prices compare with Zaslav’s 2025 remark?
At the time of his September 2025 comments, Ars Technica reported U.S. starting prices of $10 per month with ads, $17 for an ad-free plan and $21 for the premium no-ads plan. HBO Max then raised U.S. list prices effective October 21, 2025. Tom’s Guide reported the changes below; annual figures are billed yearly, and all prices are U.S. list prices.
| Plan | Before October 21, 2025 | From October 21, 2025 | Monthly change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic With Ads | $9.99/month; $99.99/year | $10.99/month; $109.99/year | $1 |
| Standard | $16.99/month; $169.99/year | $18.49/month; $184.99/year | $1.50 |
| Premium | $20.99/month; $209.99/year | $22.99/month; $229.99/year | $2 |
Tom’s Guide reported the October 2025 increase. The current prices listed by HBO Max on October 8, 2026 match the post-increase amounts in that report. The rounded starting prices in Ars Technica’s contemporaneous account are not the exact pre-increase list prices shown by Tom’s Guide.
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Is HBO Max worth the price?
“Underpriced” does not settle whether the subscription is worth it for a particular viewer. A practical comparison is to the plan features you will actually use:
- Choose among the listed tiers based on whether you accept ads, need Full HD or 4K UHD, how many people stream at once, and whether offline downloads matter.
- Compare the monthly rate with the annual total and your expected time subscribed; an annual price is a commitment for the full billing period.
- Check the official plan page before subscribing, especially if considering a student offer, bundle, limited-time promotion or partner subscription. Prices, taxes and eligibility can change.
Will HBO Max and Paramount+ combine?
Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery closed on October 6, 2026, according to the Associated Press. AP reports that HBO Max and Paramount+ are now under the same ownership and that the company plans to unify the services over time. The eventual name, timing and consequences for subscription prices or viewing choices have not been established. This is a reported plan, not confirmation that the services have already merged or that a price change is scheduled. The Associated Press reported the transaction closing and planned integration.
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- Item name: The Maltese Falcon
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
