Warner Bros Discovery has done an apparent U-turn on plans to combine Discovery+ with HBO Max.
The sports and factual streaming service is now due to be kept as a standalone service, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The recently merged media company had originally planned to combine all of its different streaming services into one. Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) had inherited a number of very different streaming services when it merged and had already taken steps to close down standalone streaming services including CNN+ and Golf TV.
The change in direction follows research indicating Discovery+ subscribers weren’t prepared to move to an enlarged platform. There had been fears that forcing customers to migrate would cause some to drop out altogether, especially as the new combined service would cost more than Discovery+.
Discovery+ is reportedly struggling to gain many new subscribers in the UK. It’s expected to be boosted by a new offer from Sky, that allows most Sky customers to add Discovery+ at no extra cost. Discovery+ is expected to add the current BT Sport channels in due course, now that they are operated by WBD in Chiswick.
Merging Discovery+ and HBO Max added an extra layer of complexity in the UK and Ireland, as HBO content couldn’t arrive on the streaming service until a content deal with Sky expires.
Marc Thornham