Warner Bros. Discovery has more bad news for HBO Max subscribers

HBO Max is one of the most popular streaming platforms in the United States. In fact, according to data from Flix Patrol, it takes fourth place among the most-subscribed platforms in the world, only behind Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

HBO Max subscribers commonly praise the high-quality content; vast library of older favorite shows and movies; exclusive content; and good variety of shows, dramas, and older and newer releases.

While some subscribers argue that streaming quality on certain devices is not satisfying, or that there’s too much “reality” content, Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO believes it provides good value, and recently spoke of HBO Max’s growing popularity.

In fact, while speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference, CEO David Zaslav said that people are starting to love HBO Max, and that he believes the service is currently “way underpriced.”

Zaslav projected HBO Max would reach over 150 million homes next year, with the quality of the company’s motion picture and TV production giving it leverage to raise prices.

In more recent news, Warner Bros. Discovery has delivered more bad news for HBO Max subscribers.

HBO Max subscribers to lose live CNN news programming

Warner Bros. Discovery  (WBD)  will remove its CNN Max offering starting Nov. 17. The news comes about two years after the company added live CNN programming, as covered by The Hollywood Reporter.

Alex MacCallum, CNN's executive VP of digital products and services, commented on the decision, saying the collaboration was useful for CNN.

CNN has benefited tremendously from its two years of offering a live 24/7 feed of news to HBO Max customers. We learned from HBO Max’s large base of subscribers what people want and enjoy the most from CNN, and with the launch of our own new streaming subscription offering coming later this fall, we look forward to building off that and growing our audience with this unique, new offering.

It is important to note that while there will be no more live CNN programming on HBO Max next month, the streaming platform will keep selected CNN originals, such as:

• "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown"
• "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy"
• "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper"

Why CNN will remove HBO Max

The decision to remove CNN programming from HBO Max is connected to CNN’s plan to launch a new direct-to-consumer streaming offering later this year.

CNN’s streaming services are expected to provide access to original CNN programming and journalism, such as “a selection of live channels, catch-up features, and video-on-demand programming across all platforms,” according to CNN’s May press release.

CNN has been leading and innovating in video-led journalism since its inception, and the expansion of our subscription offering to include streaming embodies that pioneering spirit, Executive Vice President, Digital Products and Services Alex MacCallum said at the time.

In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery will sell subscriptions to CNN’s new streaming service as part of an All Access subscription that also provides access to paywalled articles on CNN’s website, writes Scharon Harding for ArsTechnica.

Related: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO drops bad news for HBO Max subscribers

Per the report, the CNN cable network had declining ratings over the recent period, and removing its live programming from HBO Max might improve demand for the new service.

Earlier this year, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed it will split into two public companies by the middle of 2026: a streaming and studios company that will contain its movie properties and streaming service HBO Max, and a global network company that will include TNT Sports and Discovery, among others, reported CNBC.

However, it is expected that some live sports programming currently on HBO Max will also leave the platform at some point, as Discovery Inc. plans its own sports offering.

How HBO Max subscribers feel about the CNN  cancellation

A Reddit thread contains more than 530 comments on the news.

User celtic1888 seems to be frustrated with the move, arguing it is a bad business decision.

They chose a path to actively piss off their previous viewers while trying to embrace the demographic who actively hates them I believe it was intentional sabotage more than just bad choices however.

Some users pushed back against CNN’s attempt to develop a popular standalone streaming service.

A standalone CNN streaming service already failed what makes them think another one would work?” user Mr_Baloon_hands wrote.

Some HBO Max subscribers didn’t even know they had access to CNN, and many say they don’t plan to pay for it now.

User YoungRichBastard26s argued that this is a bad move for the company and that they “needa fire that CEO.”

The overall sentiment in the Reddit is negative; many users expect failure, and a significant number of users don’t even consider CNN a valuable addition to their HBO Max subscription.

Related: Disney sends stern warning to customers amid boycott threats