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HBO Chief Calls 'Max' Rebrand a Misstep, Defines New Role for Max Originals

Research pointed executives back to HBO’s quality-first identity.

Overview

  • Casey Bloys told reporters the 2023 shift to the generic Max name was a mistake in the race for volume.
  • Warner Bros. Discovery restored the HBO Max brand in May 2025 after the rebrand failed to resonate.
  • Bloys said the term Max Original had been nebulous inside the company, blurring lines with HBO series.
  • He outlined a mandate for Max Originals to be lower-cost, higher-episode shows that can recur annually and keep 52 weeks of premieres.
  • Company research reaffirmed demand for HBO-branded originals, and the combined HBO Max and Discovery+ base now tops 125 million global subscribers.