The anticipated launch of HBO Max is “still very much on” schedule — with execs continuing to set their sights on a May rollout — despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
"We’re absolutely on schedule for the May launch," said WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer chief strategy officer Sean Kisker, in an interview with Variety. "Starting two years ago, when this thing kicked off, there’s been a pretty constant stream of effort, and the team has run basically at one speed. We really haven’t missed a beat from a remote-working POV."
Kisker claimed that if WarnerMedia could’ve released HBO Max "a little bit early" it would have. "Based on what I’m seeing and reading, the opportunity for people to be at home will be there for a little while," he said.
The $14.99 streaming service is the first major digital platform scheduled for launch since Disney+ was rolled out last November. HBO Max will showcase the cable network’s extensive library and also include DC Universe properties and shows that aired elsewhere, including Friends and South Park. Blockbuster movies and documentaries are also slated for the service. WarnerMedia is also looking to build a library of original content, which will include eight to ten films a year.
Kisker told Variety that more people were watching streaming platforms than ever before amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Engagement is way up,” he said. "It’s hard to look at something like that, which is a bit of a tailwind for us, in the broader context, and get excited about it, but when we look at the constraints people have, consumption is way up."