Let me start by a brief introduction: what MAX is? It combines HBO Max and Discovery+ content, including all HBO series, selected portfolios of Warner Bros., the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, the Turner Library, Looney Tunes, Adult Swim, and Discovery favorites from TV brands including HGTV, the Food Network, TLC, ID, Magnolia Network, and Discovery itself. Max replaces HBO Max as a brand, while Discovery+ will continue to be available as a standalone service.

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Did you remember that HBO was once a premium cable service? As a result, some consumers may still think of it as a premium streaming platform? On the contrary, the goal is opposite - get new customers, develop more revenue streams, and as we tested the HBO brand - it is time to check a different name.

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M&A - does it ring a bell? Why do companies arrange merge and acquisition processes? It is all about expanding market presence, increasing customer base, or entering new markets. The goal is simple - rapid growth and competitive position by combining resources, reducing costs, streamlining operations, and optimizing efficiency. The more bargaining power, the less risks.

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Are the old ways not working anymore? More and more young analysts claim so, but the older I become, the more confident I am that these old-fashioned tried-and-true business tricks always work. Let’s go back to the golden heyday era of cable networks in the 90's, when especially in the US market an average consumer could afford many cable networks in a bundle. Variety of channels at a relatively lower cost compared to individual subscriptions, maintained subscribers’ loyalty, and encouraged customers to choose higher-tier subscription plans. Bundling allowed companies to negotiate licensing deals and persuade advertisers, as they could reach a wider audience. Am I talking about streaming wars now, or the history of cable competition?

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To sum up this trend will emerge and continue, as the economic cycles go up and down - we just need to stick to the landscape. As always, it is better to be first - then you drive the emerging change that often predicts the trend. You become a forerunner - the first of its kind, that is always remembered.

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#StreamVX #SzymonKarbowski #streamingwars

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