HBO Max jumps in price just before USWNT debut

As the United States Women’s National Team prepares to make its debut on HBO Max, the streaming service raised its price.

Ad-free accounts subscribing to HBO Max were $14.99 per month. Now, users will pay $15.99 per month, according to Mashable. Although it is just a $1 change per month, it is a change nonetheless. Also, this is only for the ad-free version of HBO Max. Ad-supported accounts are still $9.99 per month.

The change kicks in in the next billing cycle, which is on or after Feb. 11.

Price hikes are nothing new for streaming services across the board, but it is a new change for HBO Max. Since launching in 2020, this is the first price change in the service. However, soccer fans are familiar with other services. ESPN+ increased from $6.99 to $9.99 per month. Paramount+ is on the verge of a price increase of its own, although the timing and specifics are still unclear.

For soccer fans, the price change for HBO Max is remarkably poor timing.

USWNT friendly to feel effect of HBO Max price increase

As part of the Warner Bros. Discovery deal with US Soccer, select USMNT and USWNT games are available on HBO Max. That starts with a pair of friendlies against New Zealand. Those are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, and Friday, Jan. 20. These are the first two soccer games airing on HBO Max as part of the deal signed back in March 2022.

Then, the USMNT is in action on HBO Max not long after the hike. The friendly against Serbia on Jan. 25 is only available via HBO Max. While the following game on Jan. 28 is on TNT, the Serbia game is only on streaming.

Therefore, three US international games this month all require an ever so slight increase for HBO Max.

PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto