Max reverses course, won't charge extra for live sports and news
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products.
In an utterly shocking, consumer-friendly move, Max won't charge for something previously offered for free. Warner Bros. Discovery said on Wednesday that it's shelving its previously announced plan to charge an extra $10 monthly for sports and news content. Instead, it's cutting the content from the ad-supported tier next month, which sounds reasonable enough.
In 2023, Max said its Bleacher Report (B/R) Sports Add-On tier would only be free until February 2024, when it would become a $10 add-on for all tiers. But that date came and went (and then went some more) without news of the extra fees. Viewers waited silently like students who hoped their teacher would forget their homework assignment. Then, last September, Bloomberg reported that the $10 fee was still in the works — and could arrive as soon as that month. Uh oh.
But today's news puts those concerns to rest, at least for paying subscribers. Ad-supported members will lose access to B/R Sports and CNN Max (the news network's streaming redo) on March 30. Warner says those on that tier who want to retain access to sports and news can visit the Max Help Center for more info. So far, that page says nothing about it, so you'll probably want to check back closer to the cutoff date.
B/R Sports streams more than 1,700 live games and events annually across leagues like the NBA (although it loses those rights after this season), MLB, NHL, NCAA, NASCAR and more. Meanwhile, CNN Max is Warner CEO David Zaslav's latest attempt to turn a CNN streaming service into a revenue stream — something the debt-ridden company direly needs. This month alone, it made sweeping cuts to its games division and began offering some of its movies on YouTube.
Although Max subscribers will welcome today's announcement, there's reason to question whether the free integration will be permanent. In its press release, where you have to assume words were chosen carefully and pored over by layers of management, Max only said it won't pursue that path… "for now."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
7 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Report: Growing 'skepticism' Giannis Antetokounmpo will request a trade
While teams from New York to Los Angeles and everywhere in between — as well as north into Canada — have mapped out their strategies for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade market, those plans increasingly look like they will be DOA. The Antetokounmpo trade market is very quiet and teams are increasingly coming to the idea he is not going to hit the open market, something Jake Fischer talked about at Bleacher Report: 'Around the combine two weeks ago, two and a half weeks ago, there was no shortage of optimism, of hope, of excitement from other teams that they were going to be able to potentially make an offer to get Giannis Antetokounmpo into their franchise, into their building. Of late, I'd say that that confidence has been replaced with skepticism. To a man, from talking to agents, team executives, whoever, there is not a lot of belief right now at this juncture... the expectation is that they're going to believe it when they see it — that someone who has valued being the franchise face, that the central linchpin of the Bucks franchise, is going to want to play somewhere else.' One league source echoed that, telling NBC Sports that his team was in 'wait and see' mode. Fischer said that whatever decision Antetokounmpo and the Bucks make, it will likely be made close to the draft. Another possibility is that there will be no bidding war, that Antetokounmpo will inform the Bucks that they can only trade him to one or two teams. If a fair deal is not found, then it will end there, and he will stay in Milwaukee. The decision to stay or go ultimately falls to Antetokounmpo, who loves Milwaukee, his family is happy there, and he cherishes the idea of being a one-team player for his entire career, but also realizes that in the wake of Damian Lillard's Achilles injury the Bucks are not going to contend for a title next season. He has to decide what matters most to him at this stage of his career. The other challenge Antetokounmpo faces is that the grass is not always greener elsewhere. He could be traded to a team such as Houston or San Antonio and make them instant title contenders, but would then moved to a stacked Western Conference with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the 68-win Thunder, Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, Antony Edwards and the Timberwolves, LeBron James and Luka Doncic with the Lakers, Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler with the Warriors, and on down the line. Even with Antetokounmpo, it would be tough to reach the Finals out of the West. He could demand to stay in the East, but with what the Bucks will ask in return, a trade to any team in that conference — New York, Toronto, Miami, Cleveland, wherever — strips that roster so far down of talent that he is in the same situation he is in Milwaukee (a top-three MVP season got the Bucks the five seed and a first-round playoff exit). Whatever decision is coming, don't expect it to come anytime soon.
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Steelers Trade Proposal Would Land Another Superstar for Aaron Rodgers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After a long offseason of waiting for Aaron Rodgers, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have him as their starting quarterback for the 2025 NFL season. With him officially signing, the attention for the Steelers now turns to building the best contender possible around him. Earlier this offseason, the team pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks. More recently, they traded George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Adding another wide receiver alongside of Metcalf would be a wise goal. Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks to pass during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on October 14, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks to pass during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on October 14, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. PhotoWith that in mind, could Pittsburgh consider pursuing another blockbuster trade to add another star wide receiver? There might be an option for the team to pursue. Read more: Steelers, Aaron Rodgers Deal Sparks Firm Remarks From Former Teammate Bleacher Report analyst Kristopher Knox has suggested a potential trade between the Steelers and Washington Commanders that would see Terry McLaurin heading to Pittsburgh. In his suggested trade package, the Steelers would acquire McLaurin in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick via the Cowboys. McLaurin could be made available by the Commanders. He is currently frustrated with the team over the lack of a new long-term contract. The two sides could work things out, but a trade could be on the table for the right price. Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently reported on the situation, sharing McLaurin's current view on the franchise. "Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin has made it clear to the team that he's frustrated with the lack of progress on a long-term deal," Schultz wrote. "As I previously reported, McLaurin unexpectedly left voluntary workouts after initially attending, and it remains to be seen whether he'll report for mandatory minicamp." A duo of Metcalf and McLaurin would be nearly unstoppable. Rodgers would be working in a dream scenario for NFL quarterbacks. Read more: Vikings' Kevin O'Connell Speaks Out About Rumored Aaron Rodgers Interest During the 2024 NFL season with Washington, McLaurin played in all 17 regular-season games. He racked up 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. While it's not likely that Pittsburgh will work out a trade for McLaurin, this idea makes a ton of sense. Giving Rodgers another elite weapon would improve the Steelers' championship chances greatly. Even though McLaurin isn't an incredibly likely option, Pittsburgh should look into another wide receiver. The last thing either Rodgers or the Steelers wants is to come up one piece short when the 2025 NFL season comes to an end. For more Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 women's French Open final: How to watch the Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka match today
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. American tennis star and No. 2 seed Coco Gauff will face the No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 French Open final. Sabalenka ended Iga Swiatek's 26-match French Open winning streak during their semifinal match. Gauff knocked out wildcard Lois Boisson, who was experiencing a "miraculous" run after entering the tournament ranked 361. Gauff and Sabalenka have met on the court 10 times previously, and each player has won five times. Who will break that tie and become the new French Open Champion? You'll have to tune in to find out. In the U.S., coverage of this year's tournament is airing on TNT and truTV, and the women's final match will stream on Max. The women's French Open final will kick off at 9 a.m. ET this Saturday. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Gauff vs. Sabalenka. How to watch Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka at the 2025 French Open: Date: Saturday, June 7 Advertisement Estimated start time: 9 a.m. ET Location: Stade Roland-Garros, Paris TV channel: TNT, truTV Streaming: Max Gauff vs. Sabalenka match start time: American tennis star Coco Gauff will play No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the women's final at the French Open on Saturday, June 7, starting around 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. 2025 French Open channel: The Gauff vs. Sabalenka final match will air on TNT and truTV and stream on Max. How to watch the French Open without cable: Disney Best bundle with French Open coverage Max, Disney+ and Hulu bundle (ad-free) Get access to Disney+, Hulu and Max with this bundle. If you go ad-free ($29.99/month), you'll save up to 38% compared to individually paying for all three services — and you'll gain access to all the French Open coverage. If you don't already have access to these platforms, this bundle is a great option that really covers your bases, streaming-wise. You'll get access to three vast libraries, fully stocked with everything Marvel, all those Disney princesses (new and old) and Hulu's robust catalog of shows on demand the day after they air. That includes the latest episodes of Abbott Elementary, Grey's Anatomy and more, plus the most recent seasons of The Last of Us, The Pitt and The White Lotus on Max. $29.99/month at Disney How to watch the French Open with a VPN: If you want to catch the French Open final and don't subscribe to Max or a live TV-streaming service, in Australia, a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria, it's all streaming free with ads on ServusTV. Advertisement Don't live in either of those places? Don't worry: You can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you're looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to the next F1 race without a cable package, a VPN can help. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user. Stream French Open coverage ExpressVPN ExpressVPN offers "internet without borders," meaning you can tune into an Austrian or Australian livestream this month as opposed to paying for another streaming subscription. All you'll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location and find free livestream coverage on 9Now or ServusTV. ExpressVPN's added protection, speed and range of location options make it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus it's Engadget's top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 61% when they sign up for ExpressVPN's two-year subscription. The service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you're nervous about trying a VPN. From $4.99/month at ExpressVPN 2025 French Open schedule: June 7: Women's final Advertisement June 8: Men's final French Open 2025 men's seeds: Jannik Sinner Carlos Alcaraz Alexander Zverev Taylor Fritz Jack Draper Novak Djokovic Casper Ruud Lorenzo Musetti Alex de Minaur Holger Rune Daniil Medvedev Tommy Paul Ben Shelton Arthur Fils Frances Tiafoe Grigor Dimitrov Andrey Rublev Francisco Cerúndolo Jakub Menšík Stefanos Tsitsipas Tomáš Macháč Ugo Humbert Sebastian Korda Karen Khachanov Alexei Popyrin Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Denis Shapovalov Brandon Nakashima Félix Auger-Aliassime Hubert Hurkacz Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Alex Michelsen French Open 2025 women's seeds: Aryna Sabalenka Coco Gauff Jessica Pegula Jasmine Paolini Iga Świątek Mirra Andreeva Madison Keys Zheng Qinwen Emma Navarro Paula Badosa Diana Shnaider Elena Rybakina Elina Svitolina Karolína Muchová Barbora Krejčíková Amanda Anisimova Daria Kasatkina Donna Vekić Liudmila Samsonova Ekaterina Alexandrova Jeļena Ostapenko Clara Tauson Beatriz Haddad Maia Elise Mertens Magdalena Fręch Marta Kostyuk Leylah Fernandez Peyton Stearns Linda Nosková Anna Kalinskaya Sofia Kenin Yulia Putintseva More ways to watch the 2025 French Open:
