Last week, HBO Max quietly pulled 36 titles from its streaming platform, and subscribers can expect to see more content dropped from the service in the coming weeks. The media company said that it was pulling the content in an effort to save costs ahead of its merger with Warner Bros Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD).
"As we work toward bringing our content catalogs together under one platform, we will be making changes to the content offering available on both HBO Max and discovery+," reads an HBO Max statement. "That will include the removal of some content from both platforms."
All of the affected titles were no longer available for streaming as of August 19. According to CNBC, two sources familiar with the matter said that pulling these 36 titles is expected to save HBO Max "tens of millions of dollars". Post-merger, Warner Bros may also still decide to license the content to another service.
The shows that were axed include the variety sketch series 'At Home With Amy Sedaris, Girls' starring Jennifer Garner and David Tennant, 'Vinyl' co-created by Martin Scorsese, and 'Run' from the director of the critically acclaimed show Fleabag.
Movies that are no longer viewable on HBO Max include the popular video-on-demand title 'An American Pickle', 'Charm City Kings' produced by Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, and the film adaptation of the Roald Dahl story 'The Witches'.
20 of the 36 titles being pulled from the platform are HBO Max originals. Because HBO already owns the licensing for those titles, it might sound counterintuitive for them to drop them from streaming. However, the company still has to pay residuals, including payments to the people who made the content, as long as that content maintains viewership over time.
The majority of the content that was dropped wasn't popular amongst HBO users, according to CNBC sources, and the programming skewed towards reality TV or entertainment for kids and families, including unspecified Sesame Street specials.
When Discovery merges with HBO, it will bring its catalog of reality TV shows from HGTV, Food Network, and Animal Planet. While HBO is primarily watched by adult men, Discovery's reality TV shows are watched more by women. Neither service offers content aimed primarily at kids, and Warner Bros' plan is to entirely do away with the category in the future, rath than attempting to fill the gap.
Along with dropping content, HBO Max is also laying off its employees. On Aug. 15, the streaming company laid off roughly 14% of its staff, or around 70 employees, in an effort to reduce redundant positions post-merger, according to Deadline. Many of the laid-off workers were a part of HBO's reality TV division.