HBO Max Acquisition Targets: Agents Express Concerns
Hello, Series Business readers! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday last week. I know we dived deep into the world of Big Tech and AI training on TV and film scripts in the last newsletter, so let’s switch gears and talk about what’s happening in development.
We’re just a few weeks away from the holiday season, but there’s still time to squeeze in a few more meetings at San Vicente Bungalows or your favorite power lunch spot. (Are we even still doing that these days?)
Today, let’s focus on HBO and Max. HBO has always been considered the crown jewel of Warner Bros, but in recent years, its shine has dulled a bit. With new corporate overlords like Discovery and previous ones like AT&T aiming for scale, HBO has faced stiff competition from the likes of Netflix and Apple TV+ in the prestige TV realm.
Industry insiders say that HBO and Max are concentrating on in-house brands, as seen with the numerous Game of Thrones spinoffs in development. Some have been successful, like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, while others, like the Jon Snow spinoff, didn’t make the cut.
At an HBO/Max presentation on November 12, content chief Casey Bloys mentioned that they try many ideas, and some click while others don’t. It’s all about finding that interesting story that resonates with viewers.
In this week’s Series Business, we’ll cover:
– What agents are saying about HBO
– A sneaky way to get HBO interested in your show
– How Bloys is juggling returning series and new orders
– How one agent turned Max’s desires into a series pickup
– The unexpected format that has Max intrigued
– Who has the best shot at getting HBO Max to greenlight a show
– A look at HBO Max’s development strategy compared to Amazon and Netflix
– Budget concerns looming over HBO Max’s buying decisions
– Agents’ perspectives on HBO’s brand health heading into 2025
So, grab a cup of coffee and let’s dive into the latest in the world of streaming entertainment. Stay tuned, and happy reading!
