Friendly reminder: Your honeymoon with HBO Max is ending
Six months have passed since the launch of HBO Max in Israel, and many early subscribers are now starting to pay full price. Here is how you can manage your streaming costs.
After years of rumors, delays, and leaks, the popular streaming service HBO Max officially launched in Israel last January. Now, six months later, it is worth noting that your honeymoon period has ended, but there are ways to manage your subscription effectively.
Did you sign up in the first few weeks? It's time to consider
HBO Max has become the primary destination for content from Warner Bros. Discovery, including HBO originals, DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and the Cartoon Network library. The launch was heavily promoted by Yes and Hot, both of which offered a "collaboration" package featuring six months of free access.
While these offers often came with complex terms and fine print, many users took advantage of them to get the service for free. Now that half a year has passed, those initial promotional periods are expiring, and users are beginning to pay the full monthly price for the service.
New packages on the market
For those currently subscribed, the Standard tier costs 49.90 NIS per month, while the Premium tier is 64.90 NIS per month. Since the original six-month free offers are no longer available, providers have introduced new options:
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Yes: A bundle including HBO, Disney, and Netflix for 99 NIS for the first 3 months (rising to 253.7 NIS per month thereafter).
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Hot: A triple-play package that includes 3 months of free HBO Max access.
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Cellcom tv: A new competitor in this space, offering three tiers of service that all include 3 months of free HBO Max. Prices range from 49 to 99 NIS per month for the first quarter, depending on the package.
Existing customers are also eligible to switch to these new plans.
Ask yourself one question
Beyond market trends, you should ask yourself: do you actually need HBO Max right now? A savvy consumer knows how to use subscription models to their advantage. If there is nothing currently on the platform that interests you, it might be time to cancel your subscription and renew it only when a specific series or movie catches your attention. Canceling and restarting is a matter of a few clicks and can save you significant money over the course of a year.
