HBO Max Grows Subscription Base

Streaming service HBO Max and cable television network HBO added more than 2 million new domestic subscribers in the first quarter, parent AT&T Inc. reported on Thursday.The net addition of 2.7 million subscribers brings the domestic total to 44.2 million and the global total to 64 million.Domestic HBO Max and HBO subscribers increased more than 11 million in the same period a year earlier, driven by HBO Max retail subscriber growth. HBO Max, a unit of Warner Bros., is based in Burbank.Subscription revenues in the first quarter were $3.8 billion, up 12.6 percent from the same period a year earlier, reflecting growth of direct-to-consumer domestic subscribers, the company said.“HBO Max continued to deliver strong subscriber and revenue growth in advance of our international and AVOD (ad-based video on demand) launches planned for June,” John Stankey, AT&T chief executive, said in a statement.Domestic HBO Max and HBO subscribers consist of accounts with access to HBO Max and HBO accounts, and exclude free trials and Cinemax subscribers. Global HBO Max and HBO subscribers consist of domestic HBO Max subscribers and domestic and international HBO subscribers and exclude basic subscribers and Cinemax subscribers, according to AT&T.