Max, a popular streaming service, has announced that it will be removing CNN and Bleacher Report from its ad-supported tier, effective March 30th. This move means that subscribers who want to continue accessing live sports and news will need to upgrade to more expensive tiers, effectively raising the price for these add-ons.

The ad-supported tier, which currently costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year, will no longer offer CNN Max and Bleacher Reports Sports. Instead, subscribers will need to upgrade to the Standard ($16.99/month or $209.99/year) or Premium ($20.99/month or $209.99/year) tiers to access these features. This change is seen as a way for Max to prioritize live sports as part of its bundling strategy, responding to competitors like Peacock and Netflix who are also investing in live sports programming.

According to JB Perrette, WBD's head of global streaming and games, the decision was made after a year of assessing how users engage with sports content on the platform. "We believe that the best place for that content for now is within the Standard and Premium tiers," Perrette said. "This update ensures that subscribers can continue to enjoy that coveted access within Max, while also enabling ongoing investment in our premium sports and news portfolio."

This move is part of a larger trend in the streaming industry, where services are continually raising prices and changing their offerings to stay competitive. As The Hollywood Reporter notes, Max's decision is a sign of the streamer prioritizing live sports and responding to competitors who are getting more serious about live sports programming.

The change may not come as a surprise to some, as Max had previously announced plans to charge more for access to its CNN and Bleacher Report add-ons. However, the way in which the price hike is being implemented may still be seen as a significant shift for subscribers who are used to accessing these features at a lower cost.

As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Max's decision affects its subscriber base and the industry as a whole. With more and more services raising prices and changing their offerings, it's clear that the streaming wars are far from over.