[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"nav-categories":3,"article-warner-bros-discovery-hikes-hbo-max-prices-while-putting-itself-up-for-sale-a-desperate-bid-for-survival":70},{"data":4},[5,37,57,64],{"name":6,"slug":7,"categories":8},"Productivity","productivity",[9,13,17,21,25,29,33],{"id":10,"title":11,"slug":12},17,"Branding","branding",{"id":14,"title":15,"slug":16},19,"Marketing","marketing",{"id":18,"title":19,"slug":20},20,"Work","work",{"id":22,"title":23,"slug":24},34,"Community","community",{"id":26,"title":27,"slug":28},21,"For newbies","for-newbies",{"id":30,"title":31,"slug":32},24,"Investment","investment",{"id":34,"title":35,"slug":36},22,"Finance","finance",{"name":38,"slug":39,"categories":40},"Tech","tech",[41,45,49,53],{"id":42,"title":43,"slug":44},28,"Technology","technology",{"id":46,"title":47,"slug":48},32,"Artificial Intelligence","artificial-intelligence",{"id":50,"title":51,"slug":52},26,"Security and protection","security-and-protection",{"id":54,"title":55,"slug":56},31,"YouTube Blog","youtube-blog",{"name":58,"slug":59,"categories":60},"News","news",[61],{"id":62,"title":58,"slug":63},18,"quasanews",{"name":65,"slug":66,"categories":67},"Business","business",[68],{"id":69,"title":65,"slug":66},16,{"post":71,"published_news":94,"popular_news":153,"categories":218},{"title":72,"description":73,"meta_title":72,"meta_description":74,"meta_keywords":75,"text":76,"slug":77,"created_at":78,"publish_at":78,"formatted_created_at":79,"category_id":14,"links":80,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":85,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"category":88},"Warner Bros. Discovery Hikes HBO Max Prices While Putting Itself Up for Sale: A Desperate Bid for Survival?","In a pair of announcements that landed like a one-two punch to the streaming wars, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is raising prices on its flagship service HBO Max - effective immediately - while simultaneously signaling to Wall Street that it's open for business.","For Hollywood, this could spark a bidding frenzy, echoing the Paramount saga. But for consumers? Brace for more nickel-and-diming as media giants consolidate power","The price bumps juice short-term revenue to make WBD more appetizing to bidders, while the sale buzz validates the hikes as part of a \"value-maximizing\" pivot.","\u003Cp>In a pair of announcements that landed like a one-two punch to the streaming wars, \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/david-ellison-wants-warner-bros-but-not-david-zaslav\">Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)\u003C/a> is raising prices on its flagship service HBO Max - effective immediately - while simultaneously signaling to Wall Street that it's open for business. Literally.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>The media giant's board revealed it's reviewing "strategic alternatives," including a full sale, after fielding unsolicited offers for the entire company or just the Warner Bros. assets. \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-snubs-skydance-s-merger-bid-a-20-per-share-slight-in-hollywood-s-latest-power-play\">Coming hot on the heels of rejecting a lowball bid from Paramount Skydance's David Ellison\u003C/a>, these moves paint a picture of a company scrambling to maximize value amid mounting debt and a fracturing industry.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The Price Hike: Paying Premium for Prestige\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-right\" height=\"447\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-10-21T182337.237.jpg\" width=\"300\" />First, the sting for subscribers\u003C/strong>: \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/hbo-max-finds-new-friends-in-southeast-asia\">HBO Max\u003C/a>, fresh off re-embracing its original name earlier this year after a brief identity crisis as "Max," is getting pricier across the board. The changes, announced on October 21, 2025, and kicking in right away for new sign-ups, represent the streamer's second hike in just 12 months.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Here's the breakdown:\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cul>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Basic with Ads\u003C/strong>: Up $1 to $10.99/month (or $109.99/year, a $10 bump).\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Standard (ad-free, two streams)\u003C/strong>: Up $1.50 to $18.49/month (or $184.99/year, up $15).\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Premium (ad-free, four streams, 4K)\u003C/strong>: Up $2 to $22.99/month (or $229.99/year, up $20).\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\u003Cp>Existing monthly subscribers won't feel the pinch until their next billing cycle on or after November 20, 2025, giving them a 30-day heads-up. \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-sues-midjourney-over-mass-generation-of-batman-and-superman-joined-by-disney-and-universal\">WBD\u003C/a> isn't saying much about the rationale beyond the usual "investing in premium content," but \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-shareholders-revolt-against-david-zaslav-s-51-9-million-payday-amid-business-struggles\">CEO David Zaslav\u003C/a> telegraphed this back in September, hinting at higher costs to fund growth and curb password-sharing.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-left\" height=\"169\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-10-21T182256.245.jpg\" width=\"300\" />With hits like the upcoming DC Universe expansions, \u003Cstrong>Peacemaker\u003C/strong> Season 2, and Warner Bros. blockbusters such as \u003Cstrong>Superman\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>A Minecraft Movie\u003C/strong> flowing in, the company is betting viewers will pony up for the prestige library of HBO originals, DC comics, and studio tentpoles.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>But in a crowded market where Netflix's standard plan sits at $15.49 and \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/disney-surrenders-streaming-giant-embraces-youtube-creators-content\">Disney+\u003C/a> bundles for less, this positions HBO Max as the priciest ad-free option around - over 20% more than the competition.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Critics are already grumbling: Is elite content worth elite pricing when cord-cutting fatigue is real? WBD's 125 million global subscribers might test that theory soon.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>The Sale Signal: Inviting Bidders to the Banquet\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\"\" class=\"image-align-right\" height=\"447\" src=\"https://quasa.io/storage/photos/00/image - 2025-10-21T182413.615.jpg\" width=\"300\" />If the price hikes feel like squeezing subscribers to fund the party, the second announcement clarifies who's really footing the bill: potential buyers. In a press release that sent \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-reports-subscriber-growth-but-films-drive-the-revenue\">WBD\u003C/a> shares surging nearly 10% to around $20 in early trading, the company disclosed it's evaluating offers after rejecting multiple bids - including several from Paramount Skydance and one even higher.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Ellison's consortium, fresh off sealing its $8 billion \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/courtship-ends-paramount-skydance-prepares-for-massive-layoffs\">Paramount\u003C/a> deal, reportedly floated about $20 per share for \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-sinking-fast-someone-please-just-buy-it-already\">Warner Bros.\u003C/a> - deemed "chump change" by insiders, given the conglomerate's $40 billion debt load from the 2022 WarnerMedia-Discovery merger.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Now, the board is casting a wide net: full-company takeovers, carve-outs of Warner Bros. (streaming and studios), or even tweaks to its planned mid-2026 split into separate \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-discovery-splits-in-two-a-budding-media-divide\">Warner Bros. and Discovery\u003C/a> entities. Zaslav framed it optimistically: "We're advancing strategic initiatives... and scaling HBO Max globally," but the subtext is clear - this is a fire sale disguised as prudence.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Potential suitors? Tech titans like \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/spotify-and-netflix-team-up-to-revive-the-podcast-game\">Netflix\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/amazon-s-internal-document-reveals-struggles-in-hiring-ai-talent-amid-rigid-policies\">Amazon\u003C/a>, \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/it-happened-apple-and-formula-1-seal-a-five-year-exclusive-deal-worth-around-750-million\">Apple\u003C/a>, or \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/disney-and-comcast-seal-hulu-s-fate-the-streaming-service-becomes-mickey-s-by-july-s-end\">Comcast\u003C/a> could swoop in for the streaming goldmine, while private equity might eye the distressed assets. A full merger with Ellison's empire isn't off the table, potentially reshaping Hollywood into fewer, fatter conglomerates.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Also read:\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cul>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/the-trump-effect-paramount-skydance-merger-adds-conservative-voices-in-political-shift\">The Trump Effect: Paramount-Skydance Merger Adds Conservative Voices in Political Shift\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/duffer-brothers-bid-farewell-to-netflix-for-paramount-theatrical-dreams-trump-streaming-comfort\">Duffer Brothers Bid Farewell to Netflix for Paramount: Theatrical Dreams Trump Streaming Comfort\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/paramount-releases-documentary-thirst-trap-on-one-of-the-wildest-fandoms-the-cult-of-tiktoker-william-white\">Paramount+ Releases Documentary Thirst Trap on One of the Wildest Fandoms: The Cult of TikToker William White\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/spotify-boasts-subscriber-growth-but-reports-losses\">Spotify Boasts Subscriber Growth but Reports Losses\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\u003Chr />\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Symbolic Timing: A Company at the Crossroads\u003C/strong>\u003C/h4>\n\n\u003Cp>These twin revelations, dropping on the same October morning, aren't coincidental - they're symbiotic. The price bumps juice short-term revenue to make \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-to-build-temporary-school-for-harry-potter-actors\">WBD\u003C/a> more appetizing to bidders, while the sale buzz validates the hikes as part of a "value-maximizing" pivot. It's a classic Zaslav gambit: the exec who once preached merger synergies now admits the experiment flopped, saddling the firm with legacy cable woes and streaming wars attrition.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>For Hollywood, this could spark a bidding frenzy, echoing the Paramount saga. But for consumers? Brace for more nickel-and-diming as media giants consolidate power. If \u003Ca href=\"https://quasa.io/media/warner-bros-hands-its-classics-to-bollywood-in-a-bold-new-strategy\">WBD\u003C/a> fetches a premium, great - subscribers might get stability. If not, expect deeper cuts, more ads, and perhaps the ironic fate of HBO's crown jewels getting bundled into someone else's empire. Either way, the banquet's on, and we're all buying the tickets.\u003C/p>","warner-bros-discovery-hikes-hbo-max-prices-while-putting-itself-up-for-sale-a-desperate-bid-for-survival","2025-10-21T16:26:34.000000Z","21.10.2025",{"image":81,"thumb":82},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/pfruFDDAqswRaggH9QxqOHLegXsirpViUapnXIG5.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/pfruFDDAqswRaggH9QxqOHLegXsirpViUapnXIG5.jpg","small",null,1068,0,"en",{"id":14,"title":15,"slug":16,"meta_title":89,"meta_description":90,"meta_keywords":91,"deleted_at":84,"created_at":92,"updated_at":93,"lang":87},"Quasa Media — Growth Hacking in Marketing","All the most interesting and useful about marketing. Exclusive marketing articles you won't find anywhere else.","Marketing, brand, seo, social media, smm, branding","2021-08-10T10:46:47.000000Z","2024-08-25T15:41:21.000000Z",[95,108,119,131,142],{"title":96,"description":97,"slug":98,"created_at":99,"publish_at":100,"formatted_created_at":101,"category":102,"links":103,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":106,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Nubia Unveils RedMagic 11 Pro: The World’s First Gaming Smartphone with Liquid Cooling","The new flagship features a ceramic micropump, a massive 8,000mAh battery, and a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.","nubia-unveils-redmagic-11-pro-the-world-s-first-gaming-smartphone-with-liquid-cooling","2026-03-26T06:45:27.000000Z","2026-04-10T06:40:00.000000Z","10.04.2026",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":104,"thumb":105},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/g3jNseMCCzEO2cZreMfoeEH3R0kh2VsnDf511jwh.png","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/g3jNseMCCzEO2cZreMfoeEH3R0kh2VsnDf511jwh.png",58,false,{"title":109,"description":110,"slug":111,"created_at":112,"publish_at":113,"formatted_created_at":101,"category":114,"links":115,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":118,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Chinese Startup Hypershell Unveils X Ultra Exoskeleton — More Powerful Than an E-Bike","Hypershell, a Chinese company specializing in wearable robotics, has just launched one of the most impressive consumer exoskeletons to date: the Hypershell X Ultra.","chinese-startup-hypershell-unveils-x-ultra-exoskeleton-more-powerful-than-an-e-bike","2026-03-25T21:36:46.000000Z","2026-04-10T03:27:00.000000Z",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":116,"thumb":117},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/xgiykS2Xj3WKWW2BoMKNqCWFJgIrJ1rfykipZMXy.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/xgiykS2Xj3WKWW2BoMKNqCWFJgIrJ1rfykipZMXy.jpg",166,{"title":120,"description":121,"slug":122,"created_at":123,"publish_at":124,"formatted_created_at":125,"category":126,"links":127,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":130,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Your Computer Mouse Can Now Eavesdrop on You","Researchers from the University of California, Irvine have demonstrated a surprising new security threat: an ordinary optical computer mouse can be turned into a covert microphone capable of listening to your conversations.","your-computer-mouse-can-now-eavesdrop-on-you","2026-03-25T21:21:22.000000Z","2026-04-09T11:13:00.000000Z","09.04.2026",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":128,"thumb":129},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/zvGSPNFVpmuJgnlniEHiwPc4aaeGYIVAuwxhouXu.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/zvGSPNFVpmuJgnlniEHiwPc4aaeGYIVAuwxhouXu.jpg",747,{"title":132,"description":133,"slug":134,"created_at":135,"publish_at":136,"formatted_created_at":125,"category":137,"links":138,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":141,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Figure AI Founder Brett Adcock Launches Hark: A New Lab Building True Personal AGI","Brett Adcock, the founder of humanoid robotics company Figure AI, has quietly launched his next ambitious venture: Hark, an AI laboratory dedicated to creating the world’s most advanced personal intelligence.","figure-ai-founder-brett-adcock-launches-hark-a-new-lab-building-true-personal-agi","2026-03-25T20:23:25.000000Z","2026-04-09T09:11:00.000000Z",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":139,"thumb":140},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/C1UuYbaKmb90FPNMq9HupZ84jzRUQmO6HBbSPEPh.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/C1UuYbaKmb90FPNMq9HupZ84jzRUQmO6HBbSPEPh.jpg",874,{"title":143,"description":144,"slug":145,"created_at":146,"publish_at":147,"formatted_created_at":125,"category":148,"links":149,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":152,"likes":86,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Pokémon Go’s 10-Year Legacy: How Millions of Players Accidentally Trained Robots to Deliver Your Food","Ten years after its explosive launch, Pokémon Go continues to deliver surprises — this time, not in the form of rare Pikachu, but in the form of a powerful new navigation system for delivery robots.","pokemon-go-s-10-year-legacy-how-millions-of-players-accidentally-trained-robots-to-deliver-your-food","2026-03-25T20:06:36.000000Z","2026-04-09T06:59:00.000000Z",{"title":43,"slug":44},{"image":150,"thumb":151},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/ceiFSOJQ3diMLwMI4POUSJwIjscAuwf5TWE2DXlN.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/ceiFSOJQ3diMLwMI4POUSJwIjscAuwf5TWE2DXlN.jpg",858,[154,167,181,193,206],{"title":155,"description":156,"slug":157,"created_at":158,"publish_at":159,"formatted_created_at":160,"category":161,"links":162,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":165,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"The Anatomy of an Entrepreneur","Entrepreneur is a French word that means an enterpriser. Enterprisers are people who undertake a business or enterprise with the chance of earning profits or suffering from loss.","the-anatomy-of-an-entrepreneur","2021-08-04T15:18:21.000000Z","2025-12-14T06:09:00.000000Z","14.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":163,"thumb":164},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/mVsXPTMuHZuI7UXCsENgL1Qwp1uSOf7Rz3uVPMfm.webp",68659,2,{"title":168,"description":169,"slug":170,"created_at":171,"publish_at":172,"formatted_created_at":173,"category":174,"links":175,"view_type":178,"video_url":84,"views":179,"likes":180,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"Advertising on QUASA","QUASA MEDIA is read by more than 400 thousand people a month. We offer to place your article, add a link or order the writing of an article for publication.","advertising-on-quasa","2022-07-06T07:33:02.000000Z","2025-12-15T17:33:02.000000Z","15.12.2025",{"title":58,"slug":63},{"image":176,"thumb":177},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/45SvmdsTQbiyc3nxgbyHY1mpVbisYyub2BCHjqBL.jpg","large",68195,4,{"title":182,"description":183,"slug":184,"created_at":185,"publish_at":186,"formatted_created_at":187,"category":188,"links":189,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":192,"likes":180,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"What is a Startup?","A startup is not a new company, not a tech company, nor a new tech company. You can be a new tech company, if your goal is not to grow high and fast; then, you are not a startup. ","what-is-a-startup","2021-08-04T12:05:17.000000Z","2025-12-17T13:02:00.000000Z","17.12.2025",{"title":65,"slug":66},{"image":190,"thumb":191},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/EOsQhSW3VXyG7a6NPdE1oZd00xfJXe3bjY5aJGb7.webp",66267,{"title":194,"description":195,"slug":196,"created_at":197,"publish_at":198,"formatted_created_at":199,"category":200,"links":201,"view_type":83,"video_url":84,"views":204,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":205,"is_pinned":107},"Top 5 Tips to Make More Money as a Content Creator","Content creators are one of the most desired job titles right now. Who wouldn’t want to earn a living online?","top-5-tips-to-make-more-money-as-a-content-creator","2022-01-17T17:31:51.000000Z","2026-01-17T11:30:00.000000Z","17.01.2026",{"title":19,"slug":20},{"image":202,"thumb":203},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/gP8kiumBPpJmQv6SMieXiX1tDetx43VwFfO1P4Ca.jpg",40566,1,{"title":207,"description":208,"slug":209,"created_at":210,"publish_at":211,"formatted_created_at":212,"category":213,"links":214,"view_type":178,"video_url":84,"views":217,"likes":166,"lang":87,"comments_count":86,"is_pinned":107},"8 Logo Design Tips for Small Businesses","Your logo tells the story of your business and the values you stand for.","8-logo-design-tips-for-small-businesses","2021-12-04T21:59:52.000000Z","2025-05-05T03:30:00.000000Z","05.05.2025",{"title":15,"slug":16},{"image":215,"thumb":216},"https://quasa.io/storage/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg","https://api.quasa.io/thumbs/news-thumb/images/news/Wbx2NtS1CnTupgoQbpFMGspJ5jm4uob2hDOq33r0.jpg",39886,[219,220,221,222,223,224,225,226,227,228,229,230,231],{"title":23,"slug":24},{"title":47,"slug":48},{"title":55,"slug":56},{"title":43,"slug":44},{"title":51,"slug":52},{"title":31,"slug":32},{"title":35,"slug":36},{"title":27,"slug":28},{"title":19,"slug":20},{"title":15,"slug":16},{"title":58,"slug":63},{"title":11,"slug":12},{"title":65,"slug":66}]