Billboard has published a guide to HBO Max, explaining what the streaming service offers and how prospective viewers might access it without paying upfront. The key point for consumers is that HBO Max no longer runs its own free trial; the article suggests the only route to a free trial is indirectly, by signing up as a new subscriber to DirecTV, which bundles HBO Max within its packages.

DirecTV's five-day free trial comes via its "Premier" package, priced at $129.99 for the first month and $169.99 monthly thereafter, carrying more than 185 channels plus other streamers. HBO Max itself starts at $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year) for an ad-supported plan, rising to $18.49 monthly for ad-free and $22.99 for a Premium ad-free tier with 4K picture and four simultaneous streams; a bundle with Hulu and Disney+ begins at $19.99 per month, a 31% saving. The service, formerly called Max, combines HBO, Warner Bros. and Discovery content, with titles such as House of the Dragon, The Last of Us and Euphoria, alongside films and live sport from leagues including the MLB and NHL.