Max Debuts in Australia With New Black-and-White Look and 4K Streaming Options

Warner Bros. Discovery is expanding its global streaming footprint, officially launching Max in Australia on March 31. Alongside the debut, the service revealed a fresh monochrome logo—swapping out the familiar blue for a sleek black-and-white design meant to channel HBO’s premium legacy.

Australian subscribers can now access Max across a wide range of devices, with three plan tiers to choose from: Basic With Ads (A$11.99/month), Standard (A$15.99) and Premium (A$21.99). For those who sign up by April 30, 2025 discounted intro pricing is available for the first year—starting at A$7.99/month for the ad-supported tier.

The Premium tier brings the best of Max’s technical offerings, including support for 4K UHD resolution, Dolby Atmos audio (when available) and up to 100 offline downloads. The Standard plan offers full HD playback on two devices, while the Basic With Ads plan also supports two-device HD streaming—but with ads and no offline viewing.

“Australians are already familiar with the iconic franchises behind Max—from HBO and Warner Bros. to DC and Discovery,” said JB Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery. “This launch brings them all together under one platform.”

For full pricing and plan details, visit max.com/au.

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Advanced HDR by Technicolor Lives On Despite Company’s Bankruptcy

The HDR format landscape just got a twist—while Technicolor filed for bankruptcy in February 2025, its HDR tech didn’t vanish with it. Instead, Advanced HDR by Technicolor is sticking around, now under the ownership of InterDigital, who quietly acquired the IP ahead of the bankruptcy.

Originally developed in collaboration with Philips and InterDigital, the format retains its original name and continues to see light in select devices, especially those geared for over-the-air broadcasting via ATSC 3.0.

Although it never reached the popularity of HDR10, Dolby Vision, or HDR10+, Advanced HDR by Technicolor was among the first HDR standards introduced to consumers. LG once pledged support but later pulled back, as noted in reviews of their 2020 OLED line. Now, support has shifted to newer Hisense and RCA TVs equipped with next-gen tuners, as well as set-top boxes from brands like Tolka and Geniatech.

So where does it stand today? Consider it the fifth active HDR format—just behind HDR10+, and ahead of China-exclusive HDR Vivid. With HDR content demand continuing to grow, particularly in live sports and hybrid streaming/broadcast ecosystems, InterDigital sees a promising future for its niche format.

“HDR demand is only growing in 2025,” said Valérie Allie, Senior Director at InterDigital. “Our work with partners like Plex signals that there’s room for more than just the big three formats—especially when it comes to real-time content delivery across all platforms.”

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Netflix’s ‘Counterattack’ Dominates Weekly Streaming Charts With 18.6M Views

The latest Netflix streaming rankings are in, and the Mexican action thriller Counterattack has taken the No. 1 spot globally, leading the non-English-language movie charts with an impressive 18.6 million views through March 2.

Over in the English-language movie category, Sony Pictures’ Venom: The Last Dance secured the No. 1 position with 12.8 million views.

On the international movie front, Japan’s anime sensation Demon City took the No. 2 spot with 9.6 million views, while France’s Squad 36 and Denmark’s A Copenhagen Love Story tied at No. 3 with 7 million views each.

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Max Streaming Service Launches in Australia on March 31

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that Max, its premium streaming service, will officially launch in Australia on March 31, 2025. The platform, already available in the U.S. and other international markets, will bring HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Discovery content, and Max Originals to Australian viewers.

Subscription and Availability:
Max will be available for subscription via www.max.com and major app stores, including Apple and Google Play. It will be supported on mobile devices, tablets, gaming consoles, and connected TVs, including Hubbl. Additionally, Warner Bros. Discovery has partnered with Foxtel, allowing Foxtel subscribers to access the Max app at no extra cost.

The service will offer three pricing tiers:
– Premium (expected to include 4K UHD, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos)
– Standard
– Ad-supported
More details on pricing and features will be announced closer to launch.

What to Expect on Max Australia:
Subscribers will have access to blockbuster franchises and top-tier TV shows, including:

• HBO & Max Originals: The Last of Us (Season 2), House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Peacemaker, and upcoming titles like It: Welcome to Derry.
• Warner Bros. Movies: Barbie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Twisters, and more.
• Popular Franchises: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, DC Universe, Friends, Rick and Morty.
• Discovery+ and Lifestyle Content: 90 Day Fiancé, Outback Opal Hunters, and family-friendly shows like Ben 10 and We Bare Bears.

Expanding Global Reach:
Warner Bros. Discovery is expanding Max globally, and Australia is one of its key markets. “We’ve been clear that the globalization of Max is a top priority, and Australia represents one of our biggest new markets,” said J.B. Perrette, CEO of Global Streaming at WBD.

With a vast catalog of blockbusters, iconic series, and premium streaming quality, Max is set to compete with Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+ in Australia.

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Netflix’s ‘La Dolce Villa’ Tops Weekly Streaming Charts With 19.8M Views

The week of Valentine’s Day proved to be a major success for Netflix, with romance movies dominating the streamer’s global Top 10 charts. Leading the pack was the Italian getaway romance La Dolce Villa, starring Scott Foley, which topped Netflix’s English-language movie rankings with 19.8 million views, hitting the Top 10 in 90 countries.

Following closely behind, Amy Schumer’s comedy Kinda Pregnant secured the No. 2 spot with 13.7 million views. Meanwhile, action and animated films continued their momentum—Aftermath, starring Dylan Sprouse, ranked No. 3 with 10 million views.

Nostalgia played a big role this week, with all three Shrek movies landing in the Top 10. The original Shrek ranked No. 4 (7M views), Shrek 2 at No. 5 (6.1M views), and Shrek the Third at No. 10 (3.6M views).

In the non-English-language rankings, France’s Honeymoon Crasher dominated the movie charts with 11.4 million views.

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Gladiator II to Stream on Paramount+ Starting January 21

Paramount+ has announced that Gladiator II, the highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, will be available for streaming on January 21. This blockbuster sequel became one of the top-grossing films of 2024, earning $455.8 million worldwide.

Following its theatrical release, interest in the original Gladiator surged, with a 96% increase in viewership on Paramount+. Both films are now available on the platform, providing fans the opportunity to relive the epic saga of Ancient Rome.

The sequel continues the story of Lucius (played by Paul Mescal), years after the heroic death of Maximus. As Lucius faces the brutality of the Colosseum and the oppressive rule of Rome’s tyrannical emperors, he must draw on his uncle’s legacy to restore honor to the empire.

With a star-studded cast featuring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington, Gladiator II has received critical acclaim. It boasts a “Certified Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and multiple award nominations, including Golden Globes and BAFTA Film Awards.

For physical media enthusiasts, Gladiator II will be released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 4, 2025.

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LG Display Unveils Brightest OLED TV Panel Yet

LG Display has officially announced its fourth-generation OLED TV panel, setting a new standard in the OLED market. With a stunning peak brightness of 4,000 nits, this innovation is already being featured in highly anticipated 2025 models like the LG G5 and Panasonic Z95B.

The standout feature of the new panel is its proprietary Primary RGB Tandem structure, which includes a four-layer light source, optimized for unprecedented brightness and energy efficiency. This design leverages independent layers of blue, red, and green elements, surpassing the three-stack configuration of earlier OLED generations.

According to LG Display, the fourth-gen panel delivers a 33% increase in brightness over its predecessor and is finely tuned for the demands of the AI TV era. Additionally, it boasts a 40% improvement in color brightness, reaching up to 2,100 nits for enhanced vibrancy. All of this is achieved without relying on micro-lens array (MLA) technology, further showcasing LG’s engineering prowess.

Competing in the ever-intensifying OLED brightness wars, Samsung Display is also making waves with its latest QD-OLED panels. However, LG Display’s glossy panels with ultra-low reflective technology aim to offer a different appeal for home theater enthusiasts.

While these technical advancements push OLED technology further, implementation in consumer TVs may vary, as manufacturers balance brightness with energy efficiency and panel longevity. What’s certain is that LG’s newest OLED design ensures perfect blacks, wide viewing angles, and rapid response times — all trademarks of the OLED experience.

Expect to see this groundbreaking panel in action as the latest TVs hit the market in the coming months. As the OLED race heats up, 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for 4K and home theater enthusiasts.

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Disney+ Embraces HDR10+

Disney+ has officially announced its adoption of HDR10+, the advanced high dynamic range (HDR) format known for delivering superior picture quality with dynamic metadata. This upgrade promises viewers a richer, more immersive experience with enhanced brightness, contrast, and color accuracy—perfect for 4K enthusiasts.

The announcement was made at CES 2025. This move places Disney+ alongside other major streaming platforms like Prime Video and Apple TV+ in supporting HDR10+.

Disney+ already supports Dolby Vision (DV), another dynamic metadata HDR format, which provides scene-by-scene optimizations for brightness and color. By adding HDR10+, Disney+ expands its HDR compatibility, offering more flexibility to viewers whose devices may not support Dolby Vision but can leverage HDR10+ technology.

Unlike standard HDR formats, HDR10+ optimizes image quality on a frame-by-frame basis, creating a more lifelike visual experience. It’s also a cost-effective solution for content creators and distributors, as it offers global certification, streamlined implementation, and no licensing fees.

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HDMI 2.2: The Future of Bandwidth and Audio Sync

The HDMI Forum has officially announced HDMI 2.2, the latest specification in home theater technology, at CES 2025. With a groundbreaking bandwidth of 96Gbps, HDMI 2.2 supports ultra-high resolutions, refresh rates, and introduces innovative features to address long-standing audio and video synchronization issues.

A key part of this specification is the introduction of the new Ultra96 HDMI cable, designed to fully enable HDMI 2.2 features. The specification includes support for 4K at up to 480Hz, 8K at up to 240Hz, and even 10K at 120Hz—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for displays and home theater systems.

While these advancements future-proof HDMI for years to come, their adoption will depend on the availability of compatible content and devices. For now, features like 4K at 144Hz—already common in many TVs—will see incremental improvements.

One standout feature of HDMI 2.2 is the new Latency Indication Protocol (LIP), aimed at solving persistent audio/video synchronization issues. This protocol ensures seamless performance across setups involving AV receivers, soundbars, or other multi-hop configurations, making frustrating delays a thing of the past.

To prevent counterfeit cables and ensure quality, the HDMI Forum has also introduced anti-counterfeit labeling on packaging for Ultra96 cables, along with a robust certification program for manufacturers.

HDMI 2.2 is expected to roll out in the first half of 2025 and will be available to all HDMI 2.x adopters. However, both your TV and external devices must support the specification to unlock its full potential.

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