HBO Max wants to know if you’re really loving that show or movie – and it’s not just being nosy
- HBO Max deploys a feedback system
- You’ll be able to like, like, or dislike whatever you’re watching, just like other streaming services offer.
- This should help provide better recommendations
Just days after raising prices on all three of its packages, HBO Max is rolling out a new review system – not to respond to the recent increase, but to find out what content you actually enjoy. It’s similar to what other streamers have implemented — looking at you, Netflix — to help you organize your watchlist and ultimately recommend shows and movies you’ll actually enjoy watching.
This is different from the general alert that may appear during long binge sessions to check if you’re still watching. Instead, when you’re on a movie, TV show or documentary page, you’ll be able to give feedback via a new “Kudos” icon. Additionally, you might see a title card appear elsewhere in the interface asking if you liked a particular show.
HBO Max uses a simple system of three ratings – Love, AsAnd Not for me. By using them, the streamer is essentially implying that you are helping to craft your own personalized recommendations on the platform. If you have multiple users, this will impact each individual profile.
Essentially, if you love Or as content, HBO Max will recommend similar titles – and if you select Loveit will even generate a whole new row filled with content you’ve marked as favorites. This should make it easier to re-watch or binge-watch your favorite shows.
If you choose Not for me for a specific title, that title will be deprioritized and is unlikely to be recommended again. The goal is to surface better recommendations as you browse and provide an easy place to see content you really enjoyed. In my case it will be Limit your enthusiasm.
The rating scale is similar to what some of the top streaming services offer, but it highlights another layer of HBO Max’s algorithm for recommending content. We’ve seen Prime Video incorporate AI into its recommendations, while Netflix and Disney use proprietary formulas based on your viewing history and new releases to give you the best options. Of course, most services will continue to promote their latest and greatest series or films.
HBO Max’s new ratings system is a step in the right direction, even if it comes at a time when subscribers are frustrated by yet another price hike. On its three packages – Basic with Ads, Standard and Premium – HBO Max, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, increases its prices by up to $2 per month or $20 per year.
However, subscribers who interact with the commenting system will have more control over what the streaming service recommends. The new feature is now rolling out to HBO Max’s mobile apps (i.e. Android and iOS), web, and select TV platforms.
On one page – let’s say, for The last of us Or Limit your enthusiasm – you will move to the “Thumbs Up” icon, click on it and an overlay will appear asking you to mark the content as Love, AsOr Not for me. It’s quite simple.
Let us know what you think of this new feedback system in the comments below – and if you’re sticking with HBO Max.
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