HBO Max is now "MAX" in the US

[CHJ85]

Hi there. The HBO Max addon still works in the US. But the website "hbomax.com" now redirects to max.com. So if the addon stops working for Americans one day, that is something it keep in mind. Perhaps you should roll out an update that responds to max.com if hbomax.com is not responding. That way, we're not gonna have that issue.
Alternatively you could just create a separate MAX addon with the new MAX branding. The latter might be a better idea, as MAX combines all the content from HBO Max and Discovery+. So it might use a different API than HBO Max. Because when I search for Discovery+ programs within the HBO Max addon now, I get nothing.

[8traxrule]

It stopped working for me in the US, it says I am out of region. Changing locations with my VPN doesn’t help. Hope this can get fixed.

[8traxrule]

Actually it still is working when I switch my VPN to Mexico.

[27hectormanuel]

New subscribers who resubscribed through max.com won't work properly

[CHJ85]

Some NordVPN locations are working for me.
But yea. They seem to be shutting down their old API or something, as it was working for me this morning.
So a new MAX addon is definitely needed. The website structure is still the same though.
So at least you won't have to build it completely from scratch.
Btw. The new device login URL is https://max.com/sign-in and they only allow digits now, not letters. So that needs to be fixed as well.

[matthuisman]

id prefer just to update this addon.
Isn't "MAX" going worldwide?

[CHJ85]

@matthuisman Eventually, yes. But it's going to take some time. Here's what I found:
*Perrette reiterated WBD’s plans to rollout the new combined product in the U.S. first, then Latin American territories in fall 2023, followed by Europe in early 2024 and Asia-Pacific in mid 2024, with “new markets” to be tapped come fall 2024." Source: https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/max-streaming-service-hbo-warner-discovery-1235579785/
So I guess we can expect another 2 years before it's fully there.
No worries though. Just rename the HBO Max addon to "HBO Max (not Max)" to avoid confusion.

[matthuisman]

looks like there is a new app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wbd.stream and new API.
So, it will be a new "Max" add-on.

HBO Max addon will stay as-is and new "Max" add-on will be written.
Then eventually HBO Max will be retired once it no longer exists

[matthuisman]

progress update
managed to record all the api calls last night from their android tv app.

At stage of having OK TV code login and profile selection.
Work on content display next

Might try get the basics out and then slowly add features.

Basics will be:

1. login / logout
2. profile selection
3. content navigation and playback

[markeymark]

I can confirm that only USA accounts use the new max.com, every other region I have tried via hbomax.com still work

[27hectormanuel]

Guys, I was able to begin playback on a Windows build of Kodi in FHD. (Using another method of grabbing the MPD/DRM auth token from another app not from Android) Perhaps, Matt could find a way to make it fully work because my method did not function all the time. Also, via Edge Chromium I appear to get a Max (no pun intended) of 720p.

[matthuisman]

there whole api has changed and became much "simpler". so if we are lucky - they have removed a bunch of the widevine restrictions (fingers crossed). I'll be at the playback testing stage today / tonight

[matthuisman]

I can confirm that only USA accounts use the new max.com, every other region I have tried via hbomax.com still work

great - thanks for checking :)
Ill send out a message to USA users of HBO Max advising a MAX add-on is on its way

[27hectormanuel]

there whole api has changed and became much "simpler". so if we are lucky - they have removed a bunch of the widevine restrictions (fingers crossed). I'll be at the playback testing stage today / tonight

Where can I share my findings with you? I would post it here but sharing it here would make unauthorized access easier.

[matthuisman]

no need currently. ill let you know if i need

[27hectormanuel]

Ads seem to be embedded to the stream as well so you should also test with multiple "tiers" accounts. All preexisting HBOMAX users have the Ultimate tier free for 6 months. I currently have access to the Ad supported & Ultimate with a different cable log in.

[CHJ85]

@markeymark @matthuisman True. Only US, for now. Latin America follows in a few months, then Europe and Asia next year. Apparently this is a slow process due to licensing and such. Because now they're essentially combining 2 streaming services into one (HBO Max and Discovery+). And I heard they're coming out with yet another streaming service soon called WB TV. This one will be competing with Pluto TV and Tubi and the likes. You know. A while bunch of linear TV channels, classic movies and shows Hopefully this will also be integrated with Max.

[matthuisman]

is the hgtv go / discovery go still valid now with Max?

[CHJ85]

@matthuisman Yes. I just tested the website watch.hgtv.com as well as the addon.
But those are actual TV channels though. They're not shutting them down anytime soon I think.

[matthuisman]

i meant - can i get rid of that addon and just have Max? Or do they do separate things?

[CHJ85]

@matthuisman No. I mean, you can if you want. That's your choice. But HGTV Go is attached to your TV subscription. You don't get it without already paying for a cable TV subscription or Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV or so on. Whereas Max is a standalone streaming service.

[matthuisman]

but max you can sign-in with TV / cable provider as well right?
If someone has a TV subscription that works for HGTV GO, will it also work with MAX?

Max i dont think allows streaming the channels though

[CHJ85]

Right. Max does not have live TV. Although, you can sign in with Hulu if you're paying or Max via Hulu as an addon.
That's how I'm paying for Max btw.

[CHJ85]

Btw @matthuisman If it's not too much to ask (it probably is)...
Small complaint regarding the new Max service. The shuffle option that HBO Max had is now gone. Was great to throw South Park on as background noise.
So if you can find a way to somehow implement that feature, I'd be extremely grateful.
But if it involves a lot of work and headache, don't worry about it.

[27hectormanuel]

Btw @matthuisman If it's not too much to ask (it probably is)... Small complaint regarding the new Max service. The shuffle option that HBO Max had is now gone. Was great to throw South Park on as background noise. So if you can find a way to somehow implement that feature, I'd be extremely grateful. But if it involves a lot of work and headache, don't worry about it.

Shuffle would be a great option.

[27hectormanuel]

You don't get Max with HGTV Go, as far as I know...
WB TV is already out there via Tubi/Roku streaming channels. Those could be brought to this Max Add-on easily.

[matthuisman]

Btw @matthuisman If it's not too much to ask (it probably is)... Small complaint regarding the new Max service. The shuffle option that HBO Max had is now gone. Was great to throw South Park on as background noise. So if you can find a way to somehow implement that feature, I'd be extremely grateful. But if it involves a lot of work and headache, don't worry about it.

anything is possible :)

I'd try to add a generic shuffle at the common layer on any folder of any addon
It would then search through all subcontent of that folder and add to a kodi playlist and then shuffle that
that was my plan anyway

[CHJ85]

Okay thanks @matthuisman

[27hectormanuel]

Any progress?

[jlcueto]

HBO Max when clicking on Movies or any of the choices is now displaying:

HBO Max - Error
API request failed
Server Error: Sorry, we can't find that title right now. Please try again later. (OK)

HBO Max in the USA is not working anymore for me because I believe it is using a different API.

[matthuisman]

Read this issue. That is known already

…

On Tue, 30 May 2023, 8:49 am jlcueto, ***@***.***> wrote: HBO Max when clicking on Movies or any of the choices is now displaying: HBO Max - Error API request failed Server Error: Sorry, we can't find that title right now. Please try again later. (OK) HBO Max in the USA is not working anymore for me because I believe it is using a different API. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#454 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABPQAKIWQMMDPC35ZSUSXILXIUDW7ANCNFSM6AAAAAAYMCBX54> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[CHJ85]

@Distanasia Read the thread. He's working on a separate addon for Max, as most of the world still uses HBO Max and does not migrate over till later this year and next.

[jjplano]

Hi @matthuisman

First of all, thank you for the addon!

HBO MAX was deactivated today in Latin America and is only available through the max.com domain and the MAX app.

Any chance to update the addon?

Thank you very much!

yeah, can confirm. they're probably gonna roll worldwide access to max.com in the next couple of months. and I don't even have a Chromecast anymore at home...

thanks @matthuisman for all the work, much appreciated

[markeymark]

Just wanted to say that for some strange reason my Argentina account still works when I use a VPN set to one of the countries in Europe where HBOMAX is still active..........

[markeymark]

Again you are wrong......Yes I'm in Europe, however I have an Argentina account, which I can use on the MAX website (USA & LATAM) I cannot use it on the HBOMAX website, even with a VPN as the API is different.

What I can do is use the add on that I never logged out of, which pulls from the HBOMAX API (European countries).....I imagine this is something to do with the token within the settings.xml

Hopefully this has cleared this up for you, and hopefully others will be able to continue to use their MAX account the same way.

@matthuisman apologies if it went off track, but this is possibly something to explore further? I can do some further research tomorrow and report back if I have a solution

[gmjh123]

I already give you the solution kid. get a top notch VPN service (because many don't work that well) and connect kodi through it to a server of a country where HBOMAX still works, and that's it.

accounts have no nationanality, you're struggling to undertand that, sadly.

I don't really understand this. I can't use my hbo max account on the login page as it's in a different format to the USA max login. There wouldn't be any point in using my VPN because I can't get past the login page.

[markeymark]

**gmjh123 ** commented Mar 19, 2024

Exactly, this guy is talking absolute rubbish.........however if you still had your old settings.xml from the HBOMAX add on you can still use it by connecting to a European VPN in a country that still uses the old API..........this was the whole point of my original post before that guy just hijacked it spouting crap......

[gsziklai]

HBO Max will be replaced by MAX in many EU countries (Iberia, Scandinavia, Central Europe) on May 21st. fingers crossed for the new add-on :)

[zuzia-dev]

MAX has been in the US for almost a year. Sorry to ask, a plug will be created?