About HBO Max/Max

HBO Max, and its successor in the US, Max, is a premium video-on-demand subscription service (SVOD) owned by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). It is a major competitor in the streaming industry, offering a vast library of content.

The service is the home for classic HBO original series (like Game of Thrones, Succession, The Last of Us), content from Warner Bros., DC, Cartoon Network, Discovery brands, and Max Originals. It provides a personalized streaming experience with multiple viewer profiles, making it an all-in-one entertainment hub for a wide audience.

HBO Max/Max Affiliate Program Overview

The HBO Max/Max Affiliate Program allows publishers, content creators, and influencers to earn a commission by promoting subscriptions to the streaming service to their audience. Affiliates use unique tracking links to drive new sign-ups, and they are compensated for each successful referral.

Feature Description
Industry Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (Streaming Video On-Demand – SVOD)
Product Type Digital Services/Subscription (Premium video content)
Affiliate Program Type Cost Per Sale (CPS) / Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)

HBO Max/Max Affiliate Program Offers

This section details the resources and rules provided to affiliates to help them promote the service.

Feature Details
Promotional Materials Banner ads, text links, dedicated landing pages, and sometimes specific creatives for new show/movie releases.
Affiliate Cookie Duration Typically 30 days (Some offers or networks, like FlexOffers, may state 7 days, so check with the specific network).
Accepted Traffic Source Websites, blogs, social media (like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook), email marketing (following rules), and sometimes in-app promotions.
Accepted Countries Varies by network and campaign. Often targeted campaigns for the US, and specific regions like EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), which includes countries like Norway, Finland, Sweden, Spain, and Denmark.
Explicit Content Generally not specified, but promotional content must align with the brand’s terms and conditions, avoiding illegal or offensive material.
Religious or political content The affiliate’s promotional platform generally should not contain content deemed illegal, offensive, or controversial, which often includes extreme religious or political commentary.

HBO Max/Max Affiliate Commissions & Payments

The program typically offers a fixed payment for each new, qualified subscriber referral. The specific commission can vary based on the affiliate network and geographic region.

Feature Details
MLM No. It is a single-tier commission program (you earn only on sales you personally generate).
Commission Rate Varies by campaign and region. Examples found include $10.20 per sale (for US campaigns) or €5 for monthly and €15 for annual subscriptions (for specific European markets).
Commission Structure Fixed CPA/CPS (Cost Per Acquisition/Sale) for new, paid subscribers.
Payout Frequency Generally Monthly.
Payout Methods Varies by network, typically Bank Transfer, PayPal, or other network-specific options.
Minimum Payout Varies by network. Some reports indicate No minimum payout for certain platforms, while others follow the network’s standard threshold (e.g., Partnerize or FlexOffers).

Suitable Affiliates for HBO Max/Max Affiliate

The Max affiliate program is highly suitable for content creators and publishers whose audience is deeply interested in entertainment, pop culture, and media. Affiliates who can create engaging content around specific shows or movies will see the best conversion rates.

Affiliate Type Suitability Rationale
Bloggers High Ideal for writing TV show/movie reviews, “Best of” lists, comparison articles (e.g., Max vs. Netflix), and cord-cutting guides.
TikTokers High Great for short, viral clips, reactions, and quick-hit recommendations of Max content.
KOC (Key Opinion Consumer) Medium Suitable if they create personal reviews and authentic “what to watch” guides for their community.
KOL (Key Opinion Leader) High Excellent for media critics, entertainment commentators, or celebrities with a broad cultural audience.
Influencers High Perfect for driving subscriptions through targeted posts, stories, and engaging with trending topics related to Max shows.
YouTubers High Best for in-depth reviews, recaps, analysis, and trailer breakdowns of Max originals and movies.
Video editors Low/Medium While they can contribute to content creation, their primary skill set isn’t directly in audience-building or promotion.
Livestreamers High Effective for live reactions to trailers, watch parties (following legal guidelines), and discussing new releases with a highly engaged audience.

HBO Max/Max Affiliate Software

HBO Max/Max does not use a single, unified in-house system but rather partners with major third-party affiliate marketing networks to manage their programs in different regions.

  • Software Used: Third-party Affiliate Networks
  • Examples of Networks: Partnerize, FlexOffers, AWIN, and historically TUNE (now Impact). The use of these platforms provides reliable tracking, analytics, and payment processing.

3 Alternatives for HBO Max/Max Affiliate Program

The main competitors for the Max affiliate program are other major streaming services. Here is a comparison of Max with three primary alternatives in the streaming affiliate space:

Comparison Factor HBO Max/Max Netflix (Often via Networks) Disney+ Hulu (Often via Networks)
Product Focus Premium TV, Movies, Max Originals, HBO, DC, Discovery content. Wide range of Original Content, Global TV, Movies. Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic content. TV shows (current and library), Hulu Originals, Live TV option.
Average Bill (US Monthly) Starts around $9.99 (with ads) or $15.99 (ad-free) Starts around $6.99 (with ads) or $15.49 (ad-free) Starts around $7.99 (with ads) or $13.99 (ad-free) Starts around $7.99 (with ads) or $17.99 (ad-free)
Entry Fees Free to join (via affiliate networks). Free to join (via affiliate networks). Free to join (via affiliate networks). Free to join (via affiliate networks).
Withdrawal Threshold Varies by network (e.g., Partnerize/FlexOffers standard). Varies by network. Varies by network. Varies by network.
Payment Frequency Typically Monthly. Typically Monthly. Typically Monthly. Typically Monthly.
Commission (US Example) ~$10.20 CPA/CPS (Fixed). Fixed CPA (Amount varies, often similar range to Max). Fixed CPA (Amount varies, often similar range). Fixed CPA (Amount varies, often higher for Live TV plans).
Conversion High for fans of premium, critically acclaimed, and specific IP content (e.g., DC, HBO, Discovery). High due to global brand recognition and diverse library. High for family/kids demographics and strong IP fandoms (Marvel/Star Wars). High for users wanting current season TV and the Live TV option.
Marketing Materials Banners, text links, specific assets for new releases. Banners, text links. Banners, text links, dedicated creative for all major IP. Banners, text links, creative for new shows and bundles.