This spring, AT&T will be transitioning Audience, formerly known as the Audience Network, into an HBO Max marketing channel. This is one of many moves that AT&T is likely making to unify its content and direct consumers to their future streaming service.
It is unknown how many employees at the channel’s headquarters in El Segundo, California, will be impacted. An AT&T spokeswoman said “workforce needs will be evaluated.” Considering HBO’s huge push for original content, there should hopefully be opportunities elsewhere for employees within the corporation.
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What is AT&T’s Audience?
- The channel launched as FreeView in November 1999. It became The 101 Network in 2005, and the Audience Network in 2010. Since 2016, it has been simply known as Audience.
- The channel still has three original shows running including Loudermilk, Condor, and You Me Her. They are between seasons, and it will be up to WarnerMedia chairman Bob Greenblatt to decide whether they continue.
- Loudermilk, Condor, and the recently-concluded Stephen King adaptation Mr. Mercedes have all received strong critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Mr. Mercedes currently has a spin-off, also a Stephen King adaptation, on HBO called The Outsider. It ranks No. 2 on our list of best shows streaming this month.
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What is HBO Max?
HBO Max is a streaming service coming May 2020. It has a monthly cost of $14.99, which is higher than Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. You do, however, get access to a fantastic back catalog of HBO and Warner content, amongst others.
From 2020, HBO Max will be the exclusive home of The Office (US), Friends, Big Bang Theory, classic movies like Casablanca, Harry Potter, Lord of The Rings, and all DC movies. Clearly, the Audience channel will have a lot of content to market from HBO Max.
Our prediction is that the DC Universe streaming platform will be next on AT&T’s chopping block.
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