HBO Is Quietly Killing Off Some of Its Most Beloved Channels

Another wave of legacy TV is coming to an end.

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced it will shut down several long-running multiplex channels, including HBO Family, ThrillerMax, MovieMax, and OuterMax, effective August 15, 2025. 

The change is part of a broader strategy to phase out underused linear offerings as audiences continue shifting toward streaming.

Originally launched in 1996, HBO Family carved out a niche as a kid- and family-friendly alternative to the network’s adult content. For years, it was the home for children’s programming and specials that no longer aired on HBO’s main lineup. While the channel featured some original content, it mostly served up reruns of family films and animated series.

ThrillerMax, MovieMax, and OuterMax—Cinemax-branded offshoots launched between 1998 and 2001—also focused on genre-specific programming like horror, sci-fi, and youth-targeted action fare. All are now being phased out due to declining viewership and evolving business priorities.

The move was first flagged by Cord Cutters News, which noticed a customer alert from Spectrum. Warner Bros. Discovery later confirmed the closures to Variety, citing a consolidation of its linear offerings.

Viewership for multiplex channels has steadily dropped in the wake of the streaming boom. These channels were once bundled with HBO or Cinemax subscriptions, offering extra value to premium cable customers. But today, the lion’s share of HBO content is consumed via HBO Max, which has been rebranded to Max but is returning back to HBO Max.

Notably, HBO Family’s closure also marks the final exit of the brand’s family programming from cable. Shows like Sesame Street, once a staple, have already moved to streaming exclusivity.

While Warner Bros. Discovery plans to spin off many of its basic cable networks into a separate company, HBO and its main family of content remain central to the core business, but are now increasingly geared toward on-demand viewing.

For long-time cable subscribers, the writing’s been on the wall for a while. This latest move just makes it official: the multiplex era is ending.