Warner Bros. Discovery renames six HBO channels and revives Cinemax

Warner Bros. Discovery said on Monday that it has renamed six of its U.S. HBO linear channels and will roll those new names into the live channels available inside HBO Max, as the company continues to pivot its branding and expand distribution internationally. The changes take effect immediately in the United States, and come as HBO Max also becomes available as an add-on subscription on Amazon Prime Video in Australia following the streamer’s March debut there.

Under the U.S. relaunch, HBO2 will be called HBO Hits, HBO Signature will become HBO Drama, and HBO Zone will be HBO Movies. The company is also reviving the Cinemax name for three former MAX channels: MoreMAX will be Cinemax Hits, ActionMAX will be Cinemax Action and 5starMAX will be Cinemax Classics. Officials said the updated names will appear on pay television lineups and in HBO Max’s live in-app Channels, a feature that lets subscribers stream simulcast HBO programming on select plans.

The rebranding follows a broader corporate shift to emphasize the HBO identity. The streamer was renamed Max in 2023 to reflect the wider Warner Bros. Discovery catalog, but was reverted to HBO Max in July 2025, a move company leaders...