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HBO Max is rolling out a new feature called “curated channels,” which keeps fan-favorite shows and franchises playing in a continuous feed, think Friends and the World of Westeros lane for Game of Thrones fans.
This week, the top-tier streamer began rolling out curated channels in the U.S., a feature that plays like a leaner, on-demand-friendly version of old-school TV. It’s a lean, on-demand-friendly throwback to old-school TV: instead of picking an episode, you pick a channel built around a franchise or genre and drop into a stream that just… keeps going. No browsing. No bargaining with your own attention span.
Quick Info:
- Who gets it: Select users in the U.S.; shows up on adult profiles under the “channels” rail
- What it includes: 12 curated channels at launch, mixing big franchises and genre lanes (think Friends, Harry Potter, DC, true crime, holiday).
- How it works: When you click in, HBO Max starts you at the beginning of whatever episode is currently “playing,” with playback controls to rewind, fast-forward, or skip to the next queued episode.
What Are HBO Max’s “Curated Channels,” Exactly?
Think of them as themed playlists that behave like a channel. HBO Max lines up episodes (or films, depending on the channel), starts the stream, and you hop in when you’re ready. According to reporting on the rollout, you enter at the beginning of whatever episode is currently “playing,” and you can use normal playback controls to rewind, fast-forward, or skip ahead to the next episode in the queue.
In other words: it’s “live” in spirit, but still lets you drive the car.
Availability is also worth noting. Warner Bros. Discovery’s messaging around the launch emphasizes that the feature is for select HBO Max users in the U.S. right now, and it’s surfaced on adult profiles under a “channels” rail on the homepage. TheWrap also reports it’s available across subscription tiers for those who have access.
What Channels Are Available At Launch?
At launch, there are 12 curated channels, split between big comfort-food franchises and easy “set it and forget it” genre lanes. Here’s the list TheWrap shared:
- Adult Animation
- The Big Bang Theory
- DC
- Friends
- Harry Potter
- Holiday Favorites
- Middle-earth
- Rick and Morty
- The Sopranos
- Sex and the City
- True Crime
- World of Westeros
The Verge’s rundown frames it the same way: franchise-heavy feeds (like Friends, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and DC) plus broader “vibes” channels like true crime and holiday specials.
What It’s Like To Use
If you’ve ever wished streaming apps had a “just feed me the show” button, this is that button.
Curated channels are built for the exact moment when your brain is cooked from work, kids, doomscrolling, or the general sensation of being perceived by too many apps at once. You don’t have to commit to an episode number. You don’t have to remember where you left off. You don’t have to pretend you’re doing “a rewatch” when really you just want something familiar running in the background while you fold laundry like a doomed pioneer.
HBO Max is also leaning into a subtle social benefit: when something is always “on,” two people in different places can hit the same channel and feel like they’re watching together, even if it’s loosely, even if one of them is mostly there for the vibes–the kind of passive shared viewing as part of the appeal.
And for the serial rewatchers (you know who you are), the channel approach scratches a specific itch: it recreates the rhythm of cable reruns, where episodes tumble forward without you micromanaging the night.
Why HBO Max Is Doing This Now
This is not HBO Max randomly reinventing TV out of nostalgia. It’s a product move, and a pretty logical one.
Streaming platforms have spent the last decade teaching audiences to binge on demand, then discovered the downside: infinite choice can feel like zero choice. Curated channels reduce friction, increase time spent watching, and keep people inside the app. TheWrap quotes WBD product executive Liesel Kipp describing the feature as an option for when people want a “steady stream” of favorites without deciding what’s next.
It’s also an extension of something HBO Max has already been experimenting with. The service previously launched always-on channels designed to mirror the content running on linear HBO channels, and these curated channels feel like the more flexible, more IP-forward evolution of that idea.
The Real Win: Effortless Rewatch Lanes
The biggest value here might be that HBO Max is basically building ready-made comfort corridors through its library.
Want background comedy that never asks you to pay attention too hard? Friends or Big Bang Theory. Want dragons, betrayal, and the creeping realization everyone you like is in danger? World of Westeros. Want a full-body rewatch of prestige TV misery as a form of self-care? There’s The Sopranos for that.
The holiday channel, meanwhile, is a quiet little power move. December is when people crave “something seasonal” without wanting to scroll through twelve subgenres of Christmas content to find it.
What To Watch For Next
Right now, the key phrase is “select users,” which usually translates to “rolling rollout.” If you do not see the channels rail yet, you’re not alone.
But if HBO Max expands access, curated channels could become one of those surprisingly sticky features that changes how people use the service day to day. Not because it’s flashy, but because it removes the most annoying part of streaming and replaces it with the one thing modern viewers consistently crave: press play, stop thinking.
How To Find HBO Max’s Curated Channels
If you have access to the rollout, it’s simple:
Open HBO Max, go to the Home tab, and look for the “Channels” rail. It typically appears on adult profiles (not kids profiles). From there, pick a channel (like Friends, World of Westeros, or True Crime) and hit play to drop into the continuous feed.
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19 Comments
The idea of ‘themed playlists that behave like a channel’ is an interesting concept, and it will be fascinating to see how users respond to this new feature and whether it will change the way we consume content on streaming platforms.
I’m excited to try out the curated channels feature, especially the ‘true crime’ and ‘holiday specials’ channels, which seem like great options for mindless viewing and relaxation.
The mention of ‘lean, on-demand-friendly throwback to old-school TV’ is an apt description of curated channels, as it combines the best of both worlds, providing users with a continuous feed of content without the need for constant browsing.
The fact that users can enter at the beginning of whatever episode is currently ‘playing’ and use normal playback controls to rewind, fast-forward, or skip ahead to the next episode in the queue is a great feature that provides flexibility and control.
I’m skeptical about the impact of curated channels on the overall user experience, will it simplify the viewing process or create more confusion, especially for users who are accustomed to the traditional browsing method?
With the availability of curated channels on adult profiles under the ‘channels’ rail on the homepage, it’s clear that HBO Max is targeting a specific demographic and trying to provide a more personalized experience for its users.
The introduction of curated channels on HBO Max is a great move, as it provides users with a more personalized and flexible viewing experience, and it will be interesting to see how this feature develops in the future.
The fact that curated channels are a ‘leaner, on-demand-friendly version of old-school TV’ is a great selling point, as it provides users with a unique viewing experience that’s different from other streaming services.
I’m concerned that the curated channels feature may lead to a lack of discovery of new content, as users may stick to the channels and shows they know and love, rather than exploring other options.
The inclusion of a ‘World of Westeros’ channel for Game of Thrones fans is a great example of how curated channels can cater to specific fan bases and provide a continuous feed of content that they love.
This could be a game-changer for fans of other popular franchises, providing them with a dedicated channel that plays all their favorite episodes and movies.
The introduction of curated channels on HBO Max, with 12 channels at launch, seems like a strategic move to combat decision fatigue and provide a more traditional TV experience for its users, especially with the inclusion of big franchises like Friends and Harry Potter.
The rollout of curated channels on HBO Max is a significant development in the streaming industry, and it will be interesting to see how other platforms respond to this move and whether they will adopt similar features.
I’m excited to see how the curated channels feature will change the way we consume content on streaming platforms, and whether it will lead to a shift towards more traditional TV-like viewing experiences.
The ‘Sex and the City’ channel is a great option for fans of the show, providing them with a continuous feed of episodes and movies that they love.
I’m curious to know how the playback controls will work on these curated channels, will we be able to skip episodes or rewind to a specific scene, and how will it affect the overall viewing experience?
The fact that curated channels are available across all subscription tiers for select users in the U.S. is a great move by HBO Max, making it more accessible to a wider range of audiences.
This move could potentially increase user engagement and retention, as it offers a unique viewing experience that’s different from other streaming services.
I’m curious to know how the curated channels feature will evolve over time, will new channels be added, and will users be able to create their own custom channels?