HBO's no good very bad rebrand

The Vergecast

Vox Media Podcast Network

News, Tech News, Technology

4.4 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2025

⏱️ 113 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Names are hard — but they don't have to be this hard. Nilay, David, and The Verge's Jake Kastrenakes start the show with some personal news, before digging into the monumentally silly thinking behind Warner Bros. Discovery re-re-naming its streaming service HBO Max. After that, and some more streaming news, we turn our attention to the gadget news of the week, including the long-awaited release of CarPlay Ultra and the latest announcements from the Android team at Google. Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for Brendan Carr is a Dummy, some debate on the future of Airbnb, and a brief party speaker update. Because the mystery continues. Further reading: It’s not Max, it’s HBO Max Max was an all-time bad rebrand How HBO’s creatives survived corporate chaos ESPN’s standalone streaming app launches this fall for $30 a month Fox One streaming service will arrive just in time for football season Netflix’s ad tier is growing really fast — and that means more ads Netflix is bringing back Star Search as a live show YouTube will stream an opening week NFL game for free Peacock’s NBA coverage will add an overlay with live shot stats Apple’s CarPlay Ultra is finally here, if you have a new Aston Martin Apple’s fancy new CarPlay will only work wirelessly Android 16 Material Three Expressive UI coming in beta this month Google’s splashy new Android UI is coming in beta this month. It’s Dieter! Warner Bros. is launching a cinematic universe for brands Here's How NBCU Is Integrating Brand Sponsors for SNL50 FCC threatens EchoStar licenses for spectrum that SpaceX wants to use Airbnb’s new app has all of your vacation extras in one place Email us at [email protected] or call us at 866-VERGE11, we love hearing from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Here's the truth about AI. AI is only as powerful as the platform it's built into.
0:05.7	ServiceNow puts AI to work for people across your business, removing friction and frustration
0:11.1	for your employees, supercharging productivity for your developers, providing intelligent
0:16.5	tools for your service agents to make customers happier. All built into a single platform you can use
0:22.2	right now. That's why the world works with ServiceNow. Visit ServiceNow.com slash UK slash AI for people.
0:30.9	Kate's just off to work after sleeping in the best bed in the business. And my word, doesn't she look
0:36.4	ready for anything?
0:38.3	Something about her smile is just brighter.
0:40.3	Her eyes seem glintier, and she just feels so much more katier.
0:46.3	Of course it's no surprise really, because last night she slept at Premier Inn,
0:50.3	and she got up to 15% off with Business Booker.
0:53.3	You better sleep for your money premier in rest easy
0:57.9	teas and c is apply the autopilot order noun informal the strong urge felt at the ordering kiosk or
1:05.4	drive-thru that takes over the entire body and mind and results in a person ordering a Big Mac without even having to think.
1:11.7	Related phrases. Looks like I've ordered a Big Mac again. The autopilot order at McDonald's.
1:18.2	Surf from 11am subject to availability.
1:22.1	Hello and welcome to our podcast, the flagship podcast, but pretending that everyone has Aston Martins.
1:28.5	You know, just all everybody.
1:30.2	Who does it?
1:31.0	One of the great flexes of all time
1:32.8	is being able to say,
1:34.1	our product has begun rolling out
	...

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