HBO Max Threatens NASCAR Engagement With $185 Barrier to Key Race Footage
One misfire after one other, NASCAR’s engine is sputtering. Amid plummeting scores and declining viewership, the game faces one other blow, this time from its personal broadcast ecosystem. Warner Bros. Discovery, one of many inventory automotive racing large’s key media companions, might have simply pushed the ultimate nail into the coffin with its flagship streaming arm, HBO Max.
The platform’s current worth hike has solely worsened NASCAR’s 2025 broadcast disaster. As fan frustration mounts over declining protection high quality and accessibility, HBO Max’s newest replace threatens to alienate its dwindling viewers even additional.
Has HBO Max Simply Made Watching NASCAR Even More durable?
To grasp the present predicament, it’s important to analyze NASCAR’s viewership disaster first. In a growth many would think about unthinkable, the NHRA, the drag racing pioneer, not too long ago outdrew the oval racing large in TV numbers. Whereas followers roared for Denny Hamlin after his emotional win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the course of the South Level 400, the NHRA quietly pulled forward with 1.872 million viewers to NASCAR’s 1.717 million.
This example is especially surprising as a result of NASCAR is on this disaster regardless of securing its largest-ever media rights deal, a large $7.7 billion settlement with Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon Prime, FOX Sports activities, and NBC. But, satirically, the primary title on that record may need simply dealt the game a devastating blow.
Famend racing journalist Jeff Gluck shared the information, revealing that HBO Max has considerably raised its subscription charges, which is able to straight have an effect on NASCAR followers. “It’s going to now price $185 a yr to get the NASCAR in-car cameras,” Gluck wrote on X. “It’s value it for me since I want these for masking races, however actually an expensive add-on.”
It’s going to now price $185 a yr to get the NASCAR in-car cameras. It’s value it for me since I want these for masking races, however actually an expensive add-on. 🫠 https://t.co/VFjGqCxStJ
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 22, 2025
Efficient instantly for brand spanking new subscribers, HBO Max has rolled out its newest worth changes, marking the third consecutive yr of will increase because the platform’s 2020 launch. As of Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, the up to date plans are structured as follows:
The ad-supported Primary plan, which permits streaming on two gadgets concurrently, now prices $10.99 monthly (up $1) or $109.99 yearly (up $10). The ad-free Commonplace plan, additionally streaming on two gadgets, is now $18.49 monthly (up $1.50) or $184.99 per yr (up $15). Lastly, the Premium plan, providing ad-free 4K content material and streaming on as much as 4 gadgets, is now $22.99 month-to-month (up $2) or $229.99 yearly (up $20).
It is very important notice that new subscribers shall be charged the revised charges instantly. Nonetheless, current month-to-month subscribers will obtain a 30-day discover, with the rise taking impact on their subsequent billing cycle starting November 20, 2025, or later.
This worth hike comes after the supplier launched its progressive NASCAR Driver Cam characteristic in February, giving motorsports followers an unprecedented front-row expertise. The providing gives full entry to each driver throughout the 2025 NASCAR Cup Collection season, full with layered audio that blends workforce radio chatter and uncooked automotive sounds.
On supported gadgets, viewers can benefit from the motion by way of a crisp 1080p Driver Cam feed, delivering an immersive, inside-the-cockpit perspective like by no means earlier than. Followers can nonetheless take pleasure in these options, however solely by burning a gap of their pockets.
