AT&T says HBO Max streaming service will launch in May

AT&T says its HBO Max streaming service will launch in May, joining a crowded field.

The company has said HBO Max will become the “workhorse” for its video business as cord-cutting of traditional TV expands. The service grew out of AT&T’s $81 billion purchase of Time Warner, which AT&T has overhauled and rechristened WarnerMedia.

HBO Max will challenge Netflix alongside Disney , Comcast and Apple . It has not yet announced pricing. But it will launch a version of HBO Max with ads in 2021, a new twist for a brand that is known for its lack of ads.