Shoppable Pause Ads
WBD streaming ad format allowing viewers to shop directly from a paused content screen.
Last refreshed: 17 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Shoppable Pause Ads
Launched as an AI surface that triggers overlay ads when Max viewers pause
Media's AI Pivot: WBD ships agentic ads on its last upfront- What are WBD Shoppable Pause Ads?
- Shoppable Pause Ads are a Warner Bros. Discovery ad format that displays shoppable overlays when a viewer pauses content on HBO Max or discovery+. Launched at the 2026 Upfront under the Shop with Max brand.Source: event
Background
Shoppable Pause Ads is a Warner Bros. Discovery ad product announced at the company's 2026 Upfront presentation on 13 May 2026, under the "Shop with Max" banner alongside the Scene-Level Moments format. The product activates when a viewer pauses content on HBO Max or discovery+, displaying a shoppable overlay linked to products relevant to the scene or the viewer's viewing history. WBD positioned the format as bridging the gap between entertainment engagement and commerce intent, a pattern first popularised by Peacock's pause ads and now spreading across the US streaming market .
The Shoppable Pause Ads announcement is part of WBD's broader effort to diversify revenue streams ahead of the Paramount Skydance acquisition, which is expected to close in Q3 2026. As the merged entity would represent one of the largest US streaming footprints, advanced ad formats capable of generating direct e-commerce attribution are central to the combined company's pitch to advertisers.