HBO’s History at a Glance

It has nearly been 40 years since HBO appeared on the scene and since then it has strived to bring to its audience worldwide the best in films and television. HBO’s entry into the television industry in the beginning of 1970s reshaped the entire industry into a whole new image. Right from day one it has pursued innovations that have had a transformative effect on the television industry and its technology. And, over the last 4 decades it has only been getting better and better, redefining the television experience every few years and in the process keeping its audience enthralled. After its entry into the industry, subscription television became synonymous with HBO itself. And, it also redefined the world of cable programming in a short span of time. However, HBO’s vision was not limited to only providing content; they also had their eyes set on content creation. At the same time it was critical to their success that they dig deep into the television, motion pictures and home video industries. In the 1980’s HBO also began its foray into diverse entertainment sectors in an attempt to merge them into a global entertainment industry. Movie production, original television, international distribution and home video sales were few of these sectors. Today with a presence in 70 countries around the world HBO surely has traversed a long distance from being a domestic movie channel to becoming a mammoth international cable-and-satellite network. It has managed to create a unique brand of original programming through cult shows like The Sopranos and Sex and the City, which have been appreciated by fans from around the world. It’s the innovative, provocative and award-winning productions that have gained HBO recognition and appreciation from not only the American audience but from those around the world. Over the years, HBO’s productions have certainly been Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy favorites, and that too in all the possible genres. ‘Six Feet Under and The Wire’ and ‘Band of Brothers and Angels in America’ have both been extremely successful miniseries. Comedies like ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and ‘Def Comedy Jam’ and sports shows such as ‘Inside the NFL’ and ‘Real Sports’ have also added to the variety of HBO’s offerings. The network’s success in original programming can be gauged by the fact that it produced six consecutive Oscar-winning documentaries between the year 1999 and 2004. HBO's programming has had a transformative effect on cable television as a whole since its inception and the network continues to influence and shape popular culture and the entertainment industry itself. It is continually striving to bring to its audience the best and the latest content. Now, after nearly 40 years, HBO has won several accolades in all four major genres of television production i.e. drama, comedy, sports, and documentaries and it is showing no signs of slowing down as it continues to roll out one great production after another, year after year. It is this ability of HBO to reinvent itself with changing times while maintaining the same old dedication to providing the best in entertainment that has helped it maintain its position right at the front of the pack in this cut-throat competitive industry.