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Wikipedia

Home Box Office, Inc.

January 01, 1970

This article is about the Warner Bros. Discovery subsidiary. For the namesake pay television channel, see HBO.

Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) is an American multinational media and entertainment company operating as a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.

Home Box Office, Inc.
Headquarters of HBO at 30 Hudson Yards, New York City
HBO Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
PredecessorSterling Communications
(1961–1973)
FoundedFebruary 28, 1973; 51 years ago (1973-02-28)[1]
FounderCharles Dolan
Headquarters30 Hudson Yards, New York City[2],
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Casey Bloys (president/Head of Programming)
  • Elana Loewenthal (CMO)
Products
Brands
Revenue US$5.890 billion (2016)
US$1.928 billion (2016)
ParentWarner Bros. Discovery
Divisions
Subsidiaries
Footnotes / references
[3][4][5]

Founded by Charles Dolan and based out of WarnerMedia's former corporate headquarters at the 30 Hudson Yards complex in the West Side of Manhattan, its main properties include its namesake pay television network Home Box Office (HBO), sister service Cinemax, HBO Films, and the international HBO Go streaming service. (A secondary HBO-branded service, Max, is operated under sister subsidiary Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment, which shares principal management with Home Box Office, Inc.) It has also licensed or maintained ownership interests in international versions of HBO and Cinemax, most of which are managed by Home Box Office, Inc. through sister division Warner Bros. Discovery International.

The company has achieved several pioneering innovations in the cable television industry, including its satellite uplink of HBO as the first television network in the world to transmit through that technology, and the development of original programming for pay television.

History edit

Origins as Sterling Communications edit

HBO, Inc.'s origins trace to December 1, 1965, when Charles Dolan—who had already done pioneering work in the commercial use of cables—was granted a franchise permit by the New York City Council to build a cable television system encompassing the Lower Manhattan section of New York City (traversing southward from 79th Street on the Upper East Side to 86th Street on the Upper West Side). Along with Dolan, TelePrompTer Corporation (which was assigned most of Upper Manhattan) and CATV Enterprises Inc. (which was assigned part of the city's Upper West Side, extending north of the Harlem River, and The Bronx's Riverdale neighborhood) were also awarded cable franchise permits on that date. Dolan's maiden television venture was Teleguide, a closed-circuit television system started by his initial company, Sterling Movies U.S.A., in June 1962; it distributed a schedule of tourist information, news, interview segments and feature interstitials to hotels, and by 1964, apartment buildings and office buildings in the New York metropolitan area.[6][7][8]

Through Dolan's Sterling Information Services subsidiary, Manhattan Cable TV Services began limited cable service in September 1966. Manhattan Cable (renamed Sterling Manhattan Cable Television in January 1971) was the first urban underground cable television system to operate in the United States.[9][10] Rather than string up cable on telephone poles or use microwave antennas to receive the signals, Sterling had laid new cable lines beneath the streets of and into buildings throughout Manhattan, and repurposed Teleguide's existing cable infrastructure for use by the new operation. Sterling's use of underground cables complied with a longstanding New York City Council ordinance—originally implemented to prevent broad-scale telephone and telegraph outages, after a severe blizzard affecting the Northeastern United States in March 1888 had caused widespread damage to above-ground utility lines in the area—requiring all electrical and telecommunication wiring to be laid underground to limit weather-related service disruptions, and because the multitude of tall buildings on Manhattan Island subjected television signals to reception impairments.[11] Dolan curried the financial backing of Time-Life, Inc. (then the book publishing unit of Time Inc.), resulting in Manhattan Cable becoming one of its first cable system properties. Despite the investments from Time-Life's share of Sterling (initially 20% at the beginning of operations), Sterling Manhattan consistently lost money throughout its first six years of operation; the company incurred much of its debt from underground wiring expenses (costing as much as $300,000 per mile), and its difficulties attracting new subscribers to generate income (Manhattan Cable managed to receive only around 400 customers by 1967).[11][12][13] On August 27, 1969, Sterling Communications consolidated ownership of the cable assets: it acquired Time-Life's 49% share in Sterling Manhattan, in exchange for stock and other assets worth $1.84 million. (Time-Life's interest in Sterling Communications concurrently increased from 25% to 44.5%.)[14][15]

Dolan was looking for a way to help his struggling cable company grow to become financially viable. In the summer of 1971, during a family vacation to France aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2, Dolan conceived "The Green Channel", a codenamed concept for a cable-originated television channel that would be distributed via Sterling Manhattan and other participating cable systems. The proposed service would offer unedited theatrical movies licensed from the major Hollywood film studios and live sporting events, all presented without interruptions by advertising and sold for a flat monthly fee to prospective subscribers. Dolan wanted to offset the service's start-up costs by having Sterling enter into carriage agreements with other cable television providers to transmit and sell the service to their customers, and draw revenue from fees charged to subscribers who added the channel onto their existing cable service (which then consisted exclusively of local and imported broadcast stations). Dolan later presented his idea to management at Time-Life, who, despite the potential benefit to the company's cable assets, were initially hesitant to consider the "Green Channel" proposal. In the early 1970s, the cable television industry was not very profitable, and was under constant scrutiny from FCC regulators and the major broadcast television networks (CBS, NBC and ABC), who saw cable as a threat to their viability. Attempts to launch pay television services had been done on an experimental basis in the United States dating to 1951 (among them, Phonevision in New York City, Chicago and Hartford; SubscriberVision in New York City; Telemeter in Palm Springs, California; and Telemovies in Bartlesville, Oklahoma) with little to no success, muzzled by campaigns backed by movie theater chains and commercial broadcasters to assuage television viewers to the supposed threat of pay television to the movie industry and free-to-air television access, limited user interest, and FCC restrictions on the types of programming that could be offered to subscription services. Undeterred, Dolan managed to persuade Time-Life to assist him in backing the project.[11]

After the Federal Communications Commission ruled that local governments could not restrict the operation of subscription television services in cable franchise terms, in July 1971, Sterling Communications—now consisting of Sterling Manhattan; its Long Island-based sister system, Sterling Nassau Cable Television; production firm Allegro Films; and direct-to-cable programming firm Television Presentations Inc.—informed the FCC that it planned to operate a cable-originated pay television service. Because Sterling's New York City Council franchise grant specifically required FCC approval for that purpose, Time/Sterling filed an FCC request to authorize pay television operations. Sterling indicated that a subscription television operation would also help Sterling Manhattan fund its fledgling local origination channel, which had incurred $1 million in start-up debt on top of annual company operating losses of $250,000.[16] On September 10, 1971, the FCC gave preemptive authorization to Time-Life and Sterling Manhattan Cable to begin a pay television operation.[17][18] On November 2, 1971, Time Inc.'s board of directors approved the "Green Channel" proposal, agreeing to give Dolan a $150,000 development grant for the project.[11][13][19]

Early history; dissolution of Sterling edit

 
The entrance to the former HBO headquarters at 1100 Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan

The namesake Home Box Office (HBO) pay television network was founded by Dolan—as a joint venture between Sterling Communications and its co-partner, Time Life Broadcast Inc.—in 1972. The service—originally to have been called the "Sterling Cable Network", before Dolan and his development team settled on naming it "Home Box Office", originally intended as a placeholder name to meet publishing deadlines for the service's announcement memorandum and research brochures—launched on November 8, 1972, over Teleservice Cable (now Service Electric)'s Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, system. Time Life originally planned for HBO to debut on a Teleservice system in Allentown, but, per an agreement with Teleservice president John Walson, moved the launch system to the company's Wilkes-Barre system to avoid blackouts of NBA games (specifically those featuring the Philadelphia 76ers, with which HBO was unable to materialize a television agreement to accompany its planned broadcasts of New York Knicks games) that were scheduled to air on the service. Programming on HBO initially consisted of theatrical films and event programming (much of which was sourced to the service through an agreement with Madison Square Garden that dated to 1969, and was extended to allow regional broadcasts one week before HBO launched), arranged in the form of a double feature, or a single movie presentation paired with either a sports or special event (often bridged by a short film or other interstitial content); by 1974, when the service began offering programming during the l concert specials and other music programs, daytime children's programs and various instructional series were added to the schedule.[20][11][21][22][23] Originally headquartered from the Time-Life Building on Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) in Midtown Manhattan, HBO initially relayed its programming via a network of microwave relay towers throughout the Northeastern United States to participating cable systems carrying the channel;[24][25][26]

On February 28, 1973, Sterling Communications announced it would spin-out HBO and associated assets into Home Box Office, Inc., a new subsidiary created in accordance with the sale of 9% of Sterling's HBO equity to Time Inc. (expanding its controlling shares to around 75% of HBO's equity) and a $3-million direct investment. Sterling also raised Time's equity in the company to 66.4% in exchange for the added HBO stake, through the purchase of additional stock and a converted $6.4-million note obligation. Dolan—who reportedly had major disagreements with Time-Life management on policy issues, claims which the company denied—subsequently resigned as chief executive officer of Sterling Communications and Home Box Office, accepting a $675,000 buyout of a portion of his stock while remaining on the board of directors at both companies in the interim; Dolan used portions of the sale's proceeds to repurchase Time's share of the Sterling Nassau systems and to start the Long Island Cable Community Development Co. (the forerunner to Cablevision Systems Corporation, that would be combined with the Sterling/Cablevision systems on Long Island) as the system's parent company. Gerald M. Levin—an entertainment industry attorney previously with New York City-based law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, who had been with Home Box Office since it began operations as its director of finance, and later as its vice president and director of programming—replaced Dolan as the company's president and CEO; by September, he was joined by Time Life vice president J. Richard Munro as chairman of Home Box Office as well as Time-Life Broadcast's other subsidiaries, Manhattan Cable Television and NBC affiliate WOTV (now WOOD-TV) in Grand Rapids, Michigan (which became the company's lone conventional broadcasting property, after Time sold its other broadcast television properties as it began expanding into cable system ownership).[27][28][29][30][31]

On May 9, 1973, reportedly because of high start-up and operating costs for HBO and other Sterling cable assets, Time announced it would sell its controlling share of Sterling to Warner Communications for $20 million. Time intended to convert the 260,000 convertible notes it held in Warner's cable television unit, Warner Cable Communications, into common stock shares totaling up to 20% in interest. Sterling would then maintain oversight of Home Box Office under Warner's purview.[32][33][34] The Time-Warner cable deal was terminated on June 27, after both companies failed to reach a definitive agreement to sell HBO and the other Sterling subsidiaries to Warner; financial arrangements made between Sterling and the New York City Council as part of their 20-year noncompete franchise agreement were alleged to have curtailed the sale.[8][35][36]

On July 19, 1973, Time Inc. reached an agreement to purchase and assume financial liabilities of Sterling Communications for $6.2 million (including $3.1‐million in redeemed public debentures). Time completed its acquisition of Sterling on September 18, 1973, formally dissolving the Sterling holding company and transferring Home Box Office and Sterling Manhattan Cable to its Time-Life division. The "Sterling" name was subsequently removed from the Manhattan and Long Island systems, with the Manhattan unit being renamed "Manhattan Cable Television". (Time's purchase of Sterling was the subject of a $97-million class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 28, 1973, by 15 former Sterling stockholders who accused Time and its corporate board of "conspiracy" to depress the value of Sterling stock in order to "force" the sale at below market value "far less than its true value.")[37][38][33][34][39] As the acquisition was being completed, the service had struggled to grow to complete viability: by October, it had around 8,000 subscribers and was carried on 13 cable systems in Pennsylvania and southern New York State with a combined 110,095 subscribers,[40][41] and it was suffering from a significant churn rate as subscribers who found the channel's program scheduling repetitive, because of the limited allotment of movies outside of special events, decided to cancel their service.[40]

On April 11, 1975, Levin and Time-Life unveiled plans to distribute the HBO signal via satellite under a transponder leasing agreement with RCA Americom Communications, intending to distribute its programming to cable systems and multipoint distribution services throughout the United States. Levin reached an agreement to distribute the HBO satellite feed on eight UA-Columbia Cablevision systems in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, Arkansas and Washington State, and build earth station receivers to intercept and relay the signal to the UA-Columbia systems' headends. HBO also signed a $7.5-million agreement (including $6.5 million allocated by Levin) with RCA Americom to lease a transponder on the then-under construction Satcom I, which was expected to be launched at the end of 1975, for a five-year term. Cable television equipment manufacturer Scientific Atlanta (through a client arrangement with Transcommunications Corp.) also intended to build earth-based satellite transmitting stations for setup outside of HBO's Manhattan headquarters and at the headend sites of the client cable systems that reached agreements to receive the signal ahead of the satellite launch.[42][43][44][45][40]

HBO began continuously transmitting via satellite on September 30, 1975, for the broadcast of the "Thrilla in Manila" heavyweight championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier from the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Philippines. The broadcast that marked the television industry innovation was received by UA-Columbia Cablevision's Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, Florida, systems, and American Television and Communications Corporation's Jackson, Mississippi system, alongside systems already receiving HBO via microwave beforehand in the northeastern U.S. The service temporarily retransmitted its signal from transponder on Westar 1 for the first three months of satellite transmissions, before switching to Satcom I when that satellite commenced commercial operations on February 1, 1976.[40][46][25][47] It also gradually turned around the fortunes of HBO: at the time Time-Life, Inc. bought the remaining interest of the channel in September 1973, HBO's subscribership amassed only 8,000 customers across 14 Pennsylvania cable systems[40] and was hampered by significant churn rate as some subscribers cancelled their service because of the repetitive scheduling of programming. By 1980, HBO was carried on cable and MMDS providers in all 50 U.S. states, with more than three million subscribers nationwide.[40] Other cable channels followed HBO's footsteps in satellite distribution; in December 1976, Atlanta independent station WTCG-TV—now WBD-owned basic cable service TBS, and owned by Ted Turner at the time it went national—became the first television broadcaster to transmit via satellite as a basic cable service, pioneering the "superstation" concept (non-network-affiliated television stations that transmit on a regional or national basis primarily through cable). This, along with the CBN Satellite Service (now Freeform) launching by satellite in April 1977—pioneered the development of basic cable, using HBO's blueprint of utilizing satellite delivery for the cable television industry.[25][48] In May 1976, Gerald Levin was promoted to chairman and CEO of Home Box Office Inc., succeeded as company president by Manhattan Cable president Nicholas "N.J." Nicholas Jr.[49]

Home Box Office v. FCC; acquisition of Telemation edit

The ability of Home Box Office and other pay television services to offer a wide array of content was challenged on March 20, 1975, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) updated its pay-cable regulations to modify anti-siphoning regulations that further limited the operations of HBO and other movie- and sports-based cable services (including local and regional subscription television operations). Under the regulations, cable-originated services could not devote more than 90% of their programming schedule to theatrical motion pictures and sporting events, and could not broadcast movies released within three years of their initial theatrical exhibition. Specific sporting events (such as annual tournaments) could not be "siphoned off" by cable services if such events had been televised on broadcast television within the past five years, and regular season games involving major sports leagues was limited to allow a proportion of games to continue to be shown on broadcast television or else cable programmers would be required to limit their sports programming proportionately should over-the-air sports telecasts decline. On November 3, Home Box Office Inc., Manhattan Cable Television, five other cable television system operators (American Television and Communications Corp., Viacode, UA-Columbia Cablevision, Warner Cable Communications and TelePrompTer Corp.) and competing pay-cable programming operator Theatrevision filed a joint appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, alleging the rules violated antitrust statues by inhibiting competition, exceeded FCC authority and violated cable programmers' First Amendment rights by regulating their access to content. (Network executives, National Association of Broadcasters officials and other broadcast industry representatives also were critical of the rules as administrative record did not support FCC allegations of content "siphoning" by cable-originated services. NBC and ABC, however, requested re-consideration of an increase to the minimum period of exclusive broadcast exhibition of movies from two years to three.)[50][51][52] Earlier in 1975, the film exhibition rules prevented HBO from licensing two 20th Century Fox films released well outside the two-year window, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sound of Music (1965).[53][54]

Though rules for movies and sports were tightened, the FCC conversely drafted relaxed rules limiting pay television services from airing a television series unless it has had no prior conventional television broadcast, suggesting allowing pay services to carry series not purchased by broadcast outlets, under contract to a local station in any media market, not shown on broadcast television for at least three years or with 50 episodes or less to be available for pay syndication. However, cable programmers and the Motion Picture Association of America petitioned for the rules to be eliminated.[55] The initial joint appeal and a separate objections by the U.S. Department of Justice[56] and Metromedia were consolidated by the Court of Appeals into Home Box Office v. Federal Communications Commission.

On June 24, 1976, Home Box Office Inc. reached an in-principle agreement to purchase Telemation Program Services, a supplier of programming from individual program distributors to pay-cable systems. HBO sought Telemation to extend the channel's distribution to the 180,000 subscribers (across 40 cable systems) to which the company provided content distribution; theoretically, this would allow Telemation to accommodate a custom feed of HBO to a system owner that declined to offer the service (such as for objections to carry R-rated movies). (Telemation later merged with a separate program marketing unit formed in April 1979, HBO Program Services, in 1980.)[57]

On March 29, 1977, the District of Columbia Appeals Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Home Box Office v. FCC, overturning cable television anti-siphoning rules. (Similar rules applying to over-the-air pay television were affirmed in the ruling.) The 105-page decision held that the FCC trespassed on the First Amendment rights of cable operators, pointing that cable bandwidth was not a scarce resource and therefore, was not subject to limitations affirmed in the Supreme Court's 1969 Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC ruling (which upheld equal time provisions in the Fairness Doctrine). The court applied the O'Brien test (determining the FCC had failed two of its four "prongs" or standards) and found that the degree of limitation of free speech imposed by the FCC was inadequate, "grossly overboard" and thereby "arbitrary, capricious and unconstitutional" to the rights of pay-cable telecasters. The decision gave free rein for Home Box Office and other pay cable services to acquire movie and sports rights without restriction, opening the door for services like HBO to engage in library content agreements for older films and, more broadly, the ability of cable-originated services to acquire a broad spectrum of sporting events (albeit with league-determined protections to ensure events are distributed on both broadcast and cable networks).[58][59] A subsequent appeal decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on October 3, 1977, affirmed the ruling by refusing to review the District of Columbia Appeals Court's overturning of the pay-cable rules.[60][61]

Early expansion; challenges to indecency statutes edit

As the HBO television service was growing nationally, Time-Life tried to develop companion pay services to sell to prospective subscribers, including existing HBO customers. Home Box Office's first attempt at a secondary service was Take 2, a movie channel marketed at a family audience that launched in April 1979. The "mini-pay" service (a smaller-scale pay television channel sold at a discounted rate) tried to cater to cable subscribers reluctant to subscribe to HBO because of its cost and potentially objectionable content in some programs. Take 2, however, was hampered by a slow subscriber and carriage growth, forcing Time-Life to shut down the channel in May 1980.[62]

HBO executives then decided to develop a lower-cost "maxi-pay" service: on May 18, 1980, Home Box Office Inc. announced during that year's National Cable Television Association Convention its plans to launch Cinemax, a companion movie channel designed as a direct competitor to The Movie Channel (then owned by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, part-owned by Warner Bros. Discovery predecessor Warner Communications) initially focused on movies chosen for their appeal to select audience demographics. Cinemax was designed to complement HBO (designated as a higher-tier "foundation [premium] service"), and avoid difficulties associated with bundling multiple "foundation" pay services.[63] Cinemax launched over 56 cable systems in the Eastern and Central Time Zones on August 1, 1980. (A West Coast feed for the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones launched on September 1.)[64][65] Compared to Take 2, Cinemax experienced far greater success because it relied on classic feature films from the 1930s to the 1970s, mixed with some more recent films, incidentally benefiting from the limited headend channel capacity offered by cable systems and customer demand for uncut broadcasts of theatrical movies. HBO traditionally marketed Cinemax to cable operators for sale to subscribers as part of a singular premium bundle with HBO, available at a discount if electing to subscribe to both channels. As Cinemax evolved, it expanded into non-film programming content, including music specials, some limited original and acquired programming (such as SCTV Channel and Max Headroom) and, most notably, late-night softcore pornographic films and series; the adult programming—initially offered as part of the "Friday After Dark" block, eventually expanding to all seven nights by the start of the 1990s—became a key draw for Cinemax subscribers, and the main association with the channel in pop culture. Pornographic adult programming on began to be de-emphasized from the linear Cinemax and HBO Zone channels' late-night programming in 2011, as part of the former's refocusing toward its mainstream feature films and a then-emerging slate of original action series, and was removed entirely from Home Box Office's linear and on-demand platforms in 2018.[66][67]

The 1980s also saw HBO join three separate lawsuits concerning municipal and state-level statutes that would have legally prohibited cable systems from transmitting "indecent" content—specifically, programs that featured descriptions of or depicted "illicit" sexual acts and/or nudity—which Home Box Office Inc. and cable systems that challenged the laws saw as overbroad and in violation of the First Amendment, and would have precluded HBO and other pay television networks from airing programs containing material that may be considered inappropriate.[68] Two of these involved statutes in Utah: HBO and four Utah cable systems sought a permanent injunction to a 1981 statute passed by the Utah State Legislature to restrict indecent cable program content, which was granted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah Judge Bruce S. Jenkins on November 17, 1981; the statute was declared unconstitutional as a violation of the First and 14th Amendments in a separate ruling by Jenkins on January 13, 1982.[69][70] A second attempt at addressing obscene cable programming, the Cable Television Programming Decency Act, was declared unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds by Utah District Court Senior District Judge Aldon J. Anderson on April 10, 1985, in a case filed by HBO, Community Television of Utah and several viewer groups;[71] a modified form of the statute was ruled as a violation of the First Amendment by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on September 10, 1985,[72] and affirmed as unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court on March 23, 1987, formally asserting that the subscriber-based model of cable television precluded programming content from being regulated in the same manner as broadcast television.[73] A separate city ordinance in Miami that would have allowed the revocation of Miami Cablevision (now operated by Comcast)'s franchise license for carrying programs that the city manager deemed "obscene or indecent" was struck down by Judge William Hoeveler of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on August 3, 1983, on the grounds outlined in Jenkins' ruling, and affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on April 10, 1985.[74][75]

On September 27, 1984, Home Box Office Inc. announced it would acquire a 15% equity share in Black Entertainment Television (BET), which would be accumulated under a "contribution" arrangement in which BET will stop paying a monthly lease to the transponder that HBO had then leased to BET until the accumulated lease amount matches what the latter would have paid fellow minority shareholders Taft Television & Radio Company and Tele-Communications Inc. BET repurchased all of Time Warner's stock in April 1996 in a $58-million transaction.[76] In 1985, the operations of Home Box Office Inc. were relocated to facilities on West 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue in the Bryant Park district of Midtown Manhattan.

Home video, production and television ventures edit

Film and television production edit

HBO Entertainment
 
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983)
Headquarters30 Hudson Yards,
New York City, New York
,
United States
ProductsMiniseries, television programs
ParentHome Box Office, Inc.

Home Box Office, Inc. began diversifying its portfolio beyond cable television during the 1980s. In 1982, HBO entered into a joint venture with Columbia Pictures and CBS Theatrical Films to form Tri-Star Pictures (the hyphen in the name was removed in 1991); the new studio was created as a means for the three entities to pool resources to split the ever-growing costs of making feature films. The studio's first production, Kevin Costner-led The Natural, was released in 1984. Tri-Star entered into the television production business, in April 1987, with the formation of Tri-Star Television. Towards the second half of the decade, the partnership transitioned into a singularly owned entity: CBS sold its ownership stake in the studio in November 1985,[77] followed by HBO/Time Inc. in December 1986. HBO transferred its venture shares to Columbia Pictures, which integrated Columbia and Tri-Star into the umbrella company Columbia Pictures Entertainment. (As of 2020, TriStar operates exclusively as a film production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Its television unit was merged with Columbia Pictures Television and joint venture studio Columbia TriStar Television in 2002 to form Sony Pictures Television).

Film production for the HBO television service commenced in 1983, through the formation of HBO Premiere Films, which was originally developed to produce original made-for-cable movies and miniseries with higher budgets and production values compared to other television films. The film division began producing original movies for the network in 1983 with the debut of The Terry Fox Story, a biographical film on the amputee runner who embarked on a cross-country run across his home country of Canada that was cut short by the advanced-stage osteosarcoma that ended his life through associated complications soon afterward. Differing from most television films produced for cable television, most of the original movies produced by HBO have featured major film actors over the years, ranging from James Stewart to Michael Douglas. The unit—which would be rechristened HBO Pictures in 1986—expanded beyond its telefilm slate, which was scaled back, and soon ventured into independent film production.[78][79][80] In 1985, HBO made a co-financing agreement with Orion Pictures in order to finance Three Amigos!, in order to receive half of the film's planned budget.[81] When HBO Pictures was formed, HBO entered into a limited partnership with Thorn EMI to form Silver Screen Partners. The first L.P. of its kind to be developed for the financing of feature film production, Silver Screen released only seven films between 1983 and 1986. Most of these were not commercial or critical successes, with the minor exception of the 1985 comedy film Volunteers.[62]

A secondary internal film production unit, HBO Showcase, was created in 1986 to focus primarily on high-quality drama productions. One of its productions, 1989's Age Old Friends, became the unit's first film to earn Primetime Emmy Awards, respectively for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Hume Cronyn) and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Vincent Gardenia). In January 1996, HBO Showcase was superseded by HBO NYC Productions, a New York-based studio focusing primarily on HBO original movies as well as occasional drama series productions for the network.[82] Time Warner consolidated HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions into a singular unit, HBO Films, in October 1999. Since then, the division has expanded into theatrical film productions distributed by sister company Warner Bros. Pictures and its subsidiaries, in addition to continuing to produce HBO's slate of original movies.[83] In 1987, HBO entered into another limited partnership to create Cinema Plus L.P. The studios' most notable film was Ricochet (a co-production with Silver Pictures); other titles produced throughout Cinema Plus' existence included Mom and Dad Save the World, Switch and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. All of the films—none of which were critical or commercial successes—were released between 1991 and 1992, and were distributed theatrically by HBO sister company Warner Bros. Pictures.

Home Box Office, Inc. entered into television production outside of the flagship HBO channel in 1988, with the formation of HBO Downtown Productions. In addition to handling the production of comedy specials for HBO, the channel produced program content for Comedy Central (such as Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist). A secondary television production unit, HBO Independent Productions (HIP), was formed in October 1990. The Los Angeles-based production company specialized in television series and specials for broadcast, cable and syndicated television as well as lower-budget theatrical films. Throughout its 16-year existence, HIP primarily produced sitcoms for broadcast television and basic cable networks (including Martin, Roc, The Ben Stiller Show and Everybody Loves Raymond).[84]

Home video edit

HBO Home Entertainment
 
FormerlyThorn EMI Video (1980–1985)
Thorn EMI/HBO Video (1985–86)
HBO/Cannon Video (1986–87)
HBO Video (1987–1993; 2003–2009)
HBO Home Video/HBO Savoy Home Video (1994–2003)
Company typeDivision
IndustryHome entertainment
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
Defunct2020; 4 years ago (2020)
FateTransferred to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment in 2019
Headquarters
United States
ProductsHome video releases
ServicesHome video
Digital distribution
ParentWarner Bros. Home Entertainment

During the early 1980s, HBO had an agreement with Vestron Video to distribute some of HBO's made-for-cable films and specials (such as The Terry Fox Story); Vestron had been created by former HBO executive Austin Furst, who had been assigned to dismantle the assets of Time-Life Films.

On February 21, 1984, as the broader entertainment industry began to drop their objections to and begin releasing their films through the then-burgeoning home video marketplace, HBO announced plans to launch a home video unit, and began conversations with executives at both Vestron and Thorn EMI Video, in hopes that a joint venture between the network and at least one of the two video distributors could be established.[85] HBO ultimately selected Thorn EMI, and that November, Thorn EMI/HBO Video was formed to distribute Thorn EMI's existing selection of product, plus HBO-produced programming.[86] Thorn EMI's strategy at the time was to supplement the modest output of Thorn EMI's Screen Entertainment division, by way of signing distribution agreements with various mid-level and independent film production companies (such as Orion Pictures and New Line Cinema, as well as UK television station Thames Television) that did not have their own home video units.[87]

In August 1986, Cannon Films acquired Thorn EMI's interest in Thorn EMI/HBO Video, inherited from Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment, which Time Inc. subsequently renamed HBO/Cannon Video.[88] Under Cannon's part-ownership, the strategy established by Thorn EMI continued; HBO/Cannon struck deals with Kings Road Entertainment,[89] fellow Time, Inc. property Sports Illustrated,[90] and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group for video rights to theatrical films (and, in SI's case, direct-to-video product).[91] Ironically, however, very few Cannon films were released by HBO/Cannon, due in part to other deals Cannon had previously made with MGM/UA Home Video and Media Home Entertainment.

HBO/Cannon also ran into issues with Cannon's rival Carolco Pictures; when the latter company, who had previously released certain titles via Thorn EMI/HBO, acquired a major stake in rival independent video company International Video Entertainment, HBO/Cannon paid $43 million to return two films, Angel Heart and Extreme Prejudice, to Carolco, which then relicensed the home video rights to IVE.[92] Additional issues arose when multiple Cannon titles intended for release through HBO/Cannon, such as Masters of the Universe and Surrender, were bought back by Cannon, which then re-licensed them to Warner Home Video, as part of a $75 million agreement it made using loans funded by financer Alan Bond.[93]

HBO acquired Cannon's interest in the venture in April 1987, amid financial losses incurred by the film studio after an unsuccessful attempt at releasing a series of larger budget films that floundered in box office revenue; the unit was subsequently renamed HBO Video.[87][94] HBO began taking action to ensure that their video arm would continue to have fresh product, such as an eight film co-production deal with ITC Entertainment, which gave HBO all pay cable and video rights (while ITC retained all foreign and free-to-air TV rights to the films),[95] and promotional deals designed to push rental releases.[96] Also that year, the company entered into a deal to distribute on video two popular Hemdale Film Corporation titles from 1986, Hoosiers and Platoon. The company was subsequently sued by Vestron Video for allegedly breaching an existing contract that the firm had with Hemdale regarding those films; a judge eventually ordered HBO to recall all rental video cassettes of Hoosiers that had been on the market since September 1987.[97] A settlement was ultimately reached that allowed HBO to offer video cassettes of the contested films for the first half of 1988, after which the rights reverted to Vestron.

Over time, HBO Video—which eventually became HBO Home Video in January 1994—shifted focus away from releasing films from independent studios to releasing HBO's catalog of original programs and films on DVD and Blu-ray Disc.[87] In addition, HBO Video also entered into various licensing deals with distributors such as Congress Video, Goodtimes Home Video, and Video Treasures to distribute and re-issue HBO's content catalogs. The unit—renamed HBO Home Entertainment on September 5, 2009—eventually transferred the manufacturing of physical products to Warner Home Video, and by 2020 had fully merged into Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Expansion of television service edit

On April 1, 1986, HBO commenced test-marketing of a new mini-pay service, Festival, to six American Television and Communications Corporation systems.[98][99][100] Festival was targeted at older cable subscribers who objected to violent and sexual content on other pay cable services, non-cable television viewers, and basic cable subscribers that had no existing premium service subscription.[100] Festival ceased operations on December 31, 1988; HBO cited headend channel capacity limitations for the closure, as it prevented Festival from expanding its distribution.[87][98][101][102][103]

On January 2, 1989, Selecciones en Español de HBO y Cinemax ("Spanish Selections from HBO and Cinemax"), a Spanish-language audio feed transmitted through, depending on the cable system affiliate, either an auxiliary second audio program channel (accessible through built-in and external multichannel audio decoders) or audio simulcasts via FM radio, launched. The service originally offered Spanish audio simulcasts of recent feature film releases from HBO and Cinemax's movie suppliers, and by Spring, added audio simulcasts of HBO's live boxing matches (except for certain events broadcast exclusively in Spanish on networks such as Galavisión).[104][105][87] Selecciones was replaced by two dedicated Spanish feeds of the two services, HBO en Español and Cinemax en Español, on September 27, 1993; both channels acted as part-time simulcast feeds with added first-run Spanish-language movies (mostly from Mexico, Argentina and Spain), and Spanish dubs of HBO's non-sports-event original programming.[106][107][108]

Time-Warner merger edit

Main article: Paramount Communications, Inc. v. Time Inc.

On March 4, 1989, Warner Communications announced its intent to merge with Time Inc. for $14.9 billion in cash and stock. The merger underwent two unsuccessful efforts by Paramount Communications to block the merger via civil injunctions, wanting to thwart the Warner offer as Paramount was seeking to acquire Time in a hostile takeover bid. The Time Inc.-Warner Communications merger was completed on January 10, 1990, resulting in the consolidated entity becoming known as Time Warner. (Manhattan Cable Television would be integrated into Time Warner Cable—formed through a consolidation of the cable system assets of American Television and Communications [ATC], which Time acquired for $140 million in January 1978 and subsequently integrated with Manhattan Cable, and Warner Cable Communications—and would adopt its parent unit's identity in January 1993. Time Warner Cable would be spun-off from its namesake parent as an independent company in 2009, and later merged into Charter Communications in May 2016.)[109][110][111][112][113] By the start of 1990, HBO served 17.3 million subscribers out of a cumulative 23.7 million subscribers covered between it and sister network Cinemax.[114]

On November 15, 1989, Home Box Office, Inc. launched The Comedy Channel, a comedy-centered basic cable channel featuring clips excerpted from stand-up comedy sets, comedic feature films and television series. The Comedy Channel's programming model was similar to the original format of MTV (which, ironically, was launched under WBD's predecessor Warner Communications and American Express's media joint venture, Warner–Amex Satellite Entertainment).[87][115][116] Its competitor was Viacom-owned Ha!: The TV Comedy Network, another startup comedy-oriented cable channel that was formally announced after The Comedy Channel and debuted on April 1, 1990, focusing on reruns of older network sitcoms. Both channels experienced difficulties gaining sufficient cable distribution (both Ha! and The Comedy Channel each had fewer than 10 million subscribers), and struggled to turn a profit, making them "prohibitively expensive" to operate independently.[117]

On December 18, 1989, Viacom and HBO reached an agreement to consolidate Ha! and The Comedy Channel into a single channel, CTV: The Comedy Network, which launched on April 1, 1991;[118][117] its name was subsequently changed to Comedy Central on June 1 of that year, in order to limit confusion and potential trademark issues with the Canadian-based CTV Television Network. Time Warner/HBO exited the venture in April 2003, when Viacom bought out its 50% stake in Comedy Central for $1.23 billion. (As of 2020, Comedy Central operates under the Media Networks unit of Paramount Global.)[119]

On December 19, 1990, Home Box Office, Inc. announced the formation of TVKO (renamed HBO PPV in 2001 and HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View in 2013), a sports production unit—operated by Time Warner Sports, in conjunction with its HBO Sports unit—which distributed and organized marquee pay-per-view boxing events with the partnership of participating promoters. The announcement came as HBO secured an agreement with promoter Dan Duva to broadcast then-heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield's pay-cable and pay-per-view matches, which had been airing on Showtime since 1986.[120] HBO announced it would fold HBO PPV on September 27, 2018, as part of the HBO television service's broader exit from boxing telecasts after 45 years, citing the influx of sports-based streaming services (such as DAZN and ESPN+) as well as other issues with promoters that hampered HBO's ability to acquire high-profile fight cards, declining ratings and loss of interest in the sport among HBO's subscribers, and the network's efforts to place more focus around its scripted programming in the aftermath of its acquisition by WarnerMedia.[121]

In 1993, HBO purchased post-theatrical distribution rights for 48 films in development from upstart production company Savoy Pictures (co-founded by Victor A. Kaufman and Lewis J. Korman).[122] Savoy Pictures never generated success with any of its feature film releases, and eventually folded in 1997.[62] In 2005, HBO Films and New Line Cinema formed Picturehouse, a worldwide theatrical distribution company for high-quality independent films. The company, along with sister studio Warner Independent Pictures, was shut down in May 2008 as part of the consolidation of New Line with its sister unit Warner Bros. Entertainment. (Picturehouse CEO Bob Berney would later resurrect the studio as an independent entity in 2013, after purchasing the trademark rights from Time Warner.)[62][123]

On March 1, 1994, a partnership between Home Box Office, Inc. and Showtime Networks (parent of HBO rivals Showtime and The Movie Channel) implemented a cooperative content advisory system that was initially unveiled across HBO, Cinemax and the Showtime Networks properties that would provide specific content information for pay-cable subscribers to determine the suitability of a program for children. The development of the system—inspired by the advisory ratings featured in HBO and Cinemax's respective program guides and those distributed by other participating premium cable services—was in response to concerns from parents and advocacy groups about violent content on television, allowing HBO and other services to assign individual ratings corresponding to the objectionable content depicted in specific programs (and categorized based on violence, profanity, sexuality or miscellaneous mature material). Labels are assigned to each program at the discretion of the participating service.[124] A revised system—centered around ten content codes of two to three letters in length—was implemented across HBO and the other participating pay services on June 10, 1994.[125]

On January 7, 1998, Time Warner announced it would immediately consolidate its C-band retail businesses, HBO Direct (a retail arm of HBO's direct-to-home operations that sold HBO, Cinemax and their respective multiplex packages as well as ancillary programming services) and Turner Home Satellite (THS) (which handled C-band, direct-broadcast satellite and hospitality distribution of the Turner Broadcasting System cable networks—including TBS Superstation, CNN, CNN Headline News, CNN International, TNT, Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies—and until the promotion's folding in 2001, World Championship Wrestling [WCW] pay-per-view events), into a singular retail unit under Home Box Office Inc.[126]

On October 15, 2014, Home Box Office, Inc. announced it would launch an over-the-top (OTT) subscription streaming service in the United States in 2015, which would be marketed directly to cord cutters (consumers who primarily use streaming video services rather than watch television via a cable or satellite subscription) and competing with services such as Netflix.[127][128] HBO Now formally launched on April 7, 2015, initially retailing only to Apple TV and iOS devices under a three-month exclusivity agreement. The service is similar to HBO Go, a TV Everywhere streaming platform that launched on February 18, 2010, and is marketed exclusively to existing HBO linear subscribers through a television provider.[129][130][131] Under WarnerMedia stewardship, on October 10, 2018, the company announced plans for a new OTT platform combining programming from HBO with content from various other WarnerMedia properties, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, and the WarnerMedia Entertainment- and Warner Bros. Entertainment-operated basic cable networks previously owned by the Turner Broadcasting System. The service—announced as HBO Max on July 9, 2019, and operating under WarnerMedia Direct, making it one of two HBO-branded properties (alongside HBO Home Entertainment) not to operate under the Home Box Office, Inc. umbrella—was developed under a separate infrastructure from HBO Go and HBO Now, and existing subscribers were offered to transfer subscriptions to HBO Max following its May 27, 2020 launch. Although the two existing platforms continue to be sold, WarnerMedia began phasing out HBO Now on participating digital platforms with the launch of HBO Max, which utilizes a similar design interface as HBO Now for its Apple and Android apps.[132]

Acquisition by AT&T edit

On October 22, 2016, AT&T disclosed an offer to acquire Time Warner for $108.7 billion, including assumed debt held by the latter company. The merger would bring Time Warner's various media properties, including Home Box Office, Inc., under the same corporate umbrella as AT&T's telecommunications holdings, including satellite provider DirecTV and IPTV/broadband provider AT&T U-verse.[133][134][135][136] Time Warner shareholders approved the merger on February 15, 2017.[137] On November 20, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against AT&T and Time Warner in an attempt to block the merger, citing antitrust concerns surrounding the transaction.[138][139][140] U.S. clearance of the proposed merger—which had already received approval from European, Mexican, Chilean and Brazilian regulatory authorities—was affirmed by court ruling on June 12, 2018, after District of Columbia U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon ruled in favor of AT&T, and dismissed antitrust claims asserted in the DOJ's lawsuit. The merger closed two days later on June 14, 2018, with Time Warner becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T, which renamed the unit WarnerMedia. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington unanimously upheld the lower court's ruling in favor of AT&T on February 26, 2019.[141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148] In August 2017, as part of their co-production deal with the studio, HBO and Sky acquired minority equity interests in British television production company Bad Wolf (producer of the HBO miniseries The Night Of).[149]

On February 28, 2019, Richard Plepler stepped down from his position as CEO of Home Box Office, Inc., after a collective 27-year tenure at HBO and twelve years as head of the network and its parent unit. Plepler reportedly "found he had less autonomy after the merger,"[150] as Stankey felt Plepler was "attached to a fading distribution model" by selling HBO programming with other linear channels and to channel platforms operated by streaming distributors also involved in content development; Plepler had developed a plan to drive $7.5 billion in annual revenue by seeking greater content investment for HBO and Cinemax (including incorporating "family-friendly original, library, and licensed children's programming" onto Cinemax's schedule), an agreement to sell its TV Everywhere service HBO Go directly to Comcast's broadband-only customers, and to offer the HBO/Cinemax linear channel bundle for at a slightly higher price point than the standalone HBO service's average $14.99 monthly fee. Stankey, meanwhile, wanted to leverage HBO and the broader WarnerMedia content library to develop a viable streaming competitor to Netflix, which resulted in the development and May 2020 launch of HBO Max over HBO Go and HBO Now's existing technical infrastructure.[151]

On March 4, 2019, AT&T announced a major reorganization of WarnerMedia's assets, dividing WarnerMedia's television properties among three corporate divisions. Home Box Office, Inc. (encompassing HBO, Cinemax, and their respective wholly owned international channels and streaming services) was reassigned to WarnerMedia Entertainment, placing it under the same umbrella as sister basic cable networks TBS, TNT and TruTV (which were formerly part of the dissolved Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary), and under the leadership of former NBC and Showtime executive Bob Greenblatt. However, Home Box Office, Inc. otherwise operates as an autonomous subsidiary within the WarnerMedia Entertainment umbrella. (Other former Turner assets were split between two other new subsidiaries: WarnerMedia News & Sports, which oversees CNN and its sister networks, Turner Sports and management operations for NBA TV, and Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, a unit of Warner Bros. that oversees such networks as Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies.)[152][153] On May 8, 2019, as part of a broader reorganization that also brought HBO Enterprises and programming distribution for Turner Entertainment under the division, HBO parent WarnerMedia announced that HBO Home Entertainment would be transferred from Home Box Office, Inc./WarnerMedia Entertainment to Warner Bros. Worldwide Home Entertainment and Games.[154]

On August 7, 2020, WarnerMedia restructured several of its units in a major corporate revamp that resulted in Home Box Office, Inc. and all other WarnerMedia Entertainment assets being consolidated with Warner Bros. Entertainment to form WarnerMedia Studios & Networks Group. HBO/Cinemax President of Programming Casey Bloys—who has been with Home Box Office, Inc. since 2004 (as director of development at HBO Independent Productions), and was eventually elevated to programming president in May 2016—added oversight of HBO Max and WarnerMedia's basic cable networks to his purview. (The restructuring also resulted in the three former Turner networks reassigned to WarnerMedia Entertainment being brought back under the same umbrella as sister networks Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies.) Among the around 800 employees whose positions were eliminated as part of the changes, the restructuring resulted in the layoffs of around 150 Home Box Office, Inc. employees.[155][156][157]

WarnerMedia-Discovery merger edit

On May 17, 2021, AT&T and Discovery, Inc. reached a definitive Reverse Morris Trust agreement, in which AT&T would spin out WarnerMedia into an independent company (unwinding the prior 2017 acquisition of the former Time Warner) that would concurrently acquire Discovery's assets, for $43 billion in cash, securities and stock plus WarnerMedia's retention of certain debt. Under the transaction, which was expected to be finalized by the second quarter of 2022, Home Box Office Inc. and all other assets of WarnerMedia would be combined with the assets of Discovery, Inc. (such as Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Discovery+, All3Media, Eurosport, GolfTV, Golf Digest, Golf World, Really, Motor Trend Group, Food Network, Discovery Family, HGTV, Asian Food Network, Travel Channel, TVN Group, Frisbee, K2, Discovery New Zealand, Tele 5, TLC and many more). AT&T shareholders would own 71% of the company's stock and Discovery shareholders would own the remaining 29% share, with each shareholder group appointing representative board members; David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, would head the new company, replacing WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.[158][159][160][161]

On June 1, 2021, it was announced that the merged company would be known as Warner Bros. Discovery; Zaslav explained that it would reflect "the combination of Warner Bros.' fabled hundred-year legacy of creative, authentic storytelling and taking bold risks to bring the most amazing stories to life, with Discovery’s global brand that has always stood brightly for integrity, innovation and inspiration."[162] The merger was officially completed on April 8, 2022, with Home Box Office, Inc. becoming a subsidiary of WBD; in addition to his existing duties as CEO of Home Box Office, Inc., Casey Bloys—one of four upper-level WarnerMedia division executives to remain with WBD post-merger—assumed oversight of Magnolia Network (through parent unit Warner Bros. Discovery Lifestyle Brands), which had previously been managed alongside Discovery's other factual and lifestyle brands. (The other Discovery networks continue to report to Kathleen Finch, who also assumed oversight of the combined company's entertainment-formatted U.S. basic linear networks, including those that previously reported to Bloys under WarnerMedia.)[163]

Properties edit

See also: List of HBO international channels

Current edit

  • HBO
    • HBO2
    • HBO Signature
    • HBO Family
    • HBO Comedy
    • HBO Zone (U.S. only)
    • HBO Latino (U.S. only)
  • HBO International (managed through Warner Bros. Discovery International)
  • Cinemax
    • MoreMax (U.S. only)
    • ActionMax (U.S. only)
    • ThrillerMax (U.S. only)
    • MovieMax (U.S. only)
    • Cinemáx (U.S. only; Spanish language simulcast feed of primary Cinemax channel)
    • 5StarMax (U.S. only)
    • OuterMax (U.S. only)
    • Cinemax on Demand
    • Cinemax (Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean) (supported-basic cable channel) (managed through Warner Bros. Discovery International)
    • Cinemax (Asia) (managed through Warner Bros. Discovery International)
    • Cinemax (Europe) (managed through Warner Bros. Discovery International)
    • Cinemax 2 (Europe) (managed through Warner Bros. Discovery International)
  • Magnolia Network
  • HBO Bulk (formerly HBO Direct) – sales distributor for hospitality properties, colleges and apartments
  • HBO Films
  • HBO Documentary Films

Former assets edit

Divested edit

Dormant, transferred or shuttered edit

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January 01, 1970
home, office, this, article, about, warner, bros, discovery, subsidiary, namesake, television, channel, american, multinational, media, entertainment, company, operating, unit, warner, bros, discovery, headquarters, hudson, yards, york, citytrade, namehbo, com. This article is about the Warner Bros Discovery subsidiary For the namesake pay television channel see HBO Home Box Office Inc HBO is an American multinational media and entertainment company operating as a unit of Warner Bros Discovery Home Box Office Inc Headquarters of HBO at 30 Hudson Yards New York CityTrade nameHBO Inc Company typeSubsidiaryIndustryEntertainmentPredecessorSterling Communications 1961 1973 FoundedFebruary 28 1973 51 years ago 1973 02 28 1 FounderCharles DolanHeadquarters30 Hudson Yards New York City 2 U S Area servedWorldwideKey peopleCasey Bloys president Head of Programming Elana Loewenthal CMO ProductsPay television Television productionBrandsHBO Cinemax Magnolia NetworkRevenueUS 5 890 billion 2016 Operating incomeUS 1 928 billion 2016 ParentWarner Bros DiscoveryDivisionsHBO Films HBO Animation HBO Enterprises HBO EntertainmentSubsidiariesHBO Europe HBO AsiaFootnotes references 3 4 5 Founded by Charles Dolan and based out of WarnerMedia s former corporate headquarters at the 30 Hudson Yards complex in the West Side of Manhattan its main properties include its namesake pay television network Home Box Office HBO sister service Cinemax HBO Films and the international HBO Go streaming service A secondary HBO branded service Max is operated under sister subsidiary Warner Bros Discovery Global Streaming and Interactive Entertainment which shares principal management with Home Box Office Inc It has also licensed or maintained ownership interests in international versions of HBO and Cinemax most of which are managed by Home Box Office Inc through sister division Warner Bros Discovery International The company has achieved several pioneering innovations in the cable television industry including its satellite uplink of HBO as the first television network in the world to transmit through that technology and the development of original programming for pay television Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins as Sterling Communications 1 2 Early history dissolution of Sterling 1 2 1 Home Box Office v FCC acquisition of Telemation 1 3 Early expansion challenges to indecency statutes 1 4 Home video production and television ventures 1 4 1 Film and television production 1 4 2 Home video 1 4 3 Expansion of television service 1 5 Time Warner merger 1 6 Acquisition by AT amp T 1 7 WarnerMedia Discovery merger 2 Properties 2 1 Current 2 2 Former assets 2 2 1 Divested 2 2 2 Dormant transferred or shuttered 3 References 4 External linksHistory editOrigins as Sterling Communications edit HBO Inc s origins trace to December 1 1965 when Charles Dolan who had already done pioneering work in the commercial use of cables was granted a franchise permit by the New York City Council to build a cable television system encompassing the Lower Manhattan section of New York City traversing southward from 79th Street on the Upper East Side to 86th Street on the Upper West Side Along with Dolan TelePrompTer Corporation which was assigned most of Upper Manhattan and CATV Enterprises Inc which was assigned part of the city s Upper West Side extending north of the Harlem River and The Bronx s Riverdale neighborhood were also awarded cable franchise permits on that date Dolan s maiden television venture was Teleguide a closed circuit television system started by his initial company Sterling Movies U S A in June 1962 it distributed a schedule of tourist information news interview segments and feature interstitials to hotels and by 1964 apartment buildings and office buildings in the New York metropolitan area 6 7 8 Through Dolan s Sterling Information Services subsidiary Manhattan Cable TV Services began limited cable service in September 1966 Manhattan Cable renamed Sterling Manhattan Cable Television in January 1971 was the first urban underground cable television system to operate in the United States 9 10 Rather than string up cable on telephone poles or use microwave antennas to receive the signals Sterling had laid new cable lines beneath the streets of and into buildings throughout Manhattan and repurposed Teleguide s existing cable infrastructure for use by the new operation Sterling s use of underground cables complied with a longstanding New York City Council ordinance originally implemented to prevent broad scale telephone and telegraph outages after a severe blizzard affecting the Northeastern United States in March 1888 had caused widespread damage to above ground utility lines in the area requiring all electrical and telecommunication wiring to be laid underground to limit weather related service disruptions and because the multitude of tall buildings on Manhattan Island subjected television signals to reception impairments 11 Dolan curried the financial backing of Time Life Inc then the book publishing unit of Time Inc resulting in Manhattan Cable becoming one of its first cable system properties Despite the investments from Time Life s share of Sterling initially 20 at the beginning of operations Sterling Manhattan consistently lost money throughout its first six years of operation the company incurred much of its debt from underground wiring expenses costing as much as 300 000 per mile and its difficulties attracting new subscribers to generate income Manhattan Cable managed to receive only around 400 customers by 1967 11 12 13 On August 27 1969 Sterling Communications consolidated ownership of the cable assets it acquired Time Life s 49 share in Sterling Manhattan in exchange for stock and other assets worth 1 84 million Time Life s interest in Sterling Communications concurrently increased from 25 to 44 5 14 15 Dolan was looking for a way to help his struggling cable company grow to become financially viable In the summer of 1971 during a family vacation to France aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 Dolan conceived The Green Channel a codenamed concept for a cable originated television channel that would be distributed via Sterling Manhattan and other participating cable systems The proposed service would offer unedited theatrical movies licensed from the major Hollywood film studios and live sporting events all presented without interruptions by advertising and sold for a flat monthly fee to prospective subscribers Dolan wanted to offset the service s start up costs by having Sterling enter into carriage agreements with other cable television providers to transmit and sell the service to their customers and draw revenue from fees charged to subscribers who added the channel onto their existing cable service which then consisted exclusively of local and imported broadcast stations Dolan later presented his idea to management at Time Life who despite the potential benefit to the company s cable assets were initially hesitant to consider the Green Channel proposal In the early 1970s the cable television industry was not very profitable and was under constant scrutiny from FCC regulators and the major broadcast television networks CBS NBC and ABC who saw cable as a threat to their viability Attempts to launch pay television services had been done on an experimental basis in the United States dating to 1951 among them Phonevision in New York City Chicago and Hartford SubscriberVision in New York City Telemeter in Palm Springs California and Telemovies in Bartlesville Oklahoma with little to no success muzzled by campaigns backed by movie theater chains and commercial broadcasters to assuage television viewers to the supposed threat of pay television to the movie industry and free to air television access limited user interest and FCC restrictions on the types of programming that could be offered to subscription services Undeterred Dolan managed to persuade Time Life to assist him in backing the project 11 After the Federal Communications Commission ruled that local governments could not restrict the operation of subscription television services in cable franchise terms in July 1971 Sterling Communications now consisting of Sterling Manhattan its Long Island based sister system Sterling Nassau Cable Television production firm Allegro Films and direct to cable programming firm Television Presentations Inc informed the FCC that it planned to operate a cable originated pay television service Because Sterling s New York City Council franchise grant specifically required FCC approval for that purpose Time Sterling filed an FCC request to authorize pay television operations Sterling indicated that a subscription television operation would also help Sterling Manhattan fund its fledgling local origination channel which had incurred 1 million in start up debt on top of annual company operating losses of 250 000 16 On September 10 1971 the FCC gave preemptive authorization to Time Life and Sterling Manhattan Cable to begin a pay television operation 17 18 On November 2 1971 Time Inc s board of directors approved the Green Channel proposal agreeing to give Dolan a 150 000 development grant for the project 11 13 19 Early history dissolution of Sterling edit nbsp The entrance to the former HBO headquarters at 1100 Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan The namesake Home Box Office HBO pay television network was founded by Dolan as a joint venture between Sterling Communications and its co partner Time Life Broadcast Inc in 1972 The service originally to have been called the Sterling Cable Network before Dolan and his development team settled on naming it Home Box Office originally intended as a placeholder name to meet publishing deadlines for the service s announcement memorandum and research brochures launched on November 8 1972 over Teleservice Cable now Service Electric s Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania system Time Life originally planned for HBO to debut on a Teleservice system in Allentown but per an agreement with Teleservice president John Walson moved the launch system to the company s Wilkes Barre system to avoid blackouts of NBA games specifically those featuring the Philadelphia 76ers with which HBO was unable to materialize a television agreement to accompany its planned broadcasts of New York Knicks games that were scheduled to air on the service Programming on HBO initially consisted of theatrical films and event programming much of which was sourced to the service through an agreement with Madison Square Garden that dated to 1969 and was extended to allow regional broadcasts one week before HBO launched arranged in the form of a double feature or a single movie presentation paired with either a sports or special event often bridged by a short film or other interstitial content by 1974 when the service began offering programming during the l concert specials and other music programs daytime children s programs and various instructional series were added to the schedule 20 11 21 22 23 Originally headquartered from the Time Life Building on Avenue of the Americas Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan HBO initially relayed its programming via a network of microwave relay towers throughout the Northeastern United States to participating cable systems carrying the channel 24 25 26 On February 28 1973 Sterling Communications announced it would spin out HBO and associated assets into Home Box Office Inc a new subsidiary created in accordance with the sale of 9 of Sterling s HBO equity to Time Inc expanding its controlling shares to around 75 of HBO s equity and a 3 million direct investment Sterling also raised Time s equity in the company to 66 4 in exchange for the added HBO stake through the purchase of additional stock and a converted 6 4 million note obligation Dolan who reportedly had major disagreements with Time Life management on policy issues claims which the company denied subsequently resigned as chief executive officer of Sterling Communications and Home Box Office accepting a 675 000 buyout of a portion of his stock while remaining on the board of directors at both companies in the interim Dolan used portions of the sale s proceeds to repurchase Time s share of the Sterling Nassau systems and to start the Long Island Cable Community Development Co the forerunner to Cablevision Systems Corporation that would be combined with the Sterling Cablevision systems on Long Island as the system s parent company Gerald M Levin an entertainment industry attorney previously with New York City based law firm Simpson Thacher amp Bartlett who had been with Home Box Office since it began operations as its director of finance and later as its vice president and director of programming replaced Dolan as the company s president and CEO by September he was joined by Time Life vice president J Richard Munro as chairman of Home Box Office as well as Time Life Broadcast s other subsidiaries Manhattan Cable Television and NBC affiliate WOTV now WOOD TV in Grand Rapids Michigan which became the company s lone conventional broadcasting property after Time sold its other broadcast television properties as it began expanding into cable system ownership 27 28 29 30 31 On May 9 1973 reportedly because of high start up and operating costs for HBO and other Sterling cable assets Time announced it would sell its controlling share of Sterling to Warner Communications for 20 million Time intended to convert the 260 000 convertible notes it held in Warner s cable television unit Warner Cable Communications into common stock shares totaling up to 20 in interest Sterling would then maintain oversight of Home Box Office under Warner s purview 32 33 34 The Time Warner cable deal was terminated on June 27 after both companies failed to reach a definitive agreement to sell HBO and the other Sterling subsidiaries to Warner financial arrangements made between Sterling and the New York City Council as part of their 20 year noncompete franchise agreement were alleged to have curtailed the sale 8 35 36 On July 19 1973 Time Inc reached an agreement to purchase and assume financial liabilities of Sterling Communications for 6 2 million including 3 1 million in redeemed public debentures Time completed its acquisition of Sterling on September 18 1973 formally dissolving the Sterling holding company and transferring Home Box Office and Sterling Manhattan Cable to its Time Life division The Sterling name was subsequently removed from the Manhattan and Long Island systems with the Manhattan unit being renamed Manhattan Cable Television Time s purchase of Sterling was the subject of a 97 million class action lawsuit filed in the U S District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 28 1973 by 15 former Sterling stockholders who accused Time and its corporate board of conspiracy to depress the value of Sterling stock in order to force the sale at below market value far less than its true value 37 38 33 34 39 As the acquisition was being completed the service had struggled to grow to complete viability by October it had around 8 000 subscribers and was carried on 13 cable systems in Pennsylvania and southern New York State with a combined 110 095 subscribers 40 41 and it was suffering from a significant churn rate as subscribers who found the channel s program scheduling repetitive because of the limited allotment of movies outside of special events decided to cancel their service 40 On April 11 1975 Levin and Time Life unveiled plans to distribute the HBO signal via satellite under a transponder leasing agreement with RCA Americom Communications intending to distribute its programming to cable systems and multipoint distribution services throughout the United States Levin reached an agreement to distribute the HBO satellite feed on eight UA Columbia Cablevision systems in California Texas Florida Arizona Arkansas and Washington State and build earth station receivers to intercept and relay the signal to the UA Columbia systems headends HBO also signed a 7 5 million agreement including 6 5 million allocated by Levin with RCA Americom to lease a transponder on the then under construction Satcom I which was expected to be launched at the end of 1975 for a five year term Cable television equipment manufacturer Scientific Atlanta through a client arrangement with Transcommunications Corp also intended to build earth based satellite transmitting stations for setup outside of HBO s Manhattan headquarters and at the headend sites of the client cable systems that reached agreements to receive the signal ahead of the satellite launch 42 43 44 45 40 HBO began continuously transmitting via satellite on September 30 1975 for the broadcast of the Thrilla in Manila heavyweight championship boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier from the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao Philippines The broadcast that marked the television industry innovation was received by UA Columbia Cablevision s Fort Pierce and Vero Beach Florida systems and American Television and Communications Corporation s Jackson Mississippi system alongside systems already receiving HBO via microwave beforehand in the northeastern U S The service temporarily retransmitted its signal from transponder on Westar 1 for the first three months of satellite transmissions before switching to Satcom I when that satellite commenced commercial operations on February 1 1976 40 46 25 47 It also gradually turned around the fortunes of HBO at the time Time Life Inc bought the remaining interest of the channel in September 1973 HBO s subscribership amassed only 8 000 customers across 14 Pennsylvania cable systems 40 and was hampered by significant churn rate as some subscribers cancelled their service because of the repetitive scheduling of programming By 1980 HBO was carried on cable and MMDS providers in all 50 U S states with more than three million subscribers nationwide 40 Other cable channels followed HBO s footsteps in satellite distribution in December 1976 Atlanta independent station WTCG TV now WBD owned basic cable service TBS and owned by Ted Turner at the time it went national became the first television broadcaster to transmit via satellite as a basic cable service pioneering the superstation concept non network affiliated television stations that transmit on a regional or national basis primarily through cable This along with the CBN Satellite Service now Freeform launching by satellite in April 1977 pioneered the development of basic cable using HBO s blueprint of utilizing satellite delivery for the cable television industry 25 48 In May 1976 Gerald Levin was promoted to chairman and CEO of Home Box Office Inc succeeded as company president by Manhattan Cable president Nicholas N J Nicholas Jr 49 Home Box Office v FCC acquisition of Telemation edit The ability of Home Box Office and other pay television services to offer a wide array of content was challenged on March 20 1975 when the Federal Communications Commission FCC updated its pay cable regulations to modify anti siphoning regulations that further limited the operations of HBO and other movie and sports based cable services including local and regional subscription television operations Under the regulations cable originated services could not devote more than 90 of their programming schedule to theatrical motion pictures and sporting events and could not broadcast movies released within three years of their initial theatrical exhibition Specific sporting events such as annual tournaments could not be siphoned off by cable services if such events had been televised on broadcast television within the past five years and regular season games involving major sports leagues was limited to allow a proportion of games to continue to be shown on broadcast television or else cable programmers would be required to limit their sports programming proportionately should over the air sports telecasts decline On November 3 Home Box Office Inc Manhattan Cable Television five other cable television system operators American Television and Communications Corp Viacode UA Columbia Cablevision Warner Cable Communications and TelePrompTer Corp and competing pay cable programming operator Theatrevision filed a joint appeal to the U S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit alleging the rules violated antitrust statues by inhibiting competition exceeded FCC authority and violated cable programmers First Amendment rights by regulating their access to content Network executives National Association of Broadcasters officials and other broadcast industry representatives also were critical of the rules as administrative record did not support FCC allegations of content siphoning by cable originated services NBC and ABC however requested re consideration of an increase to the minimum period of exclusive broadcast exhibition of movies from two years to three 50 51 52 Earlier in 1975 the film exhibition rules prevented HBO from licensing two 20th Century Fox films released well outside the two year window Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969 and The Sound of Music 1965 53 54 Though rules for movies and sports were tightened the FCC conversely drafted relaxed rules limiting pay television services from airing a television series unless it has had no prior conventional television broadcast suggesting allowing pay services to carry series not purchased by broadcast outlets under contract to a local station in any media market not shown on broadcast television for at least three years or with 50 episodes or less to be available for pay syndication However cable programmers and the Motion Picture Association of America petitioned for the rules to be eliminated 55 The initial joint appeal and a separate objections by the U S Department of Justice 56 and Metromedia were consolidated by the Court of Appeals into Home Box Office v Federal Communications Commission On June 24 1976 Home Box Office Inc reached an in principle agreement to purchase Telemation Program Services a supplier of programming from individual program distributors to pay cable systems HBO sought Telemation to extend the channel s distribution to the 180 000 subscribers across 40 cable systems to which the company provided content distribution theoretically this would allow Telemation to accommodate a custom feed of HBO to a system owner that declined to offer the service such as for objections to carry R rated movies Telemation later merged with a separate program marketing unit formed in April 1979 HBO Program Services in 1980 57 On March 29 1977 the District of Columbia Appeals Court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Home Box Office v FCC overturning cable television anti siphoning rules Similar rules applying to over the air pay television were affirmed in the ruling The 105 page decision held that the FCC trespassed on the First Amendment rights of cable operators pointing that cable bandwidth was not a scarce resource and therefore was not subject to limitations affirmed in the Supreme Court s 1969 Red Lion Broadcasting Co v FCC ruling which upheld equal time provisions in the Fairness Doctrine The court applied the O Brien test determining the FCC had failed two of its four prongs or standards and found that the degree of limitation of free speech imposed by the FCC was inadequate grossly overboard and thereby arbitrary capricious and unconstitutional to the rights of pay cable telecasters The decision gave free rein for Home Box Office and other pay cable services to acquire movie and sports rights without restriction opening the door for services like HBO to engage in library content agreements for older films and more broadly the ability of cable originated services to acquire a broad spectrum of sporting events albeit with league determined protections to ensure events are distributed on both broadcast and cable networks 58 59 A subsequent appeal decision by the U S Supreme Court on October 3 1977 affirmed the ruling by refusing to review the District of Columbia Appeals Court s overturning of the pay cable rules 60 61 Early expansion challenges to indecency statutes edit As the HBO television service was growing nationally Time Life tried to develop companion pay services to sell to prospective subscribers including existing HBO customers Home Box Office s first attempt at a secondary service was Take 2 a movie channel marketed at a family audience that launched in April 1979 The mini pay service a smaller scale pay television channel sold at a discounted rate tried to cater to cable subscribers reluctant to subscribe to HBO because of its cost and potentially objectionable content in some programs Take 2 however was hampered by a slow subscriber and carriage growth forcing Time Life to shut down the channel in May 1980 62 HBO executives then decided to develop a lower cost maxi pay service on May 18 1980 Home Box Office Inc announced during that year s National Cable Television Association Convention its plans to launch Cinemax a companion movie channel designed as a direct competitor to The Movie Channel then owned by Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment part owned by Warner Bros Discovery predecessor Warner Communications initially focused on movies chosen for their appeal to select audience demographics Cinemax was designed to complement HBO designated as a higher tier foundation premium service and avoid difficulties associated with bundling multiple foundation pay services 63 Cinemax launched over 56 cable systems in the Eastern and Central Time Zones on August 1 1980 A West Coast feed for the Pacific and Mountain Time Zones launched on September 1 64 65 Compared to Take 2 Cinemax experienced far greater success because it relied on classic feature films from the 1930s to the 1970s mixed with some more recent films incidentally benefiting from the limited headend channel capacity offered by cable systems and customer demand for uncut broadcasts of theatrical movies HBO traditionally marketed Cinemax to cable operators for sale to subscribers as part of a singular premium bundle with HBO available at a discount if electing to subscribe to both channels As Cinemax evolved it expanded into non film programming content including music specials some limited original and acquired programming such as SCTV Channel and Max Headroom and most notably late night softcore pornographic films and series the adult programming initially offered as part of the Friday After Dark block eventually expanding to all seven nights by the start of the 1990s became a key draw for Cinemax subscribers and the main association with the channel in pop culture Pornographic adult programming on began to be de emphasized from the linear Cinemax and HBO Zone channels late night programming in 2011 as part of the former s refocusing toward its mainstream feature films and a then emerging slate of original action series and was removed entirely from Home Box Office s linear and on demand platforms in 2018 66 67 The 1980s also saw HBO join three separate lawsuits concerning municipal and state level statutes that would have legally prohibited cable systems from transmitting indecent content specifically programs that featured descriptions of or depicted illicit sexual acts and or nudity which Home Box Office Inc and cable systems that challenged the laws saw as overbroad and in violation of the First Amendment and would have precluded HBO and other pay television networks from airing programs containing material that may be considered inappropriate 68 Two of these involved statutes in Utah HBO and four Utah cable systems sought a permanent injunction to a 1981 statute passed by the Utah State Legislature to restrict indecent cable program content which was granted by the U S District Court for the District of Utah Judge Bruce S Jenkins on November 17 1981 the statute was declared unconstitutional as a violation of the First and 14th Amendments in a separate ruling by Jenkins on January 13 1982 69 70 A second attempt at addressing obscene cable programming the Cable Television Programming Decency Act was declared unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds by Utah District Court Senior District Judge Aldon J Anderson on April 10 1985 in a case filed by HBO Community Television of Utah and several viewer groups 71 a modified form of the statute was ruled as a violation of the First Amendment by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on September 10 1985 72 and affirmed as unconstitutional by the U S Supreme Court on March 23 1987 formally asserting that the subscriber based model of cable television precluded programming content from being regulated in the same manner as broadcast television 73 A separate city ordinance in Miami that would have allowed the revocation of Miami Cablevision now operated by Comcast s franchise license for carrying programs that the city manager deemed obscene or indecent was struck down by Judge William Hoeveler of the U S District Court for the Southern District of Florida on August 3 1983 on the grounds outlined in Jenkins ruling and affirmed by the U S Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on April 10 1985 74 75 On September 27 1984 Home Box Office Inc announced it would acquire a 15 equity share in Black Entertainment Television BET which would be accumulated under a contribution arrangement in which BET will stop paying a monthly lease to the transponder that HBO had then leased to BET until the accumulated lease amount matches what the latter would have paid fellow minority shareholders Taft Television amp Radio Company and Tele Communications Inc BET repurchased all of Time Warner s stock in April 1996 in a 58 million transaction 76 In 1985 the operations of Home Box Office Inc were relocated to facilities on West 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue in the Bryant Park district of Midtown Manhattan Home video production and television ventures edit Film and television production edit HBO Entertainment nbsp Company typeDivisionIndustryTelevision productionFounded1983 41 years ago 1983 Headquarters30 Hudson Yards New York City New York United StatesProductsMiniseries television programsParentHome Box Office Inc Home Box Office Inc began diversifying its portfolio beyond cable television during the 1980s In 1982 HBO entered into a joint venture with Columbia Pictures and CBS Theatrical Films to form Tri Star Pictures the hyphen in the name was removed in 1991 the new studio was created as a means for the three entities to pool resources to split the ever growing costs of making feature films The studio s first production Kevin Costner led The Natural was released in 1984 Tri Star entered into the television production business in April 1987 with the formation of Tri Star Television Towards the second half of the decade the partnership transitioned into a singularly owned entity CBS sold its ownership stake in the studio in November 1985 77 followed by HBO Time Inc in December 1986 HBO transferred its venture shares to Columbia Pictures which integrated Columbia and Tri Star into the umbrella company Columbia Pictures Entertainment As of 2020 update TriStar operates exclusively as a film production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment Its television unit was merged with Columbia Pictures Television and joint venture studio Columbia TriStar Television in 2002 to form Sony Pictures Television Film production for the HBO television service commenced in 1983 through the formation of HBO Premiere Films which was originally developed to produce original made for cable movies and miniseries with higher budgets and production values compared to other television films The film division began producing original movies for the network in 1983 with the debut of The Terry Fox Story a biographical film on the amputee runner who embarked on a cross country run across his home country of Canada that was cut short by the advanced stage osteosarcoma that ended his life through associated complications soon afterward Differing from most television films produced for cable television most of the original movies produced by HBO have featured major film actors over the years ranging from James Stewart to Michael Douglas The unit which would be rechristened HBO Pictures in 1986 expanded beyond its telefilm slate which was scaled back and soon ventured into independent film production 78 79 80 In 1985 HBO made a co financing agreement with Orion Pictures in order to finance Three Amigos in order to receive half of the film s planned budget 81 When HBO Pictures was formed HBO entered into a limited partnership with Thorn EMI to form Silver Screen Partners The first L P of its kind to be developed for the financing of feature film production Silver Screen released only seven films between 1983 and 1986 Most of these were not commercial or critical successes with the minor exception of the 1985 comedy film Volunteers 62 A secondary internal film production unit HBO Showcase was created in 1986 to focus primarily on high quality drama productions One of its productions 1989 s Age Old Friends became the unit s first film to earn Primetime Emmy Awards respectively for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Hume Cronyn and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Vincent Gardenia In January 1996 HBO Showcase was superseded by HBO NYC Productions a New York based studio focusing primarily on HBO original movies as well as occasional drama series productions for the network 82 Time Warner consolidated HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions into a singular unit HBO Films in October 1999 Since then the division has expanded into theatrical film productions distributed by sister company Warner Bros Pictures and its subsidiaries in addition to continuing to produce HBO s slate of original movies 83 In 1987 HBO entered into another limited partnership to create Cinema Plus L P The studios most notable film was Ricochet a co production with Silver Pictures other titles produced throughout Cinema Plus existence included Mom and Dad Save the World Switch and Don t Tell Mom the Babysitter s Dead All of the films none of which were critical or commercial successes were released between 1991 and 1992 and were distributed theatrically by HBO sister company Warner Bros Pictures Home Box Office Inc entered into television production outside of the flagship HBO channel in 1988 with the formation of HBO Downtown Productions In addition to handling the production of comedy specials for HBO the channel produced program content for Comedy Central such as Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and Dr Katz Professional Therapist A secondary television production unit HBO Independent Productions HIP was formed in October 1990 The Los Angeles based production company specialized in television series and specials for broadcast cable and syndicated television as well as lower budget theatrical films Throughout its 16 year existence HIP primarily produced sitcoms for broadcast television and basic cable networks including Martin Roc The Ben Stiller Show and Everybody Loves Raymond 84 Home video edit HBO Home Entertainment nbsp FormerlyThorn EMI Video 1980 1985 Thorn EMI HBO Video 1985 86 HBO Cannon Video 1986 87 HBO Video 1987 1993 2003 2009 HBO Home Video HBO Savoy Home Video 1994 2003 Company typeDivisionIndustryHome entertainmentFounded1980 44 years ago 1980 Defunct2020 4 years ago 2020 FateTransferred to Warner Bros Home Entertainment in 2019HeadquartersUnited StatesProductsHome video releasesServicesHome videoDigital distributionParentWarner Bros Home Entertainment During the early 1980s HBO had an agreement with Vestron Video to distribute some of HBO s made for cable films and specials such as The Terry Fox Story Vestron had been created by former HBO executive Austin Furst who had been assigned to dismantle the assets of Time Life Films On February 21 1984 as the broader entertainment industry began to drop their objections to and begin releasing their films through the then burgeoning home video marketplace HBO announced plans to launch a home video unit and began conversations with executives at both Vestron and Thorn EMI Video in hopes that a joint venture between the network and at least one of the two video distributors could be established 85 HBO ultimately selected Thorn EMI and that November Thorn EMI HBO Video was formed to distribute Thorn EMI s existing selection of product plus HBO produced programming 86 Thorn EMI s strategy at the time was to supplement the modest output of Thorn EMI s Screen Entertainment division by way of signing distribution agreements with various mid level and independent film production companies such as Orion Pictures and New Line Cinema as well as UK television station Thames Television that did not have their own home video units 87 In August 1986 Cannon Films acquired Thorn EMI s interest in Thorn EMI HBO Video inherited from Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment which Time Inc subsequently renamed HBO Cannon Video 88 Under Cannon s part ownership the strategy established by Thorn EMI continued HBO Cannon struck deals with Kings Road Entertainment 89 fellow Time Inc property Sports Illustrated 90 and De Laurentiis Entertainment Group for video rights to theatrical films and in SI s case direct to video product 91 Ironically however very few Cannon films were released by HBO Cannon due in part to other deals Cannon had previously made with MGM UA Home Video and Media Home Entertainment HBO Cannon also ran into issues with Cannon s rival Carolco Pictures when the latter company who had previously released certain titles via Thorn EMI HBO acquired a major stake in rival independent video company International Video Entertainment HBO Cannon paid 43 million to return two films Angel Heart and Extreme Prejudice to Carolco which then relicensed the home video rights to IVE 92 Additional issues arose when multiple Cannon titles intended for release through HBO Cannon such as Masters of the Universe and Surrender were bought back by Cannon which then re licensed them to Warner Home Video as part of a 75 million agreement it made using loans funded by financer Alan Bond 93 HBO acquired Cannon s interest in the venture in April 1987 amid financial losses incurred by the film studio after an unsuccessful attempt at releasing a series of larger budget films that floundered in box office revenue the unit was subsequently renamed HBO Video 87 94 HBO began taking action to ensure that their video arm would continue to have fresh product such as an eight film co production deal with ITC Entertainment which gave HBO all pay cable and video rights while ITC retained all foreign and free to air TV rights to the films 95 and promotional deals designed to push rental releases 96 Also that year the company entered into a deal to distribute on video two popular Hemdale Film Corporation titles from 1986 Hoosiers and Platoon The company was subsequently sued by Vestron Video for allegedly breaching an existing contract that the firm had with Hemdale regarding those films a judge eventually ordered HBO to recall all rental video cassettes of Hoosiers that had been on the market since September 1987 97 A settlement was ultimately reached that allowed HBO to offer video cassettes of the contested films for the first half of 1988 after which the rights reverted to Vestron Over time HBO Video which eventually became HBO Home Video in January 1994 shifted focus away from releasing films from independent studios to releasing HBO s catalog of original programs and films on DVD and Blu ray Disc 87 In addition HBO Video also entered into various licensing deals with distributors such as Congress Video Goodtimes Home Video and Video Treasures to distribute and re issue HBO s content catalogs The unit renamed HBO Home Entertainment on September 5 2009 eventually transferred the manufacturing of physical products to Warner Home Video and by 2020 had fully merged into Warner Bros Home Entertainment Expansion of television service edit On April 1 1986 HBO commenced test marketing of a new mini pay service Festival to six American Television and Communications Corporation systems 98 99 100 Festival was targeted at older cable subscribers who objected to violent and sexual content on other pay cable services non cable television viewers and basic cable subscribers that had no existing premium service subscription 100 Festival ceased operations on December 31 1988 HBO cited headend channel capacity limitations for the closure as it prevented Festival from expanding its distribution 87 98 101 102 103 On January 2 1989 Selecciones en Espanol de HBO y Cinemax Spanish Selections from HBO and Cinemax a Spanish language audio feed transmitted through depending on the cable system affiliate either an auxiliary second audio program channel accessible through built in and external multichannel audio decoders or audio simulcasts via FM radio launched The service originally offered Spanish audio simulcasts of recent feature film releases from HBO and Cinemax s movie suppliers and by Spring added audio simulcasts of HBO s live boxing matches except for certain events broadcast exclusively in Spanish on networks such as Galavision 104 105 87 Selecciones was replaced by two dedicated Spanish feeds of the two services HBO en Espanol and Cinemax en Espanol on September 27 1993 both channels acted as part time simulcast feeds with added first run Spanish language movies mostly from Mexico Argentina and Spain and Spanish dubs of HBO s non sports event original programming 106 107 108 Time Warner merger edit Main article Paramount Communications Inc v Time Inc On March 4 1989 Warner Communications announced its intent to merge with Time Inc for 14 9 billion in cash and stock The merger underwent two unsuccessful efforts by Paramount Communications to block the merger via civil injunctions wanting to thwart the Warner offer as Paramount was seeking to acquire Time in a hostile takeover bid The Time Inc Warner Communications merger was completed on January 10 1990 resulting in the consolidated entity becoming known as Time Warner Manhattan Cable Television would be integrated into Time Warner Cable formed through a consolidation of the cable system assets of American Television and Communications ATC which Time acquired for 140 million in January 1978 and subsequently integrated with Manhattan Cable and Warner Cable Communications and would adopt its parent unit s identity in January 1993 Time Warner Cable would be spun off from its namesake parent as an independent company in 2009 and later merged into Charter Communications in May 2016 109 110 111 112 113 By the start of 1990 HBO served 17 3 million subscribers out of a cumulative 23 7 million subscribers covered between it and sister network Cinemax 114 On November 15 1989 Home Box Office Inc launched The Comedy Channel a comedy centered basic cable channel featuring clips excerpted from stand up comedy sets comedic feature films and television series The Comedy Channel s programming model was similar to the original format of MTV which ironically was launched under WBD s predecessor Warner Communications and American Express s media joint venture Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment 87 115 116 Its competitor was Viacom owned Ha The TV Comedy Network another startup comedy oriented cable channel that was formally announced after The Comedy Channel and debuted on April 1 1990 focusing on reruns of older network sitcoms Both channels experienced difficulties gaining sufficient cable distribution both Ha and The Comedy Channel each had fewer than 10 million subscribers and struggled to turn a profit making them prohibitively expensive to operate independently 117 On December 18 1989 Viacom and HBO reached an agreement to consolidate Ha and The Comedy Channel into a single channel CTV The Comedy Network which launched on April 1 1991 118 117 its name was subsequently changed to Comedy Central on June 1 of that year in order to limit confusion and potential trademark issues with the Canadian based CTV Television Network Time Warner HBO exited the venture in April 2003 when Viacom bought out its 50 stake in Comedy Central for 1 23 billion As of 2020 update Comedy Central operates under the Media Networks unit of Paramount Global 119 On December 19 1990 Home Box Office Inc announced the formation of TVKO renamed HBO PPV in 2001 and HBO Boxing Pay Per View in 2013 a sports production unit operated by Time Warner Sports in conjunction with its HBO Sports unit which distributed and organized marquee pay per view boxing events with the partnership of participating promoters The announcement came as HBO secured an agreement with promoter Dan Duva to broadcast then heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield s pay cable and pay per view matches which had been airing on Showtime since 1986 120 HBO announced it would fold HBO PPV on September 27 2018 as part of the HBO television service s broader exit from boxing telecasts after 45 years citing the influx of sports based streaming services such as DAZN and ESPN as well as other issues with promoters that hampered HBO s ability to acquire high profile fight cards declining ratings and loss of interest in the sport among HBO s subscribers and the network s efforts to place more focus around its scripted programming in the aftermath of its acquisition by WarnerMedia 121 In 1993 HBO purchased post theatrical distribution rights for 48 films in development from upstart production company Savoy Pictures co founded by Victor A Kaufman and Lewis J Korman 122 Savoy Pictures never generated success with any of its feature film releases and eventually folded in 1997 62 In 2005 HBO Films and New Line Cinema formed Picturehouse a worldwide theatrical distribution company for high quality independent films The company along with sister studio Warner Independent Pictures was shut down in May 2008 as part of the consolidation of New Line with its sister unit Warner Bros Entertainment Picturehouse CEO Bob Berney would later resurrect the studio as an independent entity in 2013 after purchasing the trademark rights from Time Warner 62 123 On March 1 1994 a partnership between Home Box Office Inc and Showtime Networks parent of HBO rivals Showtime and The Movie Channel implemented a cooperative content advisory system that was initially unveiled across HBO Cinemax and the Showtime Networks properties that would provide specific content information for pay cable subscribers to determine the suitability of a program for children The development of the system inspired by the advisory ratings featured in HBO and Cinemax s respective program guides and those distributed by other participating premium cable services was in response to concerns from parents and advocacy groups about violent content on television allowing HBO and other services to assign individual ratings corresponding to the objectionable content depicted in specific programs and categorized based on violence profanity sexuality or miscellaneous mature material Labels are assigned to each program at the discretion of the participating service 124 A revised system centered around ten content codes of two to three letters in length was implemented across HBO and the other participating pay services on June 10 1994 125 On January 7 1998 Time Warner announced it would immediately consolidate its C band retail businesses HBO Direct a retail arm of HBO s direct to home operations that sold HBO Cinemax and their respective multiplex packages as well as ancillary programming services and Turner Home Satellite THS which handled C band direct broadcast satellite and hospitality distribution of the Turner Broadcasting System cable networks including TBS Superstation CNN CNN Headline News CNN International TNT Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies and until the promotion s folding in 2001 World Championship Wrestling WCW pay per view events into a singular retail unit under Home Box Office Inc 126 On October 15 2014 Home Box Office Inc announced it would launch an over the top OTT subscription streaming service in the United States in 2015 which would be marketed directly to cord cutters consumers who primarily use streaming video services rather than watch television via a cable or satellite subscription and competing with services such as Netflix 127 128 HBO Now formally launched on April 7 2015 initially retailing only to Apple TV and iOS devices under a three month exclusivity agreement The service is similar to HBO Go a TV Everywhere streaming platform that launched on February 18 2010 and is marketed exclusively to existing HBO linear subscribers through a television provider 129 130 131 Under WarnerMedia stewardship on October 10 2018 the company announced plans for a new OTT platform combining programming from HBO with content from various other WarnerMedia properties including Warner Bros Pictures Warner Bros Television and the WarnerMedia Entertainment and Warner Bros Entertainment operated basic cable networks previously owned by the Turner Broadcasting System The service announced as HBO Max on July 9 2019 and operating under WarnerMedia Direct making it one of two HBO branded properties alongside HBO Home Entertainment not to operate under the Home Box Office Inc umbrella was developed under a separate infrastructure from HBO Go and HBO Now and existing subscribers were offered to transfer subscriptions to HBO Max following its May 27 2020 launch Although the two existing platforms continue to be sold WarnerMedia began phasing out HBO Now on participating digital platforms with the launch of HBO Max which utilizes a similar design interface as HBO Now for its Apple and Android apps 132 Acquisition by AT amp T edit On October 22 2016 AT amp T disclosed an offer to acquire Time Warner for 108 7 billion including assumed debt held by the latter company The merger would bring Time Warner s various media properties including Home Box Office Inc under the same corporate umbrella as AT amp T s telecommunications holdings including satellite provider DirecTV and IPTV broadband provider AT amp T U verse 133 134 135 136 Time Warner shareholders approved the merger on February 15 2017 137 On November 20 2017 the U S Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against AT amp T and Time Warner in an attempt to block the merger citing antitrust concerns surrounding the transaction 138 139 140 U S clearance of the proposed merger which had already received approval from European Mexican Chilean and Brazilian regulatory authorities was affirmed by court ruling on June 12 2018 after District of Columbia U S District Court Judge Richard J Leon ruled in favor of AT amp T and dismissed antitrust claims asserted in the DOJ s lawsuit The merger closed two days later on June 14 2018 with Time Warner becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of AT amp T which renamed the unit WarnerMedia The U S Court of Appeals in Washington unanimously upheld the lower court s ruling in favor of AT amp T on February 26 2019 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 In August 2017 as part of their co production deal with the studio HBO and Sky acquired minority equity interests in British television production company Bad Wolf producer of the HBO miniseries The Night Of 149 On February 28 2019 Richard Plepler stepped down from his position as CEO of Home Box Office Inc after a collective 27 year tenure at HBO and twelve years as head of the network and its parent unit Plepler reportedly found he had less autonomy after the merger 150 as Stankey felt Plepler was attached to a fading distribution model by selling HBO programming with other linear channels and to channel platforms operated by streaming distributors also involved in content development Plepler had developed a plan to drive 7 5 billion in annual revenue by seeking greater content investment for HBO and Cinemax including incorporating family friendly original library and licensed children s programming onto Cinemax s schedule an agreement to sell its TV Everywhere service HBO Go directly to Comcast s broadband only customers and to offer the HBO Cinemax linear channel bundle for at a slightly higher price point than the standalone HBO service s average 14 99 monthly fee Stankey meanwhile wanted to leverage HBO and the broader WarnerMedia content library to develop a viable streaming competitor to Netflix which resulted in the development and May 2020 launch of HBO Max over HBO Go and HBO Now s existing technical infrastructure 151 On March 4 2019 AT amp T announced a major reorganization of WarnerMedia s assets dividing WarnerMedia s television properties among three corporate divisions Home Box Office Inc encompassing HBO Cinemax and their respective wholly owned international channels and streaming services was reassigned to WarnerMedia Entertainment placing it under the same umbrella as sister basic cable networks TBS TNT and TruTV which were formerly part of the dissolved Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary and under the leadership of former NBC and Showtime executive Bob Greenblatt However Home Box Office Inc otherwise operates as an autonomous subsidiary within the WarnerMedia Entertainment umbrella Other former Turner assets were split between two other new subsidiaries WarnerMedia News amp Sports which oversees CNN and its sister networks Turner Sports and management operations for NBA TV and Warner Bros Global Kids Young Adults and Classics a unit of Warner Bros that oversees such networks as Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies 152 153 On May 8 2019 as part of a broader reorganization that also brought HBO Enterprises and programming distribution for Turner Entertainment under the division HBO parent WarnerMedia announced that HBO Home Entertainment would be transferred from Home Box Office Inc WarnerMedia Entertainment to Warner Bros Worldwide Home Entertainment and Games 154 On August 7 2020 WarnerMedia restructured several of its units in a major corporate revamp that resulted in Home Box Office Inc and all other WarnerMedia Entertainment assets being consolidated with Warner Bros Entertainment to form WarnerMedia Studios amp Networks Group HBO Cinemax President of Programming Casey Bloys who has been with Home Box Office Inc since 2004 as director of development at HBO Independent Productions and was eventually elevated to programming president in May 2016 added oversight of HBO Max and WarnerMedia s basic cable networks to his purview The restructuring also resulted in the three former Turner networks reassigned to WarnerMedia Entertainment being brought back under the same umbrella as sister networks Cartoon Network Adult Swim Boomerang and Turner Classic Movies Among the around 800 employees whose positions were eliminated as part of the changes the restructuring resulted in the layoffs of around 150 Home Box Office Inc employees 155 156 157 WarnerMedia Discovery merger edit On May 17 2021 AT amp T and Discovery Inc reached a definitive Reverse Morris Trust agreement in which AT amp T would spin out WarnerMedia into an independent company unwinding the prior 2017 acquisition of the former Time Warner that would concurrently acquire Discovery s assets for 43 billion in cash securities and stock plus WarnerMedia s retention of certain debt Under the transaction which was expected to be finalized by the second quarter of 2022 Home Box Office Inc and all other assets of WarnerMedia would be combined with the assets of Discovery Inc such as Discovery Channel Animal Planet Discovery All3Media Eurosport GolfTV Golf Digest Golf World Really Motor Trend Group Food Network Discovery Family HGTV Asian Food Network Travel Channel TVN Group Frisbee K2 Discovery New Zealand Tele 5 TLC and many more AT amp T shareholders would own 71 of the company s stock and Discovery shareholders would own the remaining 29 share with each shareholder group appointing representative board members David Zaslav President and CEO of Discovery would head the new company replacing WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar 158 159 160 161 On June 1 2021 it was announced that the merged company would be known as Warner Bros Discovery Zaslav explained that it would reflect the combination of Warner Bros fabled hundred year legacy of creative authentic storytelling and taking bold risks to bring the most amazing stories to life with Discovery s global brand that has always stood brightly for integrity innovation and inspiration 162 The merger was officially completed on April 8 2022 with Home Box Office Inc becoming a subsidiary of WBD in addition to his existing duties as CEO of Home Box Office Inc Casey Bloys one of four upper level WarnerMedia division executives to remain with WBD post merger assumed oversight of Magnolia Network through parent unit Warner Bros Discovery Lifestyle Brands which had previously been managed alongside Discovery s other factual and lifestyle brands The other Discovery networks continue to report to Kathleen Finch who also assumed oversight of the combined company s entertainment formatted U S basic linear networks including those that previously reported to Bloys under WarnerMedia 163 Properties editSee also List of HBO international channels Current edit HBO HBO2 HBO Signature HBO Family HBO Comedy HBO Zone U S only HBO Latino U S only HBO International managed through Warner Bros Discovery International HBO Latin America HBO Brasil HBO Caribbean HBO2 HBO Plus HBO HBO Family HBO Signature HBO Mundi HBO Pop HBO Xtreme HBO Asia HBO Family HBO Hits HBO Signature HBO Europe HBO Europe Original Programming Ltd producer of several local original scripted programming and series based on licensed formats for Central and Eastern Europe based in London England United Kingdom HBO2 HBO3 HBO Go international streaming service Cinemax MoreMax U S only ActionMax U S only ThrillerMax U S only MovieMax U S only Cinemax U S only Spanish language simulcast feed of primary Cinemax channel 5StarMax U S only OuterMax U S only Cinemax on Demand Cinemax Latin America Brazil and the Caribbean supported basic cable channel managed through Warner Bros Discovery International Cinemax Asia managed through Warner Bros Discovery International Cinemax Europe managed through Warner Bros Discovery International Cinemax 2 Europe managed through Warner Bros Discovery International Magnolia Network HBO Bulk formerly HBO Direct sales distributor for hospitality properties colleges and apartments HBO Films HBO Documentary Films Former assets edit Divested edit BET Holdings Inc 15 with Robert Johnson BET executives and shareholders Taft Television amp Radio Company and Liberty Media Tele Communications Inc 1985 1996 Bad Wolf Ltd television production company minority stake operated with Sky Comedy Central 50 with Viacom 1989 2004 TriStar Pictures joint venture with CBS and Columbia Pictures 1983 1986 Dormant transferred or shuttered edit Festival 1986 1988 HBO Boxing Pay Per View 1990 2018 formerly known as TVKO and HBO PPV HBO Home Entertainment 1984 2019 transferred to Warner Bros Home Entertainment Group HBO Home Satellite 1986 2007 folded into HBO Bulk HBO Defined India HBO Downtown Productions 1989 2002 pre 1992 library owned by HBO HBO Hits India HBO Independent Productions 1990 2006 HBO Latin America Group 1991 2020 HBO Netherlands joint venture with Ziggo HBO Now 2015 2020 phased out and superseded by HBO Max HBO Nordic 2012 2021 superseded by HBO Max HBO Portugal 2019 2022 superseded by HBO Max HBO Espana 2016 2021 superseded by HBO Max HBO Kids 2001 2024 HBO NYC Productions 1986 1999 formerly known as HBO Showcase folded into HBO Films Red by HBO 24 7 Asian cinema channel joint venture with Mei Ah Entertainment 2010 2021 Take 2 1979 1981 References edit Time Inc acquires most of Home Box Office Broadcasting March 5 1973 p 49 Contact US WarnerMedia WarnerMedia September 2 2022 Archived from the original on September 2 2022 Retrieved September 2 2022 Lauren Feiner March 4 2019 Layoffs expected as WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT amp T acquisition CNBC NBCUniversal News Group Archived from the original on March 4 2019 Retrieved May 21 2019 WarnerMedia announces restructuring in wake of AT amp T takeover CNN March 4 2019 Archived from the original on March 6 2019 Retrieved May 21 2019 Time Warner Inc Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results Time Warner February 8 2017 Archived from the original on June 9 2019 Retrieved November 8 2017 via Business Wire New York City gives CATV grants Broadcasting December 6 1965 p 47 New York City gives CATV grants Broadcasting December 6 1965 p 48 New York City gives CATV grants Broadcasting December 6 1965 p 50 Advertising Landlord Offers TV as an Extra The New York Times August 4 1964 Archived from the original on July 23 2020 Retrieved July 22 2020 a b 1970s Coming of Age Sterling Manhattan Cable Time Warner Cable February 18 2013 Archived from the original on April 12 2013 Manhattan Cable begins limited CATV service Broadcasting September 12 1966 p 47 Vincent Lobrutto 2018 TV In the USA A History of Icons Idols and Ideas Santa Barbara California Greenwood pp xli a b c d e Bill Mesce August 11 2013 It s Not TV HBO The Company That Changed Television The Green Channel Sound on Sight Retrieved February 1 2014 permanent dead link Time Life jumps on CATV bandwagon Broadcasting May 10 1965 p 44 a b Kimberly C Van Schoick Fall 2010 Risk A Game of Cable Domination Pennsylvania Center for the Book Penn State University Archived from the original on May 15 2013 Retrieved January 23 2013 Can cable make it in New York Broadcasting March 3 1969 p 23 Can cable make it in New York Broadcasting March 3 1969 p 24 CATV Parent Concern Trades Shares for Interest in Time Life The New York Times August 28 1970 Archived from the original on July 23 2020 Retrieved July 22 2020 Pay cablecasting slated for N Y Broadcasting July 12 1971 p 28 F C C Authorizes Cable 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Home Box Office Inc November 1977 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a periodical ignored help a b c Kevin S Forsyth 2002 Delta Satcom and the Cable Boom Archived from the original on September 19 2008 Retrieved June 3 2008 FCC History of Communications Archive Federal Communications Commission Archived from the original on February 1 2016 Retrieved March 26 2017 Time commits more to pay cable future Broadcasting March 26 1973 p 61 Time Inc acquires most of Home Box Office Broadcasting March 5 1973 p 49 Time and Hilton tie pay TV knot Broadcasting March 26 1973 p 106 1970s Coming of Age HBO amp Satellites February 18 2013 Archived from the original on April 12 2013 Top of the Week Headliners Broadcasting September 24 1973 p 6 Time alters its course on cable Broadcasting May 14 1973 p 48 Time alters its course on cable Broadcasting May 14 1973 p 50 a b Charles Dolan profile page Forbes Archived from the original on January 11 2011 Retrieved October 24 2011 a b Cablevision Charles Dolan Cablevision Systems Corporation October 24 2011 Archived from the original on September 27 2007 Retrieved July 21 2020 George Gent June 28 1973 Warner s Attempt to Purchase Sterling Communications Fails The New York Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved July 20 2020 Time and Warner undo their Manhattan deal Broadcasting July 2 1973 p 45 Time and Warner undo their Manhattan deal Broadcasting July 2 1973 p 46 Time Inc Sets Dissolution Of Sterling Communications The New York Times July 20 1973 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved July 20 2020 Time absorbing Sterling Broadcasting July 23 1973 p 8 Time absorbing Sterling Broadcasting May 14 1973 p 50 Conspiracy charge tossed at Time Inc 97 million in damages sought in N Y suit Broadcasting December 3 1973 p 56 a b c d e f Bill Mesce August 17 2013 It s Not TV HBO The Company That Changed Television The Skies Junior Birdmen Sound on Sight Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved February 1 2014 Pay cable on stage and in the wings Broadcasting October 8 1973 p 22 Les Brown April 15 1975 NATIONAL PAY TV PLANNED FOR 1976 The New York Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved July 20 2020 Top of the Week Satellite networking of pay cable in works Broadcasting April 14 1975 p 11 Top of the Week Satellite networking of pay cable in works Broadcasting April 14 1975 p 12 Mr Levin s giant step for pay TV Future seen now in satellite networking as HBO UA Columbia pact first affiliation Broadcasting April 21 1975 p 16 Mr Levin s giant step for pay TV Broadcasting April 21 1975 p 17 Mr Levin s giant step for pay TV Broadcasting April 21 1975 p 18 Mr Levin s giant step for pay TV Broadcasting April 21 1975 p 20 Cablecastings More for less Broadcasting August 25 1975 p 60 Patrick Parsons 2003 The Evolution of the Cable Satellite Distribution System PDF Journal of Broadcasting amp Electronic Media 47 1 Broadcast Education Association 1 17 doi 10 1207 s15506878jobem4701 1 S2CID 62196864 Archived from the original PDF on November 2 2014 Retrieved October 19 2014 Communications History Home Box Office Federal Communications Commission Archived from the original on May 10 2011 Retrieved October 5 2012 United States Cable Television Museum of Broadcast Communications Archived from the original on January 22 2009 Retrieved August 24 2009 In Brief Broadcasting May 31 1976 p 24 FCC issues anticipated rules on pay cable major cable companies seek court appeal Broadcasting March 24 1975 p 6 FCC issues anticipated rules on pay cable major cable companies seek court appeal Broadcasting March 24 1975 p 7 ABC and NBC fight relaxation of pay cable rule on movies Broadcasting January 2 1978 p 28 FCC s pay cable rules get bird of unhappiness from both sides Broadcasting January 2 1978 p 28 FCC s pay cable rules get bird of unhappiness from both sides Broadcasting January 2 1978 p 28 FCC s pay cable rules get bird of unhappiness from both sides Broadcasting January 2 1978 p 28 Rejection of pay cable waiver has HBO Fox flexing legal muscles Broadcasting February 17 1975 p 54 Rejection of pay cable waiver has HBO Fox flexing legal muscles Broadcasting February 17 1975 p 55 For the Record Broadcasting February 24 1975 p 60 The Hatfields and McCoys of pay blast away in new filings Broadcasting June 2 1975 p 34 Justice joins cable attack on FCC s siphoning rules Broadcasting February 9 1976 p 25 Justice joins cable attack on FCC s siphoning rules Broadcasting February 9 1976 p 26 HBO makes deals for movies cable system Broadcasting June 28 1976 p 55 HBO makes deals for movies cable system Broadcasting June 28 1976 p 56 In Brief Broadcasting March 28 1977 p 28 Shock waves keep rolling from decision on pay cable Broadcasting April 4 1977 p 29 Shock waves keep rolling from decision on pay cable Broadcasting April 4 1977 p 30 Supreme Court will take on crossownership rejects appeal on pay cable Broadcasting October 10 1977 p 50 Supreme Court will take on crossownership rejects appeal on pay cable Broadcasting October 10 1977 p 51 M Agnes Siedlecki Spring 1978 Sports Anti Siphoning Rules for Pay Cable Television A Public Right to Free TV PDF Indiana University School of Law Archived from the original on July 21 2020 Retrieved July 20 2020 a b c d Bill Mesce September 2 2013 It s Not TV HBO The Company That Changed Television The Movie Duels Sound on Sight Archived from the original on October 17 2015 Retrieved February 1 2014 HBO adds a new service Broadcasting June 28 1976 p 56 HBO adds a new service Broadcasting June 28 1976 p 56 2d Cable Movie Service From Home Box Office The New York Times July 31 1980 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on July 23 2018 Retrieved March 29 2009 Monitor Paying the next pay way Broadcasting August 18 1980 p 61 Michael Shain February 14 2011 HBO s stealth plan to kill off Skinemax New York Post Archived from the original on July 11 2017 Retrieved July 26 2020 Tim Baysinger August 28 2018 No More Taxicab Confessions HBO Removes All of Its Adult Entertainment Programming TheWrap Archived from the original on March 7 2020 Retrieved May 13 2020 Bill Mesce November 18 2013 It s Not TV HBO The Company That Changed Television Expanding The Brand Part 2 Sound on Sight Archived from the original on January 15 2016 Retrieved February 1 2014 In Brief Broadcasting November 23 1981 p 96 Cable It can t lose for winning Broadcasting January 18 1982 p 29 Cablecastings Decency case Broadcasting April 15 1985 p 144 Appeals court agrees Utah law violates First Amendment Broadcasting September 15 1986 p 100 High court upholds ruling striking down Utah indecency statute Broadcasting March 30 1987 p 143 High court upholds ruling striking down Utah indecency statute Broadcasting March 30 1987 p 144 Cablecastings Another victory for the First Broadcasting August 8 1983 p 8 Courts continue to grant wider First Amendment rights to cable Broadcasting April 1 1985 p 88 HBO buys piece of BET network Broadcasting October 1 1984 p 70 CBS Sells Stake in Tri Star Inc The New York Times Associated Press November 16 1985 Archived from the original on June 12 2018 Retrieved October 5 2012 Cablecastings Pleased with Fox Broadcasting August 22 1983 p 9 Bill Kelley July 28 1985 HBO SETS A TREND IN CABLE MOVIES Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved May 18 2020 John J O Connor July 20 1986 TV VIEW HBO S NEW SHOWCASE DISPLAYS PROMISE The New York Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved May 18 2020 HBO To Finance Half of Amigos Variety 1985 12 18 p 6 Jim McConville June 10 1996 HBO boosts made for slate Broadcasting amp Cable p 47 Chris Pursell November 17 1999 HBO Films taps exex Variety Archived from the original on August 1 2020 Retrieved May 18 2020 HBO Forms Production Unit Broadcasting October 1 1990 p 39 Girard Tom 1984 02 22 HBO Expanding Into Homevid Via Subsidiary Or Partnership Vestron Thorn EMI Considered Variety p 2 Billboard December 1 1984 page 6 a b c d e f Bill Mesce November 6 2013 It s Not TV HBO The Company That Changed Television Expanding The Brand Part 1 Sound on Sight Archived from the original on January 15 2016 Retrieved February 1 2014 Melanson James 1986 07 23 Cannon Name In Homevideo Lights Will Label Profits Top Output Variety p 37 HBO Buys Rights To Kings Road Pix Variety 1986 09 24 p 37 Sports Illustrated Teams With HBO For HV Cassettes Variety 1986 11 12 p 38 HBO Cannon Nabs Rights To DEG Pix Variety 1986 11 26 p 39 Carolco Regains Heart Prejudice For IVE Label Melnick Tie Eyed Variety 1986 12 17 p 37 HBO Is Buying Cannon s Share In Their Joint Homevideo Deal Variety 1987 04 08 pp 41 42 HBO said it is buying out HBO Cannon Video Los Angeles Times April 7 1987 Archived from the original on August 28 2020 Retrieved May 16 2020 HBO Feeds Vid Label With Made For Pay Pix Variety 1987 04 22 p 43 Bierbaum Tom 1987 04 29 HBO Vid Pushes Rental Releases Into the Wholesale Action Variety pp 39 40 Bierbaum Tom 1987 12 23 Judge Orders HBO To Recall Hoosiers Tapes Tally Rentals Variety p 37 a b Festival program guide Home Box Office 1987 Burgeoning world of cable programing Broadcasting June 16 1986 p 10 Burgeoning world of cable programing Broadcasting June 16 1986 p 11 a b Cablecastings Festival expansion Broadcasting April 7 1986 p 10 HBO changes marketing plan for Festival Broadcasting June 20 1988 p 53 The Cable Network Programing Universe Broadcasting May 30 1988 p 41 HBO s Festival to go dark Broadcasting July 18 1988 p 61 Victor Valle May 1 1989 HBO Cinemax Experiment in Bilingual TV Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on August 1 2020 Retrieved July 20 2020 Cablecastings Second language Broadcasting September 19 1988 p 76 Rich Brown May 31 1993 HBO to offer Spanish version Broadcasting p 19 More choices for cable subscribers Broadcasting amp Cable October 4 1993 p 32 Kim Mitchell May 31 1993 HBO reaches out to Hispanics Home Box Office Inc forms HBO En Espanol Multichannel News Archived from the original on May 11 2011 Retrieved February 23 2011 via HighBeam Research Time Inc and Warner to Merge Creating Largest Media Company The New York Times March 5 1989 Archived from the original on September 1 2020 Retrieved May 10 2020 Time Inc Warner Communications Media giants strike merger deal Broadcasting March 13 1989 p 26 Time Inc Warner Communications Media giants strike merger deal Broadcasting March 13 1989 p 27 Time Inc Warner Communications Media giants strike merger deal Broadcasting March 13 1989 p 28 Time Inc gets more deeply into cable Broadcasting January 2 1978 p 59 Time Inc Our History Archived from the original on October 19 2012 Retrieved October 5 2012 Charter Communications completes purchase of Time Warner Cable Reuters May 18 2016 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved June 5 2019 Growth Slows for Pay Cable Services Broadcasting November 26 1990 p 144 HBO beats Viacom to the punch line Broadcasting May 22 1989 p 28 HBO beats Viacom to the punch line Broadcasting May 22 1989 p 29 HBO s laugh lineup Broadcasting November 6 1989 p 46 HBO s laugh lineup Broadcasting November 6 1989 p 47 a b Merger Brings Comic Relief to Cable Broadcasting December 24 1990 p 26 Merger Brings Comic Relief to Cable Broadcasting December 24 1990 p 27 Bill Carter December 19 1990 2 Comedy Channels Will Merge The New York Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved July 26 2020 Viacom buys Comedy Central CNN Reuters April 22 2003 Archived from the original on October 12 2007 Retrieved August 3 2007 HBO and Showtime Climb Into the PPV Ring Broadcasting December 24 1990 p 28 HBO and Showtime Climb Into the PPV Ring Broadcasting December 24 1990 p 29 Wallace Matthews September 27 2018 HBO Says It Is Leaving the Boxing Business The New York Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved September 27 2018 John Lippman June 16 1992 Savoy Pictures and HBO Cut a Film Deal Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved October 15 2018 Nikki Finke May 8 2008 End Of Picturehouse Was Predicted But End Of Warner Independent Not So Much Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on February 13 2021 Retrieved May 18 2020 Ellen Edwards January 11 1994 Cable Leaders to Develop Violence Ratings The Washington Post Archived from the original on June 11 2014 Retrieved March 11 2013 via HighBeam Research Steve Weinstein June 8 1994 Premium Cable Channels Adopt Content Labels Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on 2010 07 09 Retrieved 2020 09 29 HBO Direct and Turner Home Satellite to Consolidate Operations WarnerMedia Group Press release January 7 1998 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved July 20 2020 HBO To Launch Stand Alone Online Service Without Cable In 2015 Time Warner Investor Day Deadline Hollywood Penske Media Corporation October 15 2014 Archived from the original on October 15 2014 Retrieved October 16 2014 HBO Go It Alone There Goes the Cable Bundle The Atlantic October 15 2014 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved October 16 2014 You won t be able to buy HBO Now directly from HBO The Verge Vox Media March 16 2015 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved May 20 2020 HBO Now coming in April for 14 99 per month Apple TV price cut to 69 The Verge Vox Media March 9 2015 Archived from the original on May 24 2019 Retrieved May 20 2020 HBO officially announces April launch of HBO Now at Apple event Gigaom Archived from the original on March 9 2015 Retrieved March 9 2015 AT amp T s WarnerMedia is launching an HBO plus streaming service in 2019 The Verge Vox Media October 10 2018 Archived from the original on October 11 2018 Retrieved May 20 2020 Thomas Gryta Keach Hagey Dana Cimmiluca October 22 2016 AT amp T Reaches Deal to Buy Time Warner for 86 Billion The Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on 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12 2018 Judge approves 85 billion AT amp T Time Warner deal CNNMoney Archived from the original on July 11 2018 Retrieved July 14 2018 Cecilia Kang Michael J de la Merced November 20 2017 Justice Department Sues to Block AT amp T Time Warner Merger The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 11 2017 Retrieved July 14 2018 Hadas Gold June 12 2018 Judge approves 85 billion AT amp T Time Warner deal CNNMoney Archived from the original on July 11 2018 Retrieved July 14 2018 Cecilia Kang Michael J de la Merced November 20 2017 Justice Department Sues to Block AT amp T Time WarnerMerger The New York Times Archived from the original on December 11 2017 Retrieved July 14 2018 AT amp T Completes Acquisition of Time Warner Inc AT amp T Press release June 15 2018 Archived from the original on September 19 2018 Retrieved June 15 2018 Georg Szalai March 15 2017 European Commission Approves AT amp T Acquisition of Time Warner The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on July 31 2020 Retrieved May 20 2020 Jason Aycock August 22 2017 AT amp T s 85B Time Warner deal gets Mexico s approval Seeking Alpha Archived from the original on June 17 2018 Retrieved May 20 2020 Ben Munson September 5 2017 AT amp T Time Warner merger approved with conditions by Chilean regulators FierceCable Questex LLC Meg James October 18 2017 With consent from Brazil AT amp T has only one regulatory hurdle left before it can gobble Time Warner Los Angeles Times U S appeals court OKs 81 billion merger of AT amp T and Time Warner CBS News February 27 2019 Archived from the original on March 31 2019 Retrieved May 20 2020 Robert Mitchell August 23 2017 Sky HBO Take Minority Stake in U K s Bad Wolf Variety Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved October 7 2018 John Koblin Edmund Lee February 28 2019 HBO s C E O an Emmy Magnet Steps Down The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved March 1 2019 Alex Sherman December 4 2020 The home of the Sopranos is under siege Inside the battle for the soul of HBO CNBC Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved March 1 2020 Lauren Feiner March 4 2019 WarnerMedia reorganizes its leadership team after AT amp T acquisition CNBC Archived from the original on March 4 2019 Retrieved March 4 2019 AT amp T to HBO Turner No More Fiefdoms The Wall Street Journal March 1 2019 Archived from the original on March 23 2019 Retrieved April 10 2019 Peter White May 8 2020 WarnerMedia Brings Together HBO Turner amp Warner Bros International Distribution Divisions amp Home Entertainment Ahead Of LA Screenings Deadline Hollywood Penske Media Corporation Archived from the original on May 13 2019 Retrieved May 20 2020 Dade Hayes August 10 2020 WarnerMedia Begins Layoffs In Latest Streamlining Effort Deadline Hollywood Penske Media Corporation Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved August 31 2020 Lesley Goldberg August 7 2020 Bob Greenblatt Kevin Reilly Out Amid Major WarnerMedia Restructuring The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on August 7 2020 Retrieved August 31 2020 Tatiana Siegel August 10 2020 WarnerMedia Begins Massive Round of Layoffs The Hollywood Reporter Archived from the original on August 28 2020 Retrieved August 31 2020 Alex Sherman May 16 2021 AT amp T in advanced talks to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery deal expected as soon as tomorrow CNBC Archived from the original on May 31 2022 Retrieved May 17 2021 Steve Meredith Sam Kovach May 17 2021 AT amp T announces 43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery CNBC Archived from the original on January 20 2022 Retrieved May 17 2021 Jill Goldsmith May 17 2021 AT amp T s WarnerMedia And Discovery To Merge Create New Company Led By David Zaslav Deadline Hollywood Penske Media Corporation Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved May 17 2021 Drew FitzGerald Cara Lombardo Joe Flint May 17 2021 AT amp T Agrees to Merge Media Business With Discovery The Wall Street Journal Archived from the original on August 23 2022 Retrieved May 17 2021 Goldsmith Jill 2021 06 01 Warner Bros Discovery Set As Name Of Merged Company Deadline Archived from the original on 2021 06 01 Retrieved 2021 06 01 Jennifer Maas April 8 2022 Discovery Closes 43 Billion Acquisition of AT amp T s WarnerMedia Variety Archived from the original on April 8 2022 Retrieved April 9 2022 External links edit nbsp Companies portal nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Home Box Office Inc Official website at the Wayback Machine archived 2019 09 27 HBO Bulk website bulk property college and hotel sales Home Box Office at the Internet Movie Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Home Box Office Inc amp oldid 1218661651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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