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* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007) -- Largely considered to be the greatest TV drama in history, rivaled only by AMC's ''Breaking Bad''.
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* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007) -- Largely considered to be the greatest TV drama in history, rivaled only by AMC's ''Breaking Bad''.Creator/{{AMC}}'s ''Series/BreakingBad''.
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* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present) -- Currently the show HBO are most well-known for and arguably their show with the largest cultural impact.
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* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present) -- Currently the show HBO are most well-known for and arguably their show with the largest cultural impact. Only ''The Sopranos'' rivals it, [[GenreTurningPoint due to its impact on TV as a whole]].
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-->--'''John Oliver''', ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver''
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* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present)
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* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present)(2011-present) -- Currently the show HBO are most well-known for and arguably their show with the largest cultural impact.
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* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-present)
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* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-present)(2012-present) -- Ever since ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' went on hiatus, this has become HBO's most popular comedy series.
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* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' (1998-2004)
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* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' (1998-2004)(1998-2004) -- HBO's first major hit TV show.
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* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007)
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* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007)(1999-2007) -- Largely considered to be the greatest TV drama in history, rivaled only by AMC's ''Breaking Bad''.
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* ''Series/{{Treme}}'' (2010-2013)
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* ''Series/{{Treme}}'' (2010-2013)(2010-2013) -- David Simon's follow-up to ''The Wire.'' It never got anywhere near the same amount of acclaim as its predecessor.
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HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is also famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
to:
HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. HBO would get a third mega-hit in 2011 with ''Series/GameOfThrones.'' In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is also famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
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* ''Series/{{Togetherness}}'' (2015-present)
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* ''Series/FamilyTree'' (2013-Present)
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* ''Series/FamilyTree'' (2013-Present)(2013)
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* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-)
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* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-)(2012-present)
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* ''Series/HelloLadies'' (2013- )
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* ''Series/HelloLadies'' (2013- )(2013-2014)
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim'' (2008-present)
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* ''Series/TheLeftovers'' (2014-present)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim''(2008-present)(2008-2011)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim''
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* ''Series/TheNewsroom'' (2012-present)
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* ''Series/TheNewsroom'' (2012-present)(2012-2014)
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* ''Series/TrueBlood'' (2008-present)
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* ''Series/TrueBlood'' (2008-present)(2008-2014)
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* ''EastboundAndDown'' (2009-present)
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* ''EastboundAndDown'' (2009-present)''Series/EastboundAndDown'' (2009-2013)
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* ''Series/{{Rome}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with TheBBC)
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* ''Series/{{Rome}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with TheBBC)Creator/TheBBC)
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* ''MildredPierce'' (2011 miniseries)
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* ''MildredPierce'' ''Literature/MildredPierce'' (2011 miniseries)
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They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment. (Warner Bros. through Creator/WarnerHomeVideo currently distributes HBO Home Entertainment products.)
to:
They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group Creator/TheCannonGroup bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star Creator/TriStarPictures releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's its share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Creator/{{Miramax}}, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment. (Warner Bros. through Creator/WarnerHomeVideo currently distributes HBO Home Entertainment products.)
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* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010-present)
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* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010-present)(2010-2014)
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* ''Series/The Comeback'' (2005-Canceled after first season; UnCanceled in 2014, ''9 years later'')
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* ''Series/The Comeback'' ''Series/TheComeback'' (2005-Canceled after first season; UnCanceled in 2014, ''9 years later'')
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* ''Series/The Comeback'' (2005-Canceled after first season; UnCanceled in 2014, ''9 years later'')
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The network also offers the internet service '''HBO GO''', which basically offers nearly every HBO series, documentary and special created after ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' premiered and the current movies airing on HBO. Currently only cable and satellite operators that have made agreements to offer HBO GO allow access to the service with their customer login, though a swell of non-cable viewers looking for their ''{{Girls}}'' fix have wanted HBO to offer a paid subscription to the service. However, HBO has said they can't do this, and until Internet-served television is the norm and they can make the cable/pay TV model online, looks unlikely to occur.
to:
The network also offers the internet service '''HBO GO''', which basically offers nearly every HBO series, documentary and special created after ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' premiered and the current movies airing on HBO. Currently only cable and satellite operators that have made agreements to offer HBO GO allow access to the service with their customer login, though a swell of non-cable viewers looking for their ''{{Girls}}'' fix have wanted HBO to offer a paid subscription to the service. However, On October 2014, HBO has said announced that [[http://www.buzzfeed.com/peterlauria/hbo-go-to-launch-as-standalone-streaming-service-in-us-next#4bshk7s they can't do this, and until Internet-served television is would finally be releasing the norm and they can make the cable/pay TV model online, looks unlikely to occur.
streaming service as an independent subscription.]]
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They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment.
to:
They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment.
Entertainment. (Warner Bros. through Creator/WarnerHomeVideo currently distributes HBO Home Entertainment products.)
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* CrackIsCheaper: HBO is well known for their pricey box sets, commonly reaching double that of other shows.
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adding notes
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HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
to:
HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is also famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
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* '''HBO Comedy''' Launched in 1999, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; Comedy films and the deep library of HBO comedy specials and series air here. Think ComedyCentral if everything that aired was truly uncut and uncensored, didn't have commercials, and was of better quality (ironically HBO used to co-own Comedy Central, as it was a merger of HBO's Comedy Channel and Viacom's HA!, and continued to co-own the network until 2003).
to:
* '''HBO Comedy''' Launched in 1999, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; Comedy films and the deep library of HBO comedy specials and series air here. Think ComedyCentral if everything that aired was truly uncut and uncensored, didn't have commercials, and was of better quality (ironically HBO parent company [[Creator/WarnerBros Time Warner]] used to co-own Comedy Central, as it was a merger of HBO's Comedy Channel and Viacom's HA!, and continued to co-own the network until 2003).
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* ''{{Hung}}'' (2009-2011)
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* ''{{Hung}}'' ''Series/{{Hung}}'' (2009-2011)
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-->--'''John Oliver''', ''Last Week Tonight With John Oliver''
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-->--'''John Oliver''', ''Last Week Tonight With John Oliver''
''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver''
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* ''WesternAnimation/AnimatedTalesoftheWorld''
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* ''WesternAnimation/AnimatedTalesoftheWorld''''WesternAnimation/AnimatedTalesoftheWorld'' (2001 miniseries)
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* ''WesternAnimation/AnimatedTalesoftheWorld''
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* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' (upcoming 2014)
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* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' (upcoming 2014)(2014-present)
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-->'''John Oliver''', ''Last Week Tonight With John Oliver''
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[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/HBO_logo_7395.jpg]]
->''"This isn't broadcast TV, it's HBO. The Moral Wild West of television."''
-->'''John Oliver''', ''Last Week Tonight With John Oliver''
The Home Box Office. Originally started in 1965 as "The Green Network", then changed to HBO in 1972. Unlike most cable stations, HBO is a premium station, meaning you have to pay for the right to watch the channel on top of what you pay as far as cable packaging is concerned (though in recent years, most cable and satellite networks have started offering premium TV packages that ''do'' include HBO and its sister stations, including Cinemax). Note the start dates above, too - until about 1980 the concept of "basic cable" didn't exist. There was broadcast TV delivered by cable (one of each of the three major networks plus several independent stations from a wide radius and, at least in the northern states, Creator/{{CBC}}) and there was "pay TV".
To entice people to pay for the channel, HBO used to offer free "preview" periods. Depending on your cable provider, HBO will temporarily "unscramble" its channels for the briefest of periods (usually for one week, one weekend, or one month) to draw in customers who will then pony up the money to buy the channel full time. However, HBO does it much more rarely than {{Creator/Showtime}} or {{Starz}} to keep its cache (Dish Network offers one HBO preview weekend every calendar quarter), and usually only on weekends, where its highest-profile series are launched.
HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
HBO has six sister networks that are almost always included with the main HBO channel to make the network a good value for most of its audience (the collection of networks was once branded as '''HBO The Works'''):
* '''HBO 2''' Launched in 1991, it airs more films than the main HBO with the same variety, and series usually premiere here on a one-day delay to offer viewers a second (or by the end of the week, 46th) chance to view them. Branded as '''HBO Plus''' from 1998 until 2002.
* '''HBO Family''' Launched in 1996, the network's competitor to {{Nickelodeon}} and the DisneyChannel, with movies and children's programming both created for the network and internationally made, and nary a movie rated R in sight.
* '''HBO Signature''' Also launched in 1991, a female-targeted network mainly airing "high-art" Hollywood releases, romantic comedies, and art films. Initially branded as '''HBO 3''' from 1991 until 1998.
* '''HBO Comedy''' Launched in 1999, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; Comedy films and the deep library of HBO comedy specials and series air here. Think ComedyCentral if everything that aired was truly uncut and uncensored, didn't have commercials, and was of better quality (ironically HBO used to co-own Comedy Central, as it was a merger of HBO's Comedy Channel and Viacom's HA!, and continued to co-own the network until 2003).
* '''HBO Zone''' Also launched in 1999, it's the younger-targeting part of the HBO suite which mainly airs films appealing to 18-35'ers and plenty of science fiction films. HBO has aired original series marathons on this network more lately. Also outside of the few adult shows airing on HBO, the only HBO network which airs soft-core adult content, along with old episodes of ''Real Sex''.
* '''HBO Latino''' Launched in 2000, mainly a Spanish-language simulcast of the main HBO channel, but also features Spanish-language movies, series from HBO's Latin American channels and boxing events.
The network also offers the internet service '''HBO GO''', which basically offers nearly every HBO series, documentary and special created after ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' premiered and the current movies airing on HBO. Currently only cable and satellite operators that have made agreements to offer HBO GO allow access to the service with their customer login, though a swell of non-cable viewers looking for their ''{{Girls}}'' fix have wanted HBO to offer a paid subscription to the service. However, HBO has said they can't do this, and until Internet-served television is the norm and they can make the cable/pay TV model online, looks unlikely to occur.
HBO has also made films for themselves, and are sometimes shown theatrically; they use the name HBO Films for those purposes. They first began original film production in 1983 under the name HBO Premiere Films, then under two names, HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions, which were merged together in 2000 to form HBO Films. Other divisions for film production have popped up over the years, and they have had two joint-venture theatrical arms. The first was Creator/TriStarPictures, which was a joint venture between HBO, ColumbiaPictures and CBS; HBO was the last partner to sell its stake to Columbia in 1987. The second one was Picturehouse, formed in 2005 as a joint venture between them and corporate sibling New Line Cinema (both are owned by media giant Time Warner), it folded in New Line's art house division, FineLine Features, and distributed HBO productions theatrically. Time Warner shut down the label in 2008 after New Line was folded into Warner Bros.
They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment.
Series and miniseries broadcast by HBO include:
[[index]]
* ''Theatre/AngelsInAmerica'' (2003 miniseries)
* ''Series/{{Arliss}}'' (1996-2002)
* ''Series/BandOfBrothers'' (2001 miniseries)
* ''Series/BigLove'' (2006-2011)
* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010-present)
* ''Series/BoredToDeath'' (2009-2011)
* ''Series/{{Carnivale}}'' (2003-2005)
* ''Series/TheChrisRockShow'' (1997-2000)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Crashbox}}'' (1999-2001)
* ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'' (2000-present)
* ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'' (2004-2006)
* ''Creator/DennisMiller Live'' (1994-2002)
* ''Series/DreamOn'' (1990-1995)
* ''EastboundAndDown'' (2009-present)
* ''Literature/EncyclopediaBrown'' (1989)
* ''Series/{{Entourage}}'' (2004-2011)
* ''Series/{{Enlightened}}'' (2011-2013)
* ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with Creator/TheBBC)
* ''Series/FamilyTree'' (2013-Present)
* ''Music/FlightOfTheConchords'' (2007-2009)
* ''Series/FraggleRock'' (1983-1987)
* ''Series/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'' (1998)
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present)
* ''Literature/GenerationKill'' (2008 miniseries)
* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-)
* ''WesternAnimation/HappilyEverAfterFairyTalesForEveryChild'' (1995-2000)
* ''Series/HelloLadies'' (2013- )
* ''Series/HowToMakeItInAmerica'' (2010-2011)
* ''{{Hung}}'' (2009-2011)
* ''Inside The NFL'' (1977-2008, then it [[ChannelHop moved]] to Creator/{{Showtime}}.)
* ''Series/JohnAdams'' (2008 miniseries)
* ''Series/TheLarrySandersShow'' (1992-1998)
* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' (upcoming 2014)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim'' (2008-present)
* ''Series/{{Looking}}'' (2014- )
* ''Series/{{Luck}}'' (2011-2012)
* ''MildredPierce'' (2011 miniseries)
* ''Series/NHL247'' (2010-present)
* ''Series/TheNewsroom'' (2012-present)
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'' (1997-2003)
* ''Series/ThePacific'' (2010 miniseries)
* ''Series/RealTimeWithBillMaher'' (2003-present)
* ''Radio/TheRickyGervaisShow'' (2010-2012)
* ''Series/{{Rome}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with TheBBC)
* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' (1998-2004)
* ''Series/SiliconValley'' (2014-present)
* ''Series/SixFeetUnder'' (2001-2005)
* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007)
* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' (1989-1996)
* ''Series/TraceyTakesOn'' (1996-1999)
* ''Series/{{Treme}}'' (2010-2013)
* ''Series/TrueBlood'' (2008-present)
* ''Series/TrueDetective'' (2014-present)
* ''Series/{{Veep}}'' (2012-present)
* ''Series/TheWire'' (2002-2008)
[[/index]]
----
!!This network provides examples of:
* CatchPhrase: "It's not television, it's HBO." - The network's tongue-in-cheek method of defending itself against incredulous critics who rail that the series premises would never make it on basic cable or broadcast.
* InsistentTerminology: The "It's not TV, it's HBO" promos.
** HBO themselves poked fun at this with the advert "It's not porn, it's HBO", referring to the increasing amount of sex depicted in their original series.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: HBO was insanely popular amongst movie tape traders in the 1980s and 1990s, as far as fans taping movies off the network.
** HBO's shows are also insanely popular on [=BitTorrent=] sites, due to the vast number of non-subscriber fans of its original shows who want to follow them without having to wait a year or so for the DVD sets (which are often ''twice'' the price of normal network DVD sets).
** In line with this, HBO GO logins are also popular to score off cable-having friends, with some attempting to sell theirs online.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Part of the score to the "HBO In Space" opener (mentioned below) has become a musical logo for the network, and it even shows up at least thrice in the music of the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgdnknJuB74 feature presentation opener used from 1999 until 2011]], and shows up once in the simpler 2011 open.
* TheRival: Several. During the 1980s and 1990s, HBO's main competition was the LA-based "Z Channel" and {{Showtime}}. In the 2000s, FX, previously filled with {{Fox}}-owned reruns, became its main rival, as far as copying HBO's formula and producing a line-up of shows (''Series/TheShield'', ''[[NipTuck Nip/Tuck]]'', ''Series/RescueMe'', and ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'') that rivaled HBO (and was on basic cable).
** More recently, Creator/{{AMC}}, which has found rousing success with original series such as ''Series/MadMen'' and ''Series/BreakingBad'', has become increasingly referred to as the HBO of basic cable.
* SlidingScaleOfContinuity: Many of its series fall into level 5 (Full Lockout).
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1NKoMNy5bY HBO in Space]], the [[StationIdent ident]] to new movies they'd play in the 80s and 90s where the camera goes up into space and the HBO logo spins. Nothing got people [[http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=i1NKoMNy5bY&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3Di1NKoMNy5bY more pumped up]] to watch a movie than this introducing it.
-->"This intro makes me feel like I am about to witness the most important event in the universe." -sterpinator
** Inverted with HBO's brief and simple [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxurzKCA5AY original programming ident]]. A Theme Music Power On, but not Up.
*** The 1984 movie ''Flashpoint'' (the first of HBO's several ventures into films for the big screen) is the only chance to date to experience this in cinemas, as a shortened version (abeit with a logo credit to "Silver Screen Partners") appears at the beginning. (It was distributed by Tri-Star, but their logo only appeared in the end credits.)
** For those curious about the making of the HBO In Space opening, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agS6ZXBrcng there's a ten minute making of special on YouTube]].
*** The set took three months to build.
*** It took 14 hours to film each take of the 20 second sequence.
*** The HBO "Spaceship" was made from brass and was chrome plated - it was not CGI.
*** The lights swooping around the "O" were ''not CGI nor animated''.
*** The people sitting down to watch HBO at the beginning were filmed last.
** Then there were the HBO April Fool's intros, with either insects as the family, the entire opener being purposely cheaply re-done, or [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tobtm3SBbCI a cable access style intro]] complete with bouncing ball. The ratings would sometimes mock the films, such as rating ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'' "B for Boring" ("No sex, no violence, WHY BOTHER?!") or ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylIwfdO11Tw NG for No Good]]".
----
->''"This isn't broadcast TV, it's HBO. The Moral Wild West of television."''
-->'''John Oliver''', ''Last Week Tonight With John Oliver''
The Home Box Office. Originally started in 1965 as "The Green Network", then changed to HBO in 1972. Unlike most cable stations, HBO is a premium station, meaning you have to pay for the right to watch the channel on top of what you pay as far as cable packaging is concerned (though in recent years, most cable and satellite networks have started offering premium TV packages that ''do'' include HBO and its sister stations, including Cinemax). Note the start dates above, too - until about 1980 the concept of "basic cable" didn't exist. There was broadcast TV delivered by cable (one of each of the three major networks plus several independent stations from a wide radius and, at least in the northern states, Creator/{{CBC}}) and there was "pay TV".
To entice people to pay for the channel, HBO used to offer free "preview" periods. Depending on your cable provider, HBO will temporarily "unscramble" its channels for the briefest of periods (usually for one week, one weekend, or one month) to draw in customers who will then pony up the money to buy the channel full time. However, HBO does it much more rarely than {{Creator/Showtime}} or {{Starz}} to keep its cache (Dish Network offers one HBO preview weekend every calendar quarter), and usually only on weekends, where its highest-profile series are launched.
HBO's line-up mainly consists of major studio films, shown uncut and commercial free. While the main HBO station focuses on new blockbusters, sister station Cinemax focuses on older films and more arthouse-centric movies. In addition, HBO produced original films, and started producing their own series in the '80s (such as ''FirstAndTen'' and ''Series/DreamOn''). However, HBO's popularity increased even further in the late 1990s, when two of these series, ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' and ''Series/TheSopranos'', really took off. These two series gained a great deal of acclaim, and swept the Emmys for a while. In addition to original programming and movies, HBO is famous for its coverage of boxing matches.
HBO has six sister networks that are almost always included with the main HBO channel to make the network a good value for most of its audience (the collection of networks was once branded as '''HBO The Works'''):
* '''HBO 2''' Launched in 1991, it airs more films than the main HBO with the same variety, and series usually premiere here on a one-day delay to offer viewers a second (or by the end of the week, 46th) chance to view them. Branded as '''HBO Plus''' from 1998 until 2002.
* '''HBO Family''' Launched in 1996, the network's competitor to {{Nickelodeon}} and the DisneyChannel, with movies and children's programming both created for the network and internationally made, and nary a movie rated R in sight.
* '''HBO Signature''' Also launched in 1991, a female-targeted network mainly airing "high-art" Hollywood releases, romantic comedies, and art films. Initially branded as '''HBO 3''' from 1991 until 1998.
* '''HBO Comedy''' Launched in 1999, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin; Comedy films and the deep library of HBO comedy specials and series air here. Think ComedyCentral if everything that aired was truly uncut and uncensored, didn't have commercials, and was of better quality (ironically HBO used to co-own Comedy Central, as it was a merger of HBO's Comedy Channel and Viacom's HA!, and continued to co-own the network until 2003).
* '''HBO Zone''' Also launched in 1999, it's the younger-targeting part of the HBO suite which mainly airs films appealing to 18-35'ers and plenty of science fiction films. HBO has aired original series marathons on this network more lately. Also outside of the few adult shows airing on HBO, the only HBO network which airs soft-core adult content, along with old episodes of ''Real Sex''.
* '''HBO Latino''' Launched in 2000, mainly a Spanish-language simulcast of the main HBO channel, but also features Spanish-language movies, series from HBO's Latin American channels and boxing events.
The network also offers the internet service '''HBO GO''', which basically offers nearly every HBO series, documentary and special created after ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' premiered and the current movies airing on HBO. Currently only cable and satellite operators that have made agreements to offer HBO GO allow access to the service with their customer login, though a swell of non-cable viewers looking for their ''{{Girls}}'' fix have wanted HBO to offer a paid subscription to the service. However, HBO has said they can't do this, and until Internet-served television is the norm and they can make the cable/pay TV model online, looks unlikely to occur.
HBO has also made films for themselves, and are sometimes shown theatrically; they use the name HBO Films for those purposes. They first began original film production in 1983 under the name HBO Premiere Films, then under two names, HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions, which were merged together in 2000 to form HBO Films. Other divisions for film production have popped up over the years, and they have had two joint-venture theatrical arms. The first was Creator/TriStarPictures, which was a joint venture between HBO, ColumbiaPictures and CBS; HBO was the last partner to sell its stake to Columbia in 1987. The second one was Picturehouse, formed in 2005 as a joint venture between them and corporate sibling New Line Cinema (both are owned by media giant Time Warner), it folded in New Line's art house division, FineLine Features, and distributed HBO productions theatrically. Time Warner shut down the label in 2008 after New Line was folded into Warner Bros.
They also have a stake in the home video market with HBO Home Entertainment. That division began back in the late 70s as Thorn EMI Video, distributing their early theatrical productions, as well as Creator/ThamesTelevision product and Creator/OrionPictures films. They then formed a joint venture with HBO in 1985 called Thorn EMI/HBO Video. They then were renamed to HBO/Cannon Video, after the Cannon Group bought EMI's film divsion. At this point, they were also distributing films from Hemdale, as well as Tri-Star releases (due to HBO's stake in the venture). This version of the label didn't last long before Cannon sold it's share to HBO, and they created HBO Video. Orion soon left to form it's own video label. By this point, they were distributing productions not only from themselves, but also from a large amount of other companies, including Miramax, Thames, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, Hemdale, and Samuel Goldwyn, among others. However, in the early 90's, as these companies found other labels or quit the business, they began to concentrate on HBO material. In the mid-90's they also formed a joint venture to release Savoy Pictures' films on video, called HBO-Savoy Video. Nowadays in addition to HBO original movies, they also distribute HBO's series and specials for viewing, although they have since renamed to HBO Home Entertainment.
Series and miniseries broadcast by HBO include:
[[index]]
* ''Theatre/AngelsInAmerica'' (2003 miniseries)
* ''Series/{{Arliss}}'' (1996-2002)
* ''Series/BandOfBrothers'' (2001 miniseries)
* ''Series/BigLove'' (2006-2011)
* ''Series/BoardwalkEmpire'' (2010-present)
* ''Series/BoredToDeath'' (2009-2011)
* ''Series/{{Carnivale}}'' (2003-2005)
* ''Series/TheChrisRockShow'' (1997-2000)
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Crashbox}}'' (1999-2001)
* ''Series/CurbYourEnthusiasm'' (2000-present)
* ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'' (2004-2006)
* ''Creator/DennisMiller Live'' (1994-2002)
* ''Series/DreamOn'' (1990-1995)
* ''EastboundAndDown'' (2009-present)
* ''Literature/EncyclopediaBrown'' (1989)
* ''Series/{{Entourage}}'' (2004-2011)
* ''Series/{{Enlightened}}'' (2011-2013)
* ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with Creator/TheBBC)
* ''Series/FamilyTree'' (2013-Present)
* ''Music/FlightOfTheConchords'' (2007-2009)
* ''Series/FraggleRock'' (1983-1987)
* ''Series/FromTheEarthToTheMoon'' (1998)
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'' (2011-present)
* ''Literature/GenerationKill'' (2008 miniseries)
* ''Series/{{Girls}}'' (2012-)
* ''WesternAnimation/HappilyEverAfterFairyTalesForEveryChild'' (1995-2000)
* ''Series/HelloLadies'' (2013- )
* ''Series/HowToMakeItInAmerica'' (2010-2011)
* ''{{Hung}}'' (2009-2011)
* ''Inside The NFL'' (1977-2008, then it [[ChannelHop moved]] to Creator/{{Showtime}}.)
* ''Series/JohnAdams'' (2008 miniseries)
* ''Series/TheLarrySandersShow'' (1992-1998)
* ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' (upcoming 2014)
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLifeAndTimesOfTim'' (2008-present)
* ''Series/{{Looking}}'' (2014- )
* ''Series/{{Luck}}'' (2011-2012)
* ''MildredPierce'' (2011 miniseries)
* ''Series/NHL247'' (2010-present)
* ''Series/TheNewsroom'' (2012-present)
* ''Series/{{Oz}}'' (1997-2003)
* ''Series/ThePacific'' (2010 miniseries)
* ''Series/RealTimeWithBillMaher'' (2003-present)
* ''Radio/TheRickyGervaisShow'' (2010-2012)
* ''Series/{{Rome}}'' (2005-2007, co-production with TheBBC)
* ''Series/SexAndTheCity'' (1998-2004)
* ''Series/SiliconValley'' (2014-present)
* ''Series/SixFeetUnder'' (2001-2005)
* ''Series/TheSopranos'' (1999-2007)
* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' (1989-1996)
* ''Series/TraceyTakesOn'' (1996-1999)
* ''Series/{{Treme}}'' (2010-2013)
* ''Series/TrueBlood'' (2008-present)
* ''Series/TrueDetective'' (2014-present)
* ''Series/{{Veep}}'' (2012-present)
* ''Series/TheWire'' (2002-2008)
[[/index]]
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!!This network provides examples of:
* CatchPhrase: "It's not television, it's HBO." - The network's tongue-in-cheek method of defending itself against incredulous critics who rail that the series premises would never make it on basic cable or broadcast.
* InsistentTerminology: The "It's not TV, it's HBO" promos.
** HBO themselves poked fun at this with the advert "It's not porn, it's HBO", referring to the increasing amount of sex depicted in their original series.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: HBO was insanely popular amongst movie tape traders in the 1980s and 1990s, as far as fans taping movies off the network.
** HBO's shows are also insanely popular on [=BitTorrent=] sites, due to the vast number of non-subscriber fans of its original shows who want to follow them without having to wait a year or so for the DVD sets (which are often ''twice'' the price of normal network DVD sets).
** In line with this, HBO GO logins are also popular to score off cable-having friends, with some attempting to sell theirs online.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Part of the score to the "HBO In Space" opener (mentioned below) has become a musical logo for the network, and it even shows up at least thrice in the music of the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgdnknJuB74 feature presentation opener used from 1999 until 2011]], and shows up once in the simpler 2011 open.
* TheRival: Several. During the 1980s and 1990s, HBO's main competition was the LA-based "Z Channel" and {{Showtime}}. In the 2000s, FX, previously filled with {{Fox}}-owned reruns, became its main rival, as far as copying HBO's formula and producing a line-up of shows (''Series/TheShield'', ''[[NipTuck Nip/Tuck]]'', ''Series/RescueMe'', and ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'') that rivaled HBO (and was on basic cable).
** More recently, Creator/{{AMC}}, which has found rousing success with original series such as ''Series/MadMen'' and ''Series/BreakingBad'', has become increasingly referred to as the HBO of basic cable.
* SlidingScaleOfContinuity: Many of its series fall into level 5 (Full Lockout).
* ThemeMusicPowerUp: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1NKoMNy5bY HBO in Space]], the [[StationIdent ident]] to new movies they'd play in the 80s and 90s where the camera goes up into space and the HBO logo spins. Nothing got people [[http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=i1NKoMNy5bY&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3Di1NKoMNy5bY more pumped up]] to watch a movie than this introducing it.
-->"This intro makes me feel like I am about to witness the most important event in the universe." -sterpinator
** Inverted with HBO's brief and simple [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxurzKCA5AY original programming ident]]. A Theme Music Power On, but not Up.
*** The 1984 movie ''Flashpoint'' (the first of HBO's several ventures into films for the big screen) is the only chance to date to experience this in cinemas, as a shortened version (abeit with a logo credit to "Silver Screen Partners") appears at the beginning. (It was distributed by Tri-Star, but their logo only appeared in the end credits.)
** For those curious about the making of the HBO In Space opening, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agS6ZXBrcng there's a ten minute making of special on YouTube]].
*** The set took three months to build.
*** It took 14 hours to film each take of the 20 second sequence.
*** The HBO "Spaceship" was made from brass and was chrome plated - it was not CGI.
*** The lights swooping around the "O" were ''not CGI nor animated''.
*** The people sitting down to watch HBO at the beginning were filmed last.
** Then there were the HBO April Fool's intros, with either insects as the family, the entire opener being purposely cheaply re-done, or [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tobtm3SBbCI a cable access style intro]] complete with bouncing ball. The ratings would sometimes mock the films, such as rating ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'' "B for Boring" ("No sex, no violence, WHY BOTHER?!") or ''Film/PoliceAcademy'' "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylIwfdO11Tw NG for No Good]]".
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