If you’re a fan of premium television shows and movies, chances are you’ve heard of HBO. But Who founded HBO? In this post, we’ll dive into the history of Home Box Office (HBO) and its founder, and explore how it became one of the most successful cable and streaming services in the world. From its humble beginnings in the early 1970s to its current status as a household name, we’ll cover everything you need to know about HBO and its fascinating story. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and join us on a journey through the history of HBO!
About Home Box Office (HBO)
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium cable and streaming television network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and is part of Home Box Office, Inc. It was first launched on November 8, 1972, and is headquartered in New York City.
The Home Box Office (HBO) business unit is headquartered at 30 Hudson Yards, the corporate headquarters of Warner Bros. Discovery, located in Manhattan’s West Side district. HBO primarily showcases a mix of content including theatrical releases, original television programs, made-for-cable movies, documentaries, occasional comedy and concert specials, as well as periodic interstitial programs featuring short films and making-of documentaries.
HBO is known for producing and broadcasting original programming, including TV series, documentaries, and movies. Some of the most popular and critically acclaimed shows in HBO’s history include The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire, and Sex and the City.
HBO is available to cable and satellite subscribers in the United States, as well as through its standalone streaming service, HBO Max. HBO Max includes all of HBO’s programming, as well as additional content from other WarnerMedia properties and various licensed content.
| Availability | |
|---|---|
| HBO Max | hbomax.com ↗(subscription required to access content) |
| Hulu ↗ | hulu.com ↗(subscription of add-on with either its base or Hulu + Live TV tiers required to access linear feeds and VOD content) |
| YouTube TV | tv.youtube.com ↗(subscription to its HBO Max or standalone HBO add-ons required to access linear feeds and VOD content) |
Who founded HBO?
HBO, which stands for Home Box Office, was founded by Charles Dolan in 1972. At the time, it was the first premium cable television network in the United States, offering a variety of movies, sports events, and original programming to subscribers for a monthly fee. Since then, HBO has grown into a major player in the entertainment industry, producing many acclaimed television shows and films, such as “The Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones,” “Westworld,” and “Chernobyl.”
How much is HBO?
You can subscribe to just HBO for $15.99/month — but you could get access to even more movies, series, and new Max Originals plus all of HBO if you subscribe to HBO Max. Plans start at $9.99/month.
History of the company
HBO, which stands for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable and satellite television network that has been in operation since 1972. Here is a detailed history of HBO:
- In 1965, Charles Dolan, a businessman from New York, created Sterling Manhattan Cable, a company that provided cable television service to customers in Manhattan.
- In 1971, Dolan launched a new cable channel ↗ called The Green Channel, which offered environmental programming. However, the channel failed to attract enough subscribers.
- In 1972, Dolan founded Home Box Office as a premium cable channel that would offer movies and another programming that was not available on broadcast television. The channel was initially available to customers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
- In 1973, HBO began offering programs to customers in New York City and other parts of the Northeast.
- In 1975, HBO became the first television network to use satellite technology to distribute its programming. This allowed the network to expand its reach beyond the Northeast and offer its programming to customers in other parts of the country.
- In 1977, HBO began producing its own original programming, starting with a comedy special featuring Robert Klein.
- In 1980, HBO premiered its first original series, “The Hitchhiker.”
- In 1983, HBO became the first cable network to win an Emmy award, for its documentary “He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’.”
- In 1984, HBO launched HBO Home Video, which allowed customers to rent movies and another programming on VHS tapes.
- In 1986, HBO launched a second channel, HBO2, which offered programming that was similar to the main HBO channel but with different scheduling.
- In 1988, HBO launched its third channel, Cinemax, which focused on movies.
- In the 1990s, HBO continued to produce original programming, including “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Oz,” “Sex and the City,” and “The Sopranos.” The network also expanded its reach internationally, launching HBO Asia and HBO Latin America.
- In 1998, HBO launched its first digital channel, HBO HDTV, which offered high-definition programming.
- In the 2000s, HBO continued to produce critically acclaimed original programming, including “Six Feet Under,” “Deadwood,” “The Wire,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “Game of Thrones.”
- In 2008, HBO launched HBO Go, a streaming service that allowed customers to watch HBO programming online.
- In 2011, HBO launched HBO Now, a standalone streaming service that did not require a cable or satellite subscription.
- In 2016, HBO launched its latest streaming service, HBO Max, which offers a wider range of programming from HBO and other WarnerMedia properties.
Throughout its history, HBO has been known for its innovative programming and high production values. The network has won numerous awards for its programming, including more than 150 Primetime Emmy Awards. Today, HBO remains a leading provider of premium television programming in the United States and around the world.
