History of HBO in Timeline
Home Box Office (HBO) is a flagship American pay television network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It primarily broadcasts theatrically released movies and original television programming. HBO also features made-for-cable movies, documentaries, comedy specials, concerts, and interstitial programs. The network's business operations are based at Warner Bros. Discovery's headquarters in Manhattan.
September 1966: Manhattan Cable TV Services began limited service
In September 1966, Manhattan Cable TV Services began limited service.
May 1969: Manhattan Cable Television Contract with Madison Square Garden
In May 1969, Manhattan Cable Television first signed a one-year, $300,000 contract with Madison Square Garden to broadcast 125 sports events held at the arena.
1969: NBC Gains Over-the-Air Broadcast Rights to Wimbledon
Since 1969, NBC maintained over-the-air broadcast rights to the Wimbledon quarterfinal, semi-final, and final rounds, as well as weekend early-round matches.
November 1970: Manhattan Cable Television Contract Extension
In November 1970, Manhattan Cable Television's contract with Madison Square Garden was extended for five additional years.
January 1971: Sterling Information Services renamed
In January 1971, Sterling Information Services was renamed Sterling Manhattan Cable Television.
November 2, 1971: "Green Channel" proposal approved
On November 2, 1971, Time Inc.'s board approved the "Green Channel" proposal, providing Dolan a $150,000 development grant.
1971: Sometimes a Great Notion
The 1971 film Sometimes a Great Notion, starring Paul Newman and Henry Fonda.
November 1, 1972: Madison Square Garden Grants Sterling Rights
On November 1, 1972, one week before HBO formally launched, Madison Square Garden granted Sterling the rights to televise its sporting events to cable television systems outside New York City.
November 8, 1972: HBO Launch
On November 8, 1972, HBO was launched, marking the beginning of modern pay television. It was the first television service directly transmitted to cable systems, pioneering the "premium channel" concept.
November 1972: HBO Sports launch
In November 1972, HBO launched and began broadcasting sports event telecasts produced by HBO Sports.
1972: HBO Carries U.S. National Indoor Championships
From 1972, HBO carried the men's and women's rounds of the U.S. National Indoor Championships.
January 22, 1973: HBO's First Boxing Telecast: The Sunshine Showdown
On January 22, 1973, HBO aired its first boxing telecast, "The Sunshine Showdown," featuring the world heavyweight championship bout between George Foreman and Joe Frazier from Kingston, Jamaica.
March 1973: HBO Signs ABA Rights Contract
In March 1973, HBO signed a $1.5-million contract to acquire the regional rights to a selection of American Basketball Association (ABA) games for five years.
March 23, 1973: First non-sports entertainment special
On March 23, 1973, HBO aired its first non-sports entertainment special, the Pennsylvania Polka Festival, a three-hour music event from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
June 10, 1973: Winston-Salem Open on HBO
On June 10, 1973, HBO began airing Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tournament events, starting with the Winston-Salem Open.
June 18, 1973: HBO's First Interconnected Satellite Demonstration Broadcast
On June 18, 1973, HBO provided the first interconnected satellite demonstration broadcast, relaying a heavyweight championship match between Jimmy Ellis and Earnie Shavers via Anik A to Anaheim and San Bernardino.
1973: HBO Pioneered Free Previews
In 1973, HBO pioneered the free preview concept as a marketing strategy, allowing providers to offer a sampling of HBO's programming to potential subscribers.
1973: HBO Pioneers Original Programming
Since 1973, HBO innovated original entertainment programming for cable television networks, producing TV series, movies, and specials alongside its theatrical motion pictures.
June 1974: Complaint Filed Over Yankees Telecast
In June 1974, a complaint was filed by National Association of Broadcasters Special Committee on Pay TV chairman Willard Walbridge, alleging HBO's Yankees telecasts violated anti-siphoning rules.
September 1974: FCC Authorization for Yankees Games
In September 1974, the FCC gave temporary authorization for HBO to carry no more than three of the New York Yankees remaining regular season games, citing the games were unavailable on broadcast television.
1974: HBO Broadcasts WFL Games
In 1974, HBO acquired the rights to broadcast World Football League (WFL) games from the New York Stars and the Philadelphia Bell.
1974: HBO's Watershed Policy
In 1974, with the expansion to afternoon programming, HBO implemented a watershed policy that restricted the broadcast of R-rated films before 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
March 1, 1975: Introduction of first HBO lettermark
On March 1, 1975, the first iteration of the current HBO lettermark, designed by Betty E. Brugger, was introduced, featuring bold, uppercase "HBO" text with a bullseye inside the "O".
April 30, 1975: End of Original HBO Logo Use
On April 30, 1975, HBO ceased using its original logo, which had been in use since the channel's launch.
July 1975: HBO Inaugurates Wimbledon Coverage
In July 1975, HBO began regional coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament for its Mid-Atlantic U.S. subscribers, offering weekday coverage on network television. The broadcasts consisted mainly of replays from other video sources.
September 1975: HBO becomes national television network
In September 1975, HBO became the first television channel in the world to begin transmitting via satellite, expanding the regional pay service into a national television network.
September 30, 1975: "Thrilla in Manila" Airs on HBO
On September 30, 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila" boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier aired on HBO via satellite, marking the first program on the network to be broadcast via satellite.
1975: American Film Theatre - non-exclusive deal
From 1975 to 1977, American Film Theatre maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1975: HBO Broadcasts Approximately 25 Yankees Games
In 1975, HBO broadcast approximately 25 New York Yankees games.
1975: WFL Folds Midway Through Season
In 1975, the World Football League (WFL) abruptly folded midway through the season after HBO aired 18 WFL games throughout two seasons.
December 31, 1975: Premiere of 'An Evening with Robert Klein'
On December 31, 1975, HBO premiered "An Evening with Robert Klein", the first of nine HBO stand-up specials featuring the comic over 35 years.
March 20, 1976: Premiere of 'On Location'
On March 20, 1976, HBO premiered "On Location", a monthly anthology series presenting uncut nightclub performances by stand-up comedians, starting with David Steinberg.
June 1976: Exclusive Deal with Columbia Pictures
In June 1976, HBO signed a four-year exclusive deal with Columbia Pictures for a package of 20 films released between January 1977 and January 1981.
June 19, 1976: The Fabulous Bette Midler Show Debut
On June 19, 1976, "The Fabulous Bette Midler Show" debuted on HBO, featuring Bette Midler performing music and comedy routines. This special served as the linchpin for the creation of "Standing Room Only."
1976: HBO Ends U.S. National Indoor Championships Coverage
By 1976, HBO stopped carrying the men's and women's rounds of the U.S. National Indoor Championships.
1976: HBO's MLB Game Package Attempt
In 1976, HBO attempted to negotiate the carriage of a weekly Thursday night MLB game package but ultimately balked at the price being asked.
1976: HBO Carries 1976 ABA Finals
In 1976, HBO carried the 1976 ABA Finals, the league's last tournament game before the completion of its merger with the NBA, in which the New York Nets beat the Denver Nuggets.
1976: Expansion of Sports Coverage
In 1976, as HBO expanded into a national service, its sports coverage broadened to include events such as the North American Soccer League, Amateur Athletic Union tournaments, LPGA golf tournaments, and more.
January 1977: Start of Columbia Pictures Film Releases
In January 1977, the four-year exclusive deal between HBO and Columbia Pictures, signed in June 1976, went into effect, covering 20 film releases until January 1981.
April 17, 1977: Standing Room Only Premiere
On April 17, 1977, HBO premiered "Standing Room Only" (SRO), a monthly series featuring concerts and stage spectaculars, with Ann Corio's 'This Was Burlesque' as its inaugural broadcast.
July 1, 1977: Early Termination of ABA Contract
On July 1, 1977, HBO's ABA contract, which was originally set to expire, was terminated early following the merger of the ABA with the NBA.
September 1, 1977: On Location: George Carlin at USC
On September 1, 1977, George Carlin's first comedy special for HBO, "On Location: George Carlin at USC," aired, featuring his first televised performance of "The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television."
September 22, 1977: Inside the NFL Premieres on HBO
On September 22, 1977, HBO premiered Inside the NFL, its first original weekly series and sports-related documentary and analysis program.
1977: American Film Theatre - non-exclusive deal
From 1975 to 1977, American Film Theatre maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1977: HBO Carries WTA Tour Events
From 1977, HBO carried selected WTA Tour events.
1977: Division I Baseball Championships on HBO
In 1977, HBO broadcasted the Division I Baseball Championships.
1977: HBO Carries Sterling Manhattan Sporting Events
Throughout 1977, HBO carried various sporting events originating on the Sterling Manhattan/Manhattan Cable sports channel, including hockey, basketball, tennis, wrestling, and more.
May 1978: New York Supreme Court Ruling
In May 1978, the New York Supreme Court ruled that then-Islanders and Nets president Roy Boe had breached an exclusive contract with Dolan's successor firm through the HBO agreement and concurring contracts with other New York-area cable systems.
September 1978: InterMissions Debut
In September 1978, HBO began to call interstitials between programs InterMissions, bannered into Video Jukebox and Special groupings.
1978: Free Previews on Some Providers
As early as 1978, some providers already offered free HBO previews.
1978: HBO Carries National Collegiate Boxing Association Championships
From 1978 to 1979, HBO carried the National Collegiate Boxing Association championships.
1978: Walt Disney Productions - non-exclusive deal
From 1978 to 1982, Walt Disney Productions maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1978: HBO Sports Employs In-House Commentators for Wimbledon
In 1978, HBO Sports began using an in-house team of commentators for its Wimbledon tournament coverage.
1978: Race for the Pennant
In 1978, HBO premiered the Major League Baseball-focused show, Race for the Pennant.
1978: Use of ITC Avant Garde and Kabel typefaces
In 1978, ITC Avant Garde and Kabel typefaces started being used in HBO's on-air and print marketing materials.
1978: Cessation of Most Sports Events
In 1978, most sporting events on HBO, besides boxing and Wimbledon, ceased due to regional appeal, lack of repeat value, and abundance on commercial television.
1978: End of NCAA Coverage
Until the 1978-79 season, HBO carried NCAA Division I college basketball games held at Madison Square Garden and other venues.
April 1979: R-Rated Film Disclaimer
From April 1979, HBO included a disclaimer before R-rated films, indicating the movie would only air at night.
April 1979: Introduction of "HBO Feature Movie" intros
In April 1979, HBO introduced a series of six film-based animated "HBO Feature Movie" intros.
1979: HBO Ends WTA Tour Events Coverage
By 1979, HBO stopped carrying selected WTA Tour events.
1979: The Samuel Goldwyn Company - non-exclusive deal
From 1979 to 1986, The Samuel Goldwyn Company maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1979: Existing alliance with Paramount dating to 1979
In 1979, HBO had an existing alliance with Paramount for the non-exclusive rights to the studio's films.
1979: NCAA Events Shift to ESPN
In 1979, the NCAA regular season and tournament events shifted from HBO to ESPN under an exclusive national cable deal.
1979: HBO Carries National Golden Gloves Competitions
Through 1979, HBO also carried various National Golden Gloves competitions.
April 1980: HBO lettermark modification
In April 1980, the HBO lettermark was modified by Bemis Balkind to improve readability, shifting the "O" slightly rightward and widening the letter spacing.
August 1, 1980: Cinemax launch
On August 1, 1980, HBO launched Cinemax as a direct competitor to existing movie-focused premium channels.
1980: InterMissions Billed as Something Short and Special
Around 1980, HBO's interstitials were billed as Something Short and Special.
1980: Controversy over R-Rated daytime films
In 1980, competing premium services began scheduling R-rated films during the daytime, leading to controversy and reinforcing HBO's existing watershed policy.
January 1981: End of Columbia Pictures Film Releases
In January 1981, the four-year exclusive deal between HBO and Columbia Pictures, signed in June 1976, concluded after covering 20 film releases.
June 1981: Discontinuation of 1975 HBO logo
In June 1981, the original 1975 version of the HBO logo was fully discontinued after a period of concurrent use with the 1980 modification.
September 1981: HBO Expands to 24-Hour Weekend Programming
In September 1981, HBO began offering 24-hour programming on weekends, extending the watershed policy from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET/PT during those times.
1981: Network-Level Free Preview Weekend
Beginning in 1981, HBO offered free previews at the network level over a two-day weekend.
1981: Limiting HBO's sports rights
By early 1981, HBO limited its sports rights to boxing and Wimbledon, after USGF, AAU and select non-NCAA invitational events ended.
1981: HBO Sports Magazine
In 1981, HBO premiered the show, HBO Sports Magazine.
1981: MTV's Successful Rollout
In 1981, after MTV's successful rollout, HBO's Standing Room Only series began to produce fewer concerts.
1981: Production of "HBO in Space" sequence
In late 1981, the "HBO in Space" program opening sequence was produced by Liberty Studios in New York City.
September 20, 1982: Debut of "HBO in Space" opening sequence
On September 20, 1982, the "HBO in Space" opening sequence, produced by Liberty Studios, was first used and became widely recognized. The sequence involved a continuous stop motion flight over a model cityscape, leading to a chrome-plated HBO logo flying through a starfield.
1982: HBO Behind the Scenes
From 1982, HBO produced short feature segments, HBO Behind the Scenes, that aired during between-program promotional breaks.
1982: HBO Sports Magazine Ends
In 1982, HBO ended the show, HBO Sports Magazine.
1982: ITC Entertainment/Walt Disney Productions- non-exclusive deal
In 1982, ITC Entertainment started a non-exclusive run that lasted till 1990 and Walt Disney Productions ended their non-exclusive deal. Also, New World Pictures and Hemdale Film Corporation started their runs, which both ended in 1986
1982: Reference to the 1982 Sequence
In 1982, a CGI feature presentation bumper (designed by Pittard Sullivan) harkening to the 1982 sequence was used from November 6, 1999, to April 1, 2011.
1982: Homage to 1982 opening
The sequence debuting March 4, 2017, pays homage to the 1982 opening.
February 1983: Agreement with Silver Screen Partners
In February 1983, HBO signed an agreement with Silver Screen Partners giving HBO first refusal on film selection and 5% of profits from non-pay-cable distribution. The Silver Screen agreement concluded in 1998.
November 1983: Variant of "HBO in Space" intro introduced
In November 1983, a variant of the "HBO in Space" intro, beginning with a dark cloudscape, replaced the early version.
1983: Founding of HBO Premiere Films
In 1983, HBO Premiere Films was founded, marking the origins of HBO's made-for-cable television movies production unit. The film unit's first original movie project was the 1983 biopic The Terry Fox Story.
1983: Exclusive Licensing Agreements
In 1983, HBO entered into three exclusive licensing agreements tied to production financing arrangements involving Tri-Star Pictures, Columbia Pictures and Orion Pictures.
March 1984: HBO signs non-exclusivity deal with Universal
In March 1984, HBO and Universal started their relationship by signing a six-year non-exclusivity deal with the studio.
1984: Limited Short Segments
By 1984, HBO's short segments had mainly been limited to comedic film shorts and youth-targeted shorts.
1984: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment - non-exclusive deal
From 1984 to 1989, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1984: First Choice Superchannel reuses HBO intros
From 1984, Canadian pay service First Choice Superchannel reused the "HBO Feature Movie" intros for their movie presentations.
1984: Diversification of Programming
In 1984, Cinemax started to diversify its programming beyond movies. It began to incorporate music specials and limited original programming, including SCTV Channel and Max Headroom.
1984: Focus on Independent Film Production
In 1984, HBO Pictures scaled back its telefilm slate to focus on independent film production.
1984: HBO abandons exclusivity practice
In early 1984, HBO abandoned its exclusivity practice, citing internal research showing subscriber indifference to premium channels securing exclusive rights to studios' recent films. Frank Biondi was fired and replaced by Michael J. Fuchs.
1985: Release of "Music Made for Television" album
In 1985, Ferdinand Jay Smith III released the album "Music Made for Television", featuring an extended pop rock version of the HBO theme titled "Fantasy".
1985: HBO Premiere Films Renamed
In 1985, HBO Premiere Films was rechristened HBO Pictures as it expanded beyond its telefilm slate.
1985: Start of 20th Century Fox films covered under HBO deal
In January 1986, 20th Century Fox signed a non-exclusive deal with HBO covering Fox films released between 1985 and 1988.
January 1986: Non-exclusive deal with 20th Century Fox
In January 1986, 20th Century Fox signed a non-exclusive deal with HBO covering Fox films released between 1985 and 1988, including a co-financing agreement for HBO original programs.
June 1986: Columbia Pictures pre-June 1986 releases
In 1983, HBO entered into an exclusive licensing agreement tied to production financing arrangements involving Columbia Pictures (an exclusivity-based contract extension initially covering 50% of the studio's pre-June 1986 releases with a non-compete option to purchase additional Columbia titles).
June 1986: HBO and Warner Bros. Sign Distribution Agreement
In June 1986, HBO and Warner Bros. signed a five-year distribution agreement encompassing films released between January 1987 and December 1992.
July 1986: Output deal with New World Pictures
In July 1986, HBO signed a three-year output deal with New World Pictures, costing $50 million, to receive up to 75 New World films Showtime would not get.
August 8, 1986: Agreement with Lorimar-Telepictures
On August 8, 1986, HBO and Lorimar-Telepictures reached a non-exclusive agreement involving theatrical films up to 1989 and Lorimar-Telepictures becoming a production partner on made-for-HBO television movies.
September 1986: Agreement with MGM/UA Communications Co.
In September 1986, HBO signed a five-year agreement with MGM/UA Communications Co. for a package of up to 72 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists films.
October 31, 1986: Abbreviated version of "HBO in Space" intro shown
Until October 31, 1986, an abbreviated version of the "HBO in Space" opening sequence was shown during most non-prime-time programming.
November 1, 1986: Discontinuation of some "HBO in Space" variants
On November 1, 1986, most variants of the "HBO in Space" sequence, except for the feature presentation, "Saturday Night Movie" and "Sunday Night Movie" versions, were discontinued.
November 1986: Agreement with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
In November 1986, HBO signed an agreement with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group for films between 1987 and 1990, and a three-year home video rights contract for HBO/Cannon Video.
December 1986: Agreement with Poseidon Films
In December 1986, HBO signed a pact with Soviet Union producer Poseidon Films for Soviet-based films, securing US and Canada rights.
1986: Creation of HBO Showcase
In 1986, HBO Showcase was created, later restructuring in June 1996 and eventually becoming part of HBO NYC Productions.
1986: Comic Relief USA Fundraising Specials
In 1986, HBO began serving as the primary broadcaster for Comic Relief USA's fundraising specials, which aimed to aid health and welfare programs focused on America's homeless population.
1986: Showtime Championship Boxing Premieres
In 1986, Showtime Championship Boxing telecasts premiered, carrying Evander Holyfield's matches.
1986: The Samuel Goldwyn Company/New World Pictures/Hemdale Film Corporation - non-exclusive deal
In 1986, The Samuel Goldwyn Company, New World Pictures, and Hemdale Film Corporation all ended their non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
January 1987: Start of HBO-Warner Bros. Film Distribution
In January 1987, the five-year distribution agreement between HBO and Warner Bros., signed in June 1986, went into effect, covering film releases until December 1992.
March 1987: End of R-Rated Film Disclaimer
In March 1987, HBO stopped including the disclaimer before R-rated films.
May 24, 1987: Standing Room Only Ending
On May 24, 1987, HBO's "Standing Room Only" series ended with the premiere of the Liza Minnelli concert special "Liza in London."
July 1987: $500-million deal with Paramount Pictures
In July 1987, HBO signed a five-year, $500-million deal for exclusive rights to 85 Paramount Pictures films to be released between May 1988 and May 1993.
August 15, 1987: Debut of 'HBO Comedy Hour'
On August 15, 1987, HBO debuted "HBO Comedy Hour" with "Martin Mull: Live from North Ridgeville", a variety-comedy special featuring on-stage and pre-filmed sketches.
1987: Hemdale Film Corporation - exclusive deal
From 1987 to 1991, Hemdale Film Corporation maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1987: Boxing Telecasts Move to Saturdays Full-Time
In 1987, boxing telecasts moved to Saturdays full-time on HBO.
January 1988: Tri-Star Deal Becomes Non-Exclusive
In January 1988, the Tri-Star deal, initially part of the exclusive licensing agreements entered into by HBO in 1983, became non-exclusive, although Showtime did not acquire titles from HBO's film rights lessees.
May 1988: Start of Paramount Pictures film releases under HBO deal
In May 1988, Paramount Pictures began releasing films under the five-year, $500-million deal signed with HBO in July 1987.
September 1988: Promotional Free Preview Show
From September 1988, HBO aired a 15-minute promotional "free preview show" each night of the preview event to preview upcoming HBO programming for prospective and existing subscribers.
1988: Vanishing Intermission Shorts
By 1988, intermission shorts had largely vanished from HBO.
1988: De Laurentiis Entertainment Group - non-exclusive deal
From 1988 to 1991, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1988: HBO Entertainment News
From 1988, HBO produced short feature segments, HBO Entertainment News, that aired during between-program promotional breaks.
1988: Renewal of the film output agreement with Fox
In 1988, the non-exclusive agreement between 20th Century Fox and HBO transitioned to an exclusivity arrangement.
November 15, 1989: The Comedy Channel launch
On November 15, 1989, The Comedy Channel, a basic cable network started by HBO through Time Inc./Time Warner, was launched.
1989: Time-Warner Merger
As a result of the 1989 Time-Warner merger, HBO and Cinemax gained pay-cable exclusivity over newer Warner Bros. films for the duration of their joint ownership.
1989: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment - non-exclusive deal
From 1984 to 1989, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1989: Universal bypassed HBO to deal with CBS
In April 1990, Universal elected to sign a deal with CBS for the licensing rights to a package of the studio's ten 1989 releases, bypassing the traditional pay-cable window.
1989: Lorimar-Telepictures film agreement end date
The agreement between HBO and Lorimar-Telepictures, signed on August 8, 1986, involved theatrical films up to 1989 and Lorimar-Telepictures becoming a production partner on made-for-HBO television movies.
April 1990: Universal signs deal with CBS
In April 1990, Universal signed a deal with CBS for the licensing rights to a package of the studio's 1989 releases, bypassing the traditional pay-cable window.
December 1990: HBO Creates TVKO for Pay-Per-View Boxing
In December 1990, HBO created TVKO (later HBO PPV and HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View) to distribute and organize marquee boxing matches on pay-per-view.
1990: ITC Entertainment/Lorimar Film Entertainment - non-exclusive deal
In 1990, ITC Entertainment and Lorimar Film Entertainment ended their non-exclusive run
1990: Time Warner Sports management of HBO Sports
In 1990, Time Warner Sports (now Warner Bros. Discovery Sports) began managing HBO Sports, an in-house production division.
1990: End date of agreement with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
In November 1986, HBO signed an agreement with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group for films that ran between 1987 and 1990, along with a three-year home video rights contract for sister label HBO/Cannon Video.
April 1, 1991: Comedy Central launch
On April 1, 1991, Comedy Central, a consolidation of The Comedy Channel and Viacom-owned Ha!, was launched by HBO through Time Inc./Time Warner.
April 1991: MoreMax Launch
In April 1991, MoreMax was launched as Cinemax 2, coinciding with the rollout of HBO2.
April 19, 1991: TVKO Produces "Battle of the Ages"
On April 19, 1991, TVKO produced its first boxing event, the "Battle of the Ages" bout between Evander Holyfield and George Foreman.
May 8, 1991: Plans to launch additional channels of HBO and Cinemax
On May 8, 1991, Home Box Office Inc. announced plans to launch two additional channels of HBO and Cinemax.
August 1, 1991: Test launch of HBO and Cinemax multiplex channels
On August 1, 1991, a test launch of the three channels over those systems, TeleCable customers in Overland Park, Kansas; Racine, Wisconsin; and suburban Dallas (Richardson and Plano, Texas) that subscribed to either service began receiving two additional HBO channels or a secondary channel of Cinemax.
August 1991: HBO offers multiplexed channels
In August 1991, HBO and Cinemax were among the first American pay television services to offer complimentary multiplexed channels.
November 1, 1991: Cinemax 3 launch shelved
Plans to launch Cinemax 3 on November 1, 1991, were shelved until 1996.
1991: Hemdale Film Corporation - exclusive deal
From 1987 to 1991, Hemdale Film Corporation maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1991: Launch of HBO Europe
HBO Europe was launched in Budapest in 1991 in partnership with Sony.
1991: Expansion of HBO to international markets
Since 1991, Home Box Office, Inc. oversaw the expansion of HBO's service to international markets, establishing subsidiaries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and forming distribution partnerships.
June 6, 1992: Weekly Movie Premieres on HBO
Beginning June 6, 1992, HBO started offering weekly pay television premieres of recent theatrical and original made-for-cable movies on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
October 10, 1992: Michael Jackson: Live in Bucharest Premiere
On October 10, 1992, "Michael Jackson: Live in Bucharest" premiered on HBO, recorded during his Dangerous World Tour. It became HBO's highest-rated special, with 3.7 million viewers.
December 1992: End of Initial HBO-Warner Bros. Deal
In December 1992, the initial five-year distribution agreement between HBO and Warner Bros., signed in June 1986, concluded.
1992: Savoy Pictures - exclusive deal
From 1992 to 1997, Savoy Pictures maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1992: Launch of HBO Asia
HBO Asia was launched in Singapore in 1992 as a partnership with Singtel.
1992: Debut of HBO First Look
In 1992, HBO First Look, a series of 15-to-20-minute-long documentary-style interstitial specials, debuted to promote newer movies.
1992: Race for the Pennant Ends
In 1992, HBO ended the Major League Baseball-focused show, Race for the Pennant.
1992: HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival held
Since 1992, the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival has been held annually near HBO's former New York City headquarters, featuring the "HBO in Space" sequence as a movie introduction.
May 1993: End of Paramount Pictures film releases under HBO deal
In May 1993, Paramount Pictures film releases concluded under the five-year, $500-million deal signed with HBO in July 1987.
September 1993: Discontinuation and Extension of Movie Intro Variants
In September 1993, HBO discontinued the "Saturday Night Movie" and "Sunday Night Movie" versions of the opening sequence, extending the "Feature Presentation" variant to all films aired in early prime time, with the full-length version reintroduced for Saturday premieres and Tuesday re-broadcasts.
1993: HBO2 replaced with program grid
By 1993, the channel-specific version was replaced with a spartan "program grid" layout during promotional breaks.
1993: Expansion of HBO Asia to Thailand and the Philippines
In 1993, HBO Asia expanded to Thailand and the Philippines.
January 1994: HBO Highlighted "Guarantee"
Dating back to January 1994, HBO had highlighted the "guarantee" of Saturday premiere nights in promotions.
January 1994: Exclusive Contract Transferred to Showtime
In January 1994, the exclusive contract initially held by HBO transferred to Showtime.
June 16, 1994: Premiere of 'HBO Comedy Half-Hour'
On June 16, 1994, HBO premiered "HBO Comedy Half-Hour" with "Chris Rock: Big Ass Jokes", a short-form comedy special featuring a 30-minute routine, usually recorded live at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
August 1994: Cablevision Purchase of Madison Square Garden
In August 1994, HBO founder Charles Dolan, through Cablevision, purchased Madison Square Garden and its headlining sports teams in a $1.075-billion joint bid with the ITT Corporation.
September 1994: End of Free Preview Show
In September 1994, HBO stopped airing its 15-minute promotional "free preview show" during preview events.
September 1994: "MultiChannel HBO" marketing
In September 1994, Home Box Office, Inc. began marketing the HBO channel suite and related coastal feeds under the umbrella brand "MultiChannel HBO".
1994: Expansion of HBO Asia to Taiwan and Indonesia
1994: Expansion to Czech Republic
In 1994, HBO Europe expanded to the Czech Republic.
1994: Viacom's purchase of Paramount
In 1994, Viacom purchased Paramount from Paramount Communications, leading to Showtime assuming the pay-cable rights to Paramount's films in January 1998.
1994: Launch of Brazilian channel
In 1994, the Brazilian channel was launched as part of HBO Latin America.
March 1995: Deal with DreamWorks SKG
In March 1995, HBO signed a ten-year deal with DreamWorks SKG valued between $600 million and $1 billion, covering releases between January 1996 and December 2006.
April 2, 1995: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Premieres
On April 2, 1995, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel premiered on HBO.
July 1995: HBO Signs Deal with Columbia Pictures
In July 1995, HBO preemptively signed a five-year deal with Columbia Pictures that took effect in January 2000, in conjunction with a five-year extension of its existing deal with Columbia Pictures.
1995: ActionMax Launch
In 1995, ActionMax was launched, originally known as Cinemax 3.
1995: Expansion of HBO Asia to Hong Kong and Malaysia
In 1995, HBO Asia expanded to Hong Kong and Malaysia.
January 1996: Start of DreamWorks releases under HBO deal
In January 1996, DreamWorks SKG began releasing films under a ten-year deal with HBO signed in March 1995.
February 3, 1996: HBO Boxing After Dark Premieres
On February 3, 1996, HBO Boxing After Dark (titled HBO Late Night Fights for its inaugural edition) premiered, featuring title fights in the junior featherweight and junior bantamweight classes.
February 1996: Expansion plans to multiplex services
In February 1996, Home Box Office, Inc. announced plans to expand its multiplex services across HBO and Cinemax to twelve channels.
June 1996: Restructuring of HBO Showcase
Following its June 1996 restructuring, HBO Showcase (created in 1986) had also occasionally produced drama series for the network.
June 1996: "Saturday Night Guarantee" Launched
From June 1996 until September 2006, HBO marketed its Saturday movie premieres as the "Saturday Night Guarantee," promising a new movie every Saturday night of the year.
December 1, 1996: HBO Family launch
On December 1, 1996, HBO Family launched, focusing on family-oriented films and television series.
1996: Decreased airings of "HBO in Space" intro
From 1996, the regularity of the airings of the "HBO in Space" intro decreased, as the later HBO Movie intro took prominence.
1996: Disney joins HBO Europe
In 1996, Disney joined the partnership of HBO Europe.
1996: Widescreen Filming Requirement
Since 1996, HBO had been requiring the producers of its original series to film their episodes in widescreen to fit 4:3 television screens, to future-proof them for remastering in HD.
1996: Cinemax 3 launch delayed
The launch of Cinemax 3 was delayed until 1996.
January 1, 1997: TV-MA Inclusion in Watershed Policy
On January 1, 1997, when the TV Parental Guidelines were implemented, HBO extended its watershed policy to cover TV-MA-rated programs.
June 12, 1997: High-Definition Simulcast Feed Announcement
On June 12, 1997, Home Box Office, Inc. announced plans to launch a high-definition simulcast feed.
October 31, 1997: Discontinuation of "HBO in Space" opening sequence
On October 31, 1997, the "HBO in Space" opening sequence was discontinued after being used since September 20, 1982.
November 1997: HBO's audio logo debut
In November 1997, the twelve-note musical signature of the "HBO in Space" sequence became the network's audio logo, styled in various arrangements within HBO's programming bumpers and network IDs.
December 1997: Introduction of "Now" prelude
From December 1997, HBO introduced an intro prelude called "Now" which preceded the Feature Presentation intros.
December 1997: End of Paramount package with HBO/Cinemax
In December 1997, the Paramount package remained with HBO/Cinemax.
1997: Savoy Pictures - exclusive deal
From 1992 to 1997, Savoy Pictures maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1997: Availability of HBO Asia in Southeast Asian countries
From 1997 to 2020, HBO Asia was available in other Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, South Korea, Macau, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Palau, Pope New Guinea, and Sri Lanka.
1997: Extended Free Preview
In 1997, the free preview was extended to three days.
1997: Replacement of 1997 bumpers
The CGI feature presentation bumpers replaced the 1997 bumpers on the network by January 2000.
1997: Expansion projected launch
The HBO and Cinemax multiplex expansion was originally projected for a Spring 1997 launch.
January 1998: Showtime assumes rights to Paramount films
In January 1998, Showtime assumed the pay-cable rights to Paramount's films under a seven-year deal resulting from Viacom's 1994 purchase of Paramount.
January 23, 1998: End of 'HBO Comedy Half-Hour'
On January 23, 1998, HBO Comedy Half-Hour stopped airing. It had started on June 16, 1994.
April 1998: "HBO The Works" rebranding
In April 1998, the package was rebranded as "HBO The Works".
September 1998: "Now" prelude discontinued
Around September 1998, the "Now" prelude to the Feature Presentation intros was discontinued.
October 1, 1998: HBO2 rebranded as HBO Plus
On October 1, 1998, HBO2 was rebranded as HBO Plus, adopting a distinct on-air look from the primary channel.
1998: ThrillerMax Launch
In 1998, ThrillerMax was launched as one of Cinemax's thematic channels.
1998: Silver Screen Agreement Conclusion
In 1998, the Silver Screen agreement between HBO and Silver Screen Partners, initially signed in February 1983, concluded.
February 6, 1999: You Are All Diseased
On February 6, 1999, HBO premiered "You Are All Diseased," a comedy special headlined by George Carlin, marking the end of HBO's use of the Comedy Hour banner for its comedy specials.
March 6, 1999: High Definition Simulcast Feed Transmission
On March 6, 1999, HBO began transmitting a high definition simulcast feed, becoming the first American cable television network to begin simulcasting their programming in the format.
March 1999: HBO HDTV Launch
In March 1999, HBO launched HBO HDTV, a high definition simulcast feed, which was later renamed HBO HD in April 2006.
May 6, 1999: HBO multiplex expansion
On May 6, 1999, the HBO multiplex expanded to include two new thematic channels: HBO Comedy and HBO Zone.
June 25, 1999: HBO Sports Ends Wimbledon Television Contract
On June 25, 1999, HBO Sports announced it would not renew its share of the Wimbledon television contract after the conclusion of that year's tournament, ending its 25-year broadcast relationship with the Grand Slam event. The decision was made to "refresh" its programming slate.
September 1999: HBO rebrand
In September 1999, HBO underwent a rebrand, replacing most elements except the various bumpers that were shown.
October 1999: Formation of HBO Films
In October 1999, HBO Films was formed through the consolidation of HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions (formerly HBO Showcase).
November 6, 1999: Debut of CGI feature presentation bumper
On November 6, 1999, a CGI feature presentation bumper (designed by Pittard Sullivan) that harkened back to the 1982 sequence was used.
1999: Real Sports Airs Quarterly
Until 1999, Real Sports originally aired quarterly.
January 2000: Standardization of the CGI feature presentation
By January 2000, the CGI feature presentation was standardized on the network, replacing the 1997 bumpers.
January 2000: New Deal Takes Effect
In January 2000, HBO's preemptively signed five-year deal with Columbia Pictures, signed in July 1995, took effect.
January 23, 2000: Turner Broadcasting and NBC Reach Wimbledon Contract
On January 23, 2000, Turner Broadcasting System and NBC reached a joint three-year, $30 million contract with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the Wimbledon tournament rights.
May 6, 2000: KO Nation Premieres on HBO
On May 6, 2000, KO Nation premiered, attempting to incorporate hip-hop music performances between matches to attract younger viewers.
November 1, 2000: HBO Latino launch
On November 1, 2000, HBO Latino, a Spanish language network was launched.
2000: HBO South Asia becomes subsidiary of HBO Asia
Since 2000, HBO South Asia has been a subsidiary of HBO Asia broadcasting in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Maldives.
January 14, 2001: Original Programming in HD
On January 14, 2001, HBO commenced a 13-week Sunday "encore" presentation of the second season of The Sopranos in remastered 1080i HD.
January 2001: Delay of Original Series in High Definition
In January 2001, HBO elected to delay offering its original series in high definition until there was sustainable consumer penetration of high-definition television sets and wide accessibility of HDTV equipment on the retail market.
January 2001: KO Nation Moved to Saturday Late Nights
In January 2001, KO Nation was moved from Saturday afternoons to Saturday late nights in an attempt to improve ratings.
May 2001: Multiple Channel Launches
In May 2001, MovieMax, Cinemáx, 5StarMax and OuterMax were launched.
July 1, 2001: HBO on Demand Launch
On July 1, 2001, HBO on Demand, the first SVOD service to be offered by an American premium service, launched over Time Warner Cable's Columbia, South Carolina, system.
August 11, 2001: KO Nation Ends Run on HBO
On August 11, 2001, KO Nation ended its run on HBO due to low ratings.
2001: Migration of Family Programming
Beginning in 2001, most of HBO's family- or kid-oriented programs migrated to HBO Family.
2001: HD Feed Content
By early 2001, the HD feed transmitted theatrical films and HBO's in-house original movies, accounting for around 60% of its available feature film output.
2001: HBO and NFL Films Produce Hard Knocks
In 2001, HBO and NFL Films began jointly producing the documentary series Hard Knocks.
2001: On the Record with Bob Costas
In 2001, HBO premiered the show, On the Record with Bob Costas.
September 2002: HBO Plus rebrands to HBO2
In September 2002, HBO Plus reversed its branding back to "HBO2".
2002: CNN/SI Moved to CNNfn
In 2002, CNN/SI was moved to the now-defunct CNNfn, after CNN/SI's shutdown.
2002: Rebrand for the network
In 2002, the rebrand for the network simatanelously got standardized for all of the outer channels, except HBO Family in 2004.
2002: End of On-Air Presenters
Until 2002, HBO's free previews featured interstitials hosted by on-air presenters promoting the service and its upcoming programs.
January 2003: Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro Premieres
In January 2003, HBO Latino premiered Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro, a showcase of up-and-coming boxers.
2003: Limited Children's Programming on HBO Family
HBO Family continued to maintain a limited slate of original children's programming until 2003.
2003: ESPN Holds Wimbledon Cable Rights
Since 2003, the Wimbledon cable rights have been held by ESPN.
2003: Initial 2003-10 contract
The current Universal output deal began as an eight-year agreement that originally lasted through December 2010 with its initial 2003–10 contract
September 25, 2004: Sports Telecasts in HD
On September 25, 2004, sports telecasts were upgraded to HD, with an HBO World Championship Boxing fight card headlined by Roy Jones Jr. and Glen Johnson.
2004: Spin-off of DreamWorks Animation
In 2004, DreamWorks Animation spun off into a standalone company, resulting in the split of its pay-cable distribution rights.
2004: Real Sports Wins Emmy for Child Slavery Report
In 2004, Real Sports won a Sports Emmy for "Outstanding Sports Journalism" for its hidden camera report on child slavery in UAE camel racing.
2004: Standardization of 2002 rebrand
Starting in 2004, the 2002 rebrand for the network simatanelously got standardized for all of the outer channels, except HBO Family.
2005: Expansion of HBO Asia to Vietnam
In 2005, HBO Asia expanded to Vietnam.
2005: On the Record with Bob Costas Ends
In 2005, HBO ended the show, On the Record with Bob Costas.
2005: Costas Now Premieres
In 2005, HBO premiered a revamped version of the show, Costas Now.
April 2006: Generación Boxeo Premieres on HBO Latino
In April 2006, Generación Boxeo premiered on HBO Latino.
April 2006: HBO HDTV Renamed
In April 2006, HBO HDTV was renamed to HBO HD.
September 2006: "Saturday Night Guarantee" Ended
In September 2006, HBO's "Saturday Night Guarantee," which promised a new movie premiere every Saturday night, came to an end after being in place since June 1996.
December 2006: End of DreamWorks releases under HBO deal
In December 2006, DreamWorks SKG releases concluded under a ten-year deal with HBO signed in March 1995.
2006: Expansion to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2006, HBO Europe expanded to Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2006: Real Sports Wins duPont-Columbia Award for Child Slavery Report
In 2006, Real Sports won a duPont–Columbia University Award for its report on child slavery in UAE camel racing.
2007: HBO Entertainment News Renamed
In 2007, HBO Entertainment News was renamed HBO News.
January 2008: Showtime has exclusive rights
From January 2008 until December 2012 Showtime had exclusive rights to Summit Entertainment films
January 2008: HBO on Broadband Prototype Launch
In January 2008, HBO on Broadband, a prototype service, was launched to linear HBO subscribers of Time Warner Cable's Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, systems.
February 2008: Inside the NFL Ends HBO Run
In February 2008, Inside the NFL ended its 31-season run on HBO.
September 1, 2008: Multiplex Channels in HD
On September 1, 2008, HBO began transmitting its six multiplex channels in high definition, when DirecTV began offering HD simulcast feeds of HBO2, HBO Family, HBO Signature, and HBO Latino.
September 2008: Inside the NFL Moves to Showtime
In September 2008, Inside the NFL moved to Showtime under an arrangement with CBS Sports.
December 2008: End of Showtime's rights to Paramount films
In December 2008, Showtime's seven-year deal for pay-cable rights to Paramount's films concluded.
2008: Four-Day Weekend Free Preview
By 2008, HBO offered a four-day weekend free preview format, from Friday to Monday.
2008: HD Simulcasts Rollout
From the 2008 rollout of HD simulcasts for the HBO multiplex feeds until the mid-2010s, the majority of pay television providers that carried HBO HD generally offered only the main channel in high definition.
2008: Max After Dark Renaming
In 2008, Cinemax renamed the 'Friday After Dark' programming block to 'Max After Dark' to better reflect its expansion to a nightly block.
2008: Development of HBO Sports logotype
In 2008, HBO internally developed a proprietary typeface adapted from ITC Avant Garde, featuring bullseye glyphs, as a logotype for HBO Sports and other services.
2008: Sony and Universal leave HBO Asia joint venture
In 2008, Sony and Universal left the HBO Asia joint venture, following Singtel's departure.
March 2, 2009: HBO Broadcasts BNP Paribas Showdown
On March 2, 2009, professional tennis briefly returned to HBO when it broadcast the inaugural edition of the now-defunct BNP Paribas Showdown as a one-off special presentation.
October 2009: Epix takes over pay television rights
In October 2009, Epix, a consortium between Paramount/Viacom, Lionsgate, and MGM, took over pay television rights to Paramount's films.
2009: Expansion to Northern Macedonia
In 2009, HBO Europe expanded to Northern Macedonia.
2009: Joe Buck Live Premieres
In 2009, HBO premiered the show, Joe Buck Live.
January 2010: Weakening of Watershed Policy
In January 2010, the main HBO channel began to weaken its watershed policy by allowing original series, movies, and documentaries with TV-MA ratings for strong profanity or non-graphic violence to air during the daytime on Saturdays and Sundays.
February 18, 2010: HBO Go Nationwide Launch
On February 18, 2010, HBO Go launched nationwide, initially available to existing HBO subscribers signed with Verizon FiOS.
March 2010: Showtime acquires rights to DreamWorks live-action films
In March 2010, Showtime acquired the rights to live-action films from the original DreamWorks studio for five years, effective January 2011.
December 2010: End of Universal's original deal lasting through December 2010
Universal's current output deal originally lasted through December 2010.
2010: Disney and Sony leave HBO Latin America
In 2010, Disney and Sony left the shareholding in HBO Latin America.
2010: HBO buys Sony and Disney shares
In 2010, HBO bought the shares of Sony and Disney in HBO Europe.
2010: Comic Relief USA Fundraising Specials
In 2010, HBO continued to serve as the primary broadcaster for Comic Relief USA's fundraising specials, which aimed to aid health and welfare programs focused on America's homeless population.
2010: Decline of First Look
Since 2010, HBO officially no longer used the First Look name for its "making of" specials, only identifying them under the banner for program listing identification.
January 3, 2011: VOD Content in 3D
On January 3, 2011, HBO became the first pay television network to offer VOD content in 3D, initially available to linear HBO subscribers signed with Time Warner Cable, Comcast, and Verizon FiOS.
January 2011: Showtime's DreamWorks deal takes effect
In January 2011, Showtime's deal to acquire the rights to live-action films from the original DreamWorks studio became effective.
April 1, 2011: Discontinuation of CGI feature presentation bumper
On April 1, 2011, the CGI feature presentation bumper, which had been in use since November 6, 1999, was discontinued.
April 2, 2011: Introduction of sequences by Viewpoint Creative
On April 2, 2011, Viewpoint Creative introduced one of two brief sequences modeled on the network's graphical imaging.
August 2011: Strike Back Debut
In August 2011, Cinemax premiered its original action series, Strike Back. Strike Back has since become Cinemax's longest-running original program.
September 2011: Netflix acquires DreamWorks Animation contract
In September 2011, Netflix acquired the DreamWorks Animation contract, effective upon the December 2012 expiration of the HBO deal.
2011: End of Behind-the-Scenes Interstitials
Since 2011, HBO no longer airs "behind-the-scenes" interstitials during promotional breaks and has reduced airings of First Look.
January 2012: R-Rated Films During Sunday Daytime
In January 2012, HBO started offering occasional Sunday daytime airings of R-rated films as part of its weekly encore presentation of the Saturday movie premiere.
August 15, 2012: First-run film output agreement with Fox renewed
On August 15, 2012, HBO renewed the first-run film output agreement with Fox for ten years, allowing the studio to release films on digital platforms during HBO's license term for the first time.
December 2012: Expiration of HBO's DreamWorks Animation deal
In December 2012, HBO's DreamWorks Animation deal expired, leading to Netflix acquiring the contract in September 2011.
December 2012: End of Showtime's exclusive rights
In December 2012, Showtime's exclusive rights to Summit Entertainment films ended.
2012: Availability in the Netherlands
From 2012, HBO was available in the Netherlands through a partnership with Ziggo.
2012: ESPN Assumes Wimbledon Exclusivity
In 2012, ESPN assumed full U.S. television exclusivity over the Wimbledon championship.
2012: Real Sports Receives Peabody Award
In 2012, Real Sports received a Peabody Award.
2012: HBO Sports logotype extended to Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
In 2012, the HBO Sports logotype was extended for use in Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
January 6, 2013: Universal output deal renewed
On January 6, 2013, the Universal output deal was renewed for ten years, giving HBO right of first refusal over select Universal titles.
2013: Sub-Run Agreements Coverage
HBO maintains sub-run agreements for theatrical films distributed by Paramount Pictures (including content from subsidiaries or acquired library partners Miramax, Carolco Pictures, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies and Republic Pictures, all for films released prior to 2013).
2013: HBO PPV Rebrands to HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View
In 2013, HBO PPV was rebranded as HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View.
2013: HBO replaces Showtime as Summit Entertainment partner
In 2013, HBO replaced Showtime as Summit Entertainment's pay-cable output partner.
2013: A24 Releases
The July 18, 2022 deal between HBO/HBO Max and A24 gave the platforms library rights to the independent studio's 2013-2021 releases.
April 2014: Introduction of minimalist intro based on screenshots
In April 2014, a shorter, minimalist intro based around cascading screenshots from theatrical films in HBO's program library was introduced.
April 2014: Discontinuation of "The Works"-era logos
In April 2014, channel-specific on-screen bugs were previously shown during promotional breaks between programs on the six thematic HBO multiplex channels, until their respective "The Works"-era logos were discontinued.
October 15, 2014: OTT Service Announcement
On October 15, 2014, HBO announced plans to launch an OTT subscription streaming service in 2015, which would be distributed as a standalone offering.
2014: Short Films Aired Occasionally
Since 2014, HBO has occasionally aired short films during the overnight/early morning hours on its channels and streaming platforms.
April 7, 2015: HBO Now Launch
On April 7, 2015, HBO Now was launched, initially available via Apple Inc. to Apple TV and iOS devices for a three-month exclusivity period.
April 2015: Richard Plepler on Binge-Watching
In April 2015, during the "Executive Actions" symposium, then-HBO CEO Richard Plepler stated he did not want HBO to be like Netflix regarding binge-watching of content, preferring to have the 'mystery held out for an extended period'.
August 2015: HBO Acquires Sesame Street Rights
In August 2015, HBO acquired the first-run broadcast and streaming rights to "Sesame Street" in a five-year deal with Sesame Workshop. This agreement allowed HBO to air new seasons of the show before they were available on PBS, due to funding cutbacks at Sesame Workshop.
2015: HBO Now launch
Before the 2015 launch of HBO Now, HBO required studio output partners to suspend digital sales of their movies during their exclusive contractual window with the network.
2015: OTT Streaming Service Plan
In 2015, HBO planned to launch an OTT subscription streaming service.
2015: James L. Dolan Ownership of Knicks and Rangers
Since 2015, James L. Dolan has owned the New York Knicks and New York Rangers through The Madison Square Garden Company.
2015: End of Disney's agreement with Starz
Since the studio's agreement with HBO rival Starz ended in 2015, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and its subsidiaries have not distributed films over a traditional pay-cable service.
January 2016: Sesame Street Debuts on HBO
In January 2016, the 46th season of "Sesame Street" debuted on HBO as part of the agreement made in August 2015. Episodes were distributed to PBS after a nine-month exclusivity window.
March 1, 2016: HBO renews deal with Summit Entertainment
On March 1, 2016, HBO renewed its first-run output deal with Summit Entertainment for an additional four years.
2016: Family Programming Resurgence
From 2016 to 2020, HBO produced family programming under its agreement with Sesame Workshop.
2016: Comcast Xfinity Downconversion
In 2016, Comcast Xfinity began downconverting HBO, Cinemax and other cable channels transmitting in 1080i to 720p60.
2016: Real Sports Receives Peabody Award
In 2016, Real Sports received a Peabody Award.
2016: End of availability in the Netherlands through Ziggo
In 2016, the partnership with Ziggo ended, ceasing HBO's availability in the Netherlands through that operator.
March 3, 2017: Replacement of minimalist intro based on screenshots
On March 3, 2017, the shorter, minimalist intro based around cascading screenshots from theatrical films in HBO's program library that were introduced in April 2014 was replaced.
March 4, 2017: Debut of new opening sequence
On March 4, 2017, a new opening sequence, designed by Imaginary Forces with music by Man Made Music, debuted and it paid homage to the 1982 opening sequence.
December 2017: Output deal with Summit Entertainment
The first-run output deal with Summit Entertainment initially ran through December 2017.
2017: Afternoon R-Rated Movie Airings
By 2017, HBO permitted afternoon R-rated movie airings in random timeslots any day of the week at its discretion, sometimes as early as 2:00 p.m. ET/PT.
2017: Partnership with A24
In 2017, HBO partnered with A24 to produce selected original series and specials, beginning with the comedy special Jerrod Carmichael: 8.
September 2018: Use of shorter variant for most films
Since September 2018, an eight-second variant of the new opening sequence has been used for most film presentations.
September 2018: HBO subscriber base in 2018
As of September 2018, HBO's programming was available to approximately 35.656 million U.S. households.
September 27, 2018: HBO to Discontinue Boxing Telecasts
On September 27, 2018, HBO announced it would discontinue its boxing telecasts after 45 years, following its last televised match on October 27, marking the end of live sports on the network, due to factors including competition from streaming services and a focus on scripted programming.
December 8, 2018: Additional World Championship Boxing/Boxing After Dark Card
On December 8, 2018, an additional World Championship Boxing/Boxing After Dark card aired, following the originally scheduled final broadcast.
December 2018: Discontinuation of HBO's Boxing Telecasts
In December 2018, HBO discontinued its boxing telecasts, which had occasionally caused variances in the start time of the preceding film's Saturday premiere.
December 2018: End of HBO Sports event telecasts
In December 2018, HBO stopped producing selected sports event telecasts, which it had done since its launch in November 1972.
2018: AT&T Acquires Time Warner
In 2018, AT&T acquired Time Warner, resulting in the realignment of WarnerMedia Entertainment, including HBO.
2018: Removal of Max After Dark
In 2018, Cinemax removed "Max After Dark" content from its linear and on-demand platforms as part of Home Box Office, Inc.'s broader exit from the genre.
February 2019: HBO Now Subscribership
By February 2019, HBO Now subscribers had reached over 8 million customers.
March 2019: Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox
In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of 20th Century Fox, maintaining output deals with Disney+ and Hulu.
April 2019: Discovery Announces New Venture
In April 2019, Discovery officially announced its new venture and that its linear television component would launch sometime in 2020, replacing DIY Network.
October 2019: Contract Renewal Terms Agreed Upon
In October 2019, HBO and WarnerMedia agreed upon contract renewal terms for "Sesame Street", leading to the show's shift from linear HBO to the streaming-based HBO Max in May 2020.
2019: Unaired "World Premiere Presentation" variant featured
In 2019, a seldom-used "World Premiere Presentation" variant was featured in the intro of the HBO stand-up comedy special Dan Soder: Son of a Gary.
2019: HBO+ brand modification
In 2019, the "HBO Plus" brand was modified to "HBO+".
2019: A24 Exclusive Agreement With Showtime
In December 6, 2023, A24 announced it had entered into a multi-year output deal to distribute its films on HBO and Max following their theatrical release, succeeding a pay-one exclusivity agreement that A24 had maintained with Showtime since 2019.
May 2020: Starz Rights to Recent Releases
As of May 2020, Starz holds rights to televise all recent releases from Columbia and TriStar through December 2021, following the transfer of rights on December 31, 2004.
May 2020: Sesame Street Shifts to HBO Max
In May 2020, with the debut of HBO Max, "Sesame Street" content began shifting from linear HBO to the streaming service HBO Max, according to contract renewal terms agreed upon in October 2019.
May 2020: HBO Max uses four-second variant
Since its launch in May 2020, HBO Max has used a four-second variant of the new opening sequence to open films on its main HBO content portal.
June 12, 2020: Discontinuation Announcement of HBO Go Apps
On June 12, 2020, WarnerMedia announced that HBO Go's mobile and digital media player apps would be discontinued in the U.S. on July 31, 2020.
September 2020: Reduction in Theatrical Premieres
In September 2020, HBO reduced the frequency of scheduled theatrical premieres due to COVID-19-related postponements of newer theatrical releases.
November 2020: Default HBO OTT Service
Until its replacement by HBO Max on those platforms in November 2020, it also served as a default HBO OTT service for Amazon Fire and Fire TV customers.
December 2020: HBO Name Change
From August to December 2020, HBO Now was formally named HBO.
December 2020: Airings of Older Hit Movies
Since late December 2020, HBO started airing older hit movies (mainly films released between 1979 and 2015) distributed under library content deals during gap weeks in the monthly premiere schedule.
December 17, 2020: HBO Streaming Service Discontinuation
On December 17, 2020, the HBO streaming service was discontinued, as a consequence of an agreement with WarnerMedia offering HBO Max on Roku devices.
2020: Multiplex Channels in HD
As of 2020, most providers transmit all seven HBO multiplex channels in HD, either on a dedicated HD channel tier separate from their SD assignments or as hybrid SD/HD feeds.
2020: Real Sports Receives 33 Sports Emmy Awards
By 2020, Real Sports had received 33 Sports Emmy Awards throughout its run.
2020: HBO Max launch
In 2020, HBO Max, an expanded streaming platform, was launched.
2020: Closure of HBO South Asia and Availability of HBO Asia in Southeast Asian countries
In 2020, HBO South Asia closed, and HBO Asia was available in other Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, South Korea, Macau, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Palau, Pope New Guinea, and Sri Lanka.
2020: End of Sesame Workshop Agreement
In 2020, HBO's agreement with Sesame Workshop concluded.
2020: Madison Square Garden Entertainment Spin-Off
In 2020, Madison Square Garden was managed through Madison Square Garden Entertainment by way of the former company's 2020 spin-off of its non-sports entertainment assets.
2020: Ole Communications leaves HBO Latin America
In 2020, Ole Communications left the shareholding in HBO Latin America. HBO Max OTT service becomes available.
January 4, 2021: Discovery+ Launch
On January 4, 2021, some Magnolia Network programming debuted as part of the launch of the Discovery+ streaming service.
March 2, 2021: Deal with HBO is set to expire
On March 2, 2021, it was announced that the deal with HBO through to the end of 2022 expires.
July 6, 2021: Universal to release films on Peacock
On July 6, 2021, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group announced it would begin releasing its theatrical films on Peacock after its agreement with HBO concludes at the end of 2021.
November 2021: Expanded deal between WarnerMedia and Disney
In November 2021, WarnerMedia and Disney announced an expanded deal extending to the end of 2022, allowing half of 20th Century Studios' 2022 slate to be shared between HBO/HBO Max and Disney+/Hulu.
December 2021: End of Starz Rights
As of May 2020, Starz held rights to televise all recent releases from Columbia and TriStar through December 2021, following the transfer of rights on December 31, 2004.
2021: Cinemax Multiplex Service
As of 2021, the Cinemax multiplex service consists of the primary feed and seven thematic channels: MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, MovieMax, Cinemáx, 5StarMax and OuterMax.
2021: Elimination of Scripted Programming
In early 2021, Cinemax eliminated scripted programming after the last of its remaining action series ended. Cinemax then shifted back to its original structure as a movie-exclusive premium service due to WarnerMedia reallocating its programming resources toward the HBO Max streaming service.
2021: A24 Releases
The July 18, 2022 deal between HBO/HBO Max and A24 gave the platforms library rights to the independent studio's 2013-2021 releases.
January 5, 2022: DIY Network Transition
On January 5, 2022, the transition of the linear DIY Network to the Magnolia Network occurred.
April 7, 2022: Magnolia Network Leadership Change
On April 7, 2022, it was reported that after the completion of the merger, Magnolia Network leadership would report to HBO and HBO Max's chief content officer Casey Bloys.
April 2022: The on-demand video program in Southeast and South Asia is still on the old HBO Go platform
As of April 2022, the on-demand video program in Southeast and South Asia is still on the old HBO Go platform, with Max being planned for launch in late 2024.
April 2022: Discovery Inc. Merges with WarnerMedia
In April 2022, Discovery Inc. merged with WarnerMedia to form Warner Bros. Discovery.
July 18, 2022: HBO and HBO Max Reach Deal with A24
On July 18, 2022, HBO and HBO Max reached a pay television and streaming rights deal with A24, giving them library rights to the independent studio's 2013–2021 releases.
2022: Universal Pictures Agreement
HBO maintains sub-run agreements for theatrical films distributed by Universal Pictures (including content from subsidiaries Universal Animation Studios, DreamWorks Animation, Working Title Films, Illumination, and Focus Features, all for films released prior to 2022).
2022: HBO continues to release Universal's 2021 film slate
HBO will continue to release Universal's 2021 film slate under their existing contracts through 2022.
2022: Amendment allowing shared slate between HBO/Disney+
In 2022, an amendment allowed half of 20th Century Studios' 2022 slate to be shared between HBO or HBO Max and Disney+ or Hulu during the pay-one window, beginning with Ron's Gone Wrong.
2022: Expires at the end of 2022
On March 2, 2021, it was announced that the deal with HBO expires at the end of 2022.
November 2023: HBO Programming Lineup
In November 2023, HBO's programming included theatrically released films and adult-oriented original series, such as Euphoria, Industry, The Gilded Age, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, True Detective, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Righteous Gemstones, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Real Time with Bill Maher. HBO also featured documentary films, sports-focused series, made-for-TV movies, concert specials, comedy specials, and behind-the-scenes specials.
December 6, 2023: A24 Announces Multi-Year Output Deal with HBO and Max
On December 6, 2023, A24 announced it had entered into a multi-year output deal to distribute its films on HBO and Max following their theatrical release, succeeding a pay-one exclusivity agreement with Showtime since 2019.
December 19, 2023: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Ends
On December 19, 2023, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel ended its run after 29 seasons.
2023: Summit Entertainment and Walt Disney Studios Agreement
HBO maintains sub-run agreements for theatrical films distributed by Summit Entertainment (for films released prior to 2023), Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures (including content from Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures (except films co-produced by Pixar), and former subsidiaries Touchstone Pictures, and Hollywood Pictures, all for films released prior to 2023).
November 19, 2024: HBO Go Rebranded into Max
The "HBO Go" moniker remains in use as the brand for HBO's streaming platforms in select Asian markets until it was rebranded directly into Max on November 19, 2024.
December 4, 2024: Livestreams accessible on Max
On December 4, 2024, livestreams of most of HBO's linear feeds (except for multiplex channels HBO Family and HBO Latino) became accessible on the Max streaming app to U.S. subscribers of its Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers.
2024: Exclusive Licensing Agreements
As of 2024, HBO and Cinemax maintain exclusive licensing agreements for first-run and library film content from specific studios and their subsidiaries.
2024: Planned Launch of Max
As of April 2022, the on-demand video program in Southeast and South Asia is still on the old HBO Go platform, with Max being planned for launch in late 2024.
2025: Watershed Policy Abolishment
As of 2025, HBO no longer employs the watershed policy, which allows R-rated movies to air in selected morning and afternoon timeslots on its main channel.
March 4: First First-Run Episode in HD
On March 4, the third-season premiere of The Sopranos, "Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood", was the first first-run episode of an HBO series to be transmitted in high-definition from its initial telecast.
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