History of HBO in Timeline
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It primarily features theatrically released movies and original television programs, along with made-for-cable movies, documentaries, comedy and concert specials. HBO's business unit is based in Manhattan.
September 1966: Manhattan Cable TV Services Begins Limited Service
In September 1966, Manhattan Cable TV Services, founded by Charles Dolan, began limited service, becoming the first urban underground cable television system in the United States.
May 1969: Manhattan Cable Television signs contract with Madison Square Garden
In May 1969, Manhattan Cable Television signed a one-year contract with Madison Square Garden to broadcast 125 sports events held at the arena.
1969: NBC Broadcasts Wimbledon
In 1969, NBC maintained over-the-air broadcast rights to Wimbledon's quarterfinal, semi-final and final rounds.
November 1970: Manhattan Cable Television contract extension
In November 1970, Manhattan Cable Television's contract with Madison Square Garden to broadcast sports events was extended for five additional years.
January 1971: Sterling Information Services Renamed
In January 1971, Charles Dolan's company, Sterling Information Services, was renamed Sterling Manhattan Cable Television, a cable system franchise serving an Upper Manhattan section of New York City.
November 2, 1971: Time Inc. Approves 'The Green Channel'
On November 2, 1971, Time Inc.'s board of directors approved Charles Dolan's "Green Channel" proposal, providing a $150,000 development grant for the cable-originated television channel concept.
November 1, 1972: Madison Square Garden grants rights to Sterling
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 Launches
On November 8, 1972, HBO pioneered modern pay television by launching as the first television service directly transmitted to cable systems. This marked the start of the 'premium channel' concept, offering ad-free and unedited programming for a monthly fee.
November 1972: HBO Sports launch
In November 1972, HBO launched and started to broadcast selected 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 George Foreman defeating Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica.
March 1973: HBO signs contract for ABA games
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: Airing of Pennsylvania Polka Festival
On March 23, 1973, five months after its launch, HBO aired its first non-sports entertainment special, the Pennsylvania Polka Festival, a three-hour-long music event from Allentown, Pennsylvania.
June 10, 1973: Winston-Salem Open on HBO
On June 10, 1973, HBO began broadcasting Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tournament events 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. A heavyweight championship match between Jimmy Ellis and Earnie Shavers was relayed via Anik A.
June 1974: NAB complaint on HBO telecasts
In June 1974, the National Association of Broadcasters filed a complaint against HBO's New York Yankees telecasts, alleging violations of anti-siphoning rules.
September 1974: FCC gives temporary authorization
In September 1974, the FCC gave temporary authorization for HBO to carry no more than three of the remaining New York Yankees regular season games.
1974: HBO Broadcasts World Football League games
In 1974, HBO acquired the rights to broadcast World Football League (WFL) games from the New York Stars and the Philadelphia Bell, airing 18 games over two seasons.
March 1, 1975: HBO Lettermark Introduction
On March 1, 1975, the first iteration of the current HBO lettermark was introduced. Designed by Time-Life art director Betty E. Brugger, it featured bold, uppercase "HBO" text incorporating a bullseye mark inside the cylindrical "O", derived from television tuning knobs.
April 30, 1975: Original HBO Logo Discontinued
On April 30, 1975, the original HBO logo, which had been in use since the channel's launch, was discontinued.
July 1975: HBO Inaugurates Wimbledon Coverage
In July 1975, HBO began regional coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament for subscribers in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Arthur Ashe defeated Jimmy Connors in the Gentlemen's Singles final.
September 1975: HBO Goes National via Satellite
In September 1975, HBO became the first television channel in the world to transmit via satellite, expanding its regional service in the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas into a national television service.
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, marking the first program on the network broadcast via satellite.
1975: Non-Exclusive Deal with American Film Theatre
In 1975, American Film Theatre maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1975: HBO broadcasts Yankees games
In 1975, HBO broadcast approximately 25 New York Yankees games.
1975: World Football League folded
In 1975, the World Football League abruptly folded midway through the season. HBO broadcasted 18 WFL games throughout two seasons until the league folded.
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 that the comic headlined over 35 years, marking the start of regular comedy specials on HBO.
March 20, 1976: Premiere of 'On Location'
On March 20, 1976, HBO premiered On Location, a monthly anthology series presenting stand-up comedians' nightclub performances, beginning with a performance by 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, in exchange for a $5-million production financing investment.
June 19, 1976: The Fabulous Bette Midler Show Debut
On June 19, 1976, "The Fabulous Bette Midler Show," a stage special featuring Bette Midler performing music and comedy routines, debuted on HBO.
1976: MLB package negotiation
In 1976, HBO attempted to negotiate the carriage of a weekly Thursday night MLB game package but ultimately balked at the price being asked for by baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
1976: HBO carries 1976 ABA Finals
In 1976, HBO carried the 1976 ABA Finals, the league's last tournament game before its merger with the NBA, where the New York Nets beat the Denver Nuggets.
1976: HBO expands sports coverage
In 1976, with the assistance of Trans World International, HBO expanded its sports coverage to include a broader array of events, including the North American Soccer League, Amateur Athletic Union tournaments, and LPGA golf tournaments.
1976: HBO Carries U.S. National Indoor Championships
Until 1976, HBO carried the men's and women's rounds of the U.S. National Indoor Championships.
January 1977: Columbia Pictures film package begins
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, in exchange for a $5-million production financing investment.
April 17, 1977: Standing Room Only Premiere
On April 17, 1977, HBO premiered "Standing Room Only," a monthly series featuring concerts and stage spectaculars, with Ann Corio's 'This Was Burlesque' as the inaugural broadcast.
July 1, 1977: Early termination of HBO's ABA contract
On July 1, 1977, HBO's contract to carry American Basketball Association (ABA) games was initially set to expire, but 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 HBO comedy special, "On Location: George Carlin at USC," aired, featuring the first televised performance of his routine, "The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television."
September 22, 1977: HBO Premieres Inside the NFL
On September 22, 1977, HBO premiered Inside the NFL, the channel's first original weekly series and its first sports-related documentary and analysis series.
1977: HBO Carries WTA Tour Events
From 1977, HBO carried selected WTA Tour events.
1977: Non-Exclusive Deal with American Film Theatre end
In 1977, American Film Theatre ended its non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1977: Division I Baseball Championships
In 1977, HBO expanded its sports coverage to include the Division I Baseball Championships.
May 1978: Roy Boe breach of contract
In May 1978, the New York Supreme Court ruled that then-Islanders and Nets president Roy Boe breached an exclusive contract with Long Island Cable Communications Development Co. through the HBO agreement and concurring contracts with other New York-area cable systems.
1978: HBO Carries National Collegiate Boxing Association championships
From 1978 to 1979, HBO carried the National Collegiate Boxing Association championships.
1978: HBO Sports Employs In-House Commentators
In 1978, HBO Sports started using an in-house team of commentators for the Wimbledon tournament coverage.
1978: HBO Launches Race for the Pennant
In 1978, HBO launched Race for the Pennant, a series focused on Major League Baseball.
1978: Usage of ITC Avant Garde and Kabel
In 1978, ITC Avant Garde and Kabel typefaces were used in some on-air and print marketing materials for HBO.
1978: Non-Exclusive Deal with Walt Disney Productions
In 1978, Walt Disney Productions maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1978: HBO stops regional appeal sports
In 1978, most of HBO's sporting events ceased to be part of its sports offerings, because of their regional appeal.
1978: NCAA basketball games carried
Until the 1978-79 season, NCAA Division I college basketball games held at Madison Square Garden and other venues were carried by HBO.
April 1979: Introduction of Film-Based Animated Intros
In April 1979, HBO introduced a series of six film-based animated "HBO Feature Movie" intros.
1979: Existing Alliance with Paramount
HBO had an existing alliance with Paramount dating to 1979, for the non-exclusive rights to the studio's films.
1979: Non-Exclusive Deal with The Samuel Goldwyn Company
In 1979, The Samuel Goldwyn Company maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1979: NCAA regular season and tournament events shifted to ESPN
In 1979, the NCAA regular season and tournament events shifted over to ESPN beginning with the 1979-80 athletic season under an exclusive national cable deal with the organization.
1979: HBO Carries National Golden Gloves Competitions
Through 1979, HBO also carried various National Golden Gloves competitions, and from 1978 to 1979, carried the National Collegiate Boxing Association championships.
1979: HBO Carries WTA Tour Events
Until 1979, HBO carried selected WTA Tour events.
April 1980: HBO Lettermark Modification
In April 1980, the HBO lettermark was modified by Bemis Balkind, shifting the "O" slightly rightward and widening the letter spacing. This change was made to address consumer impressions of the name appearing as "HEO".
August 1, 1980: Cinemax Launches
On August 1, 1980, HBO launched Cinemax, a companion movie-based premium channel as a direct competitor to The Movie Channel and Home Theater Network.
January 1981: Columbia Pictures film package ends
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, in exchange for a $5-million production financing investment.
June 1981: Discontinuation of the 1975 HBO Lettermark
In June 1981, the 1975 version of the HBO lettermark was fully discontinued in on-air identifications and certain network promos.
1981: HBO Sports Magazine Launched
In 1981, HBO Sports Magazine was launched.
1981: USGF, AAU and select non-NCAA invitational events remained on the network
In 1981, USGF, AAU and select non-NCAA invitational events remained on the network until early 1981, thereafter limiting HBO's sports rights to boxing and Wimbledon.
1981: MTV rollout
In 1981, after MTV's successful rollout, the Standing Room Only series began to produce fewer concerts.
1981: Production of "HBO in Space"
In late 1981, the program opening sequence known as "HBO in Space" was produced by Liberty Studios in New York City.
September 20, 1982: "HBO in Space" Opening Sequence Debut
On September 20, 1982, the "HBO in Space" program opening sequence, produced by Liberty Studios, debuted and was used in some capacity.
1982: Non-Exclusive Deal with Walt Disney Productions end
In 1982, Walt Disney Productions ended its non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1982: Reference to the 1982 Sequence
The CGI feature presentation bumper, designed by Pittard Sullivan, harkened to the 1982 sequence.
1982: Homage to the 1982 Opening
The new sequence, designed by Imaginary Forces, pays homage to the 1982 HBO opening, including glimpses of the HBO "space station" segment.
February 1983: Agreement with Silver Screen Partners
In February 1983, HBO signed an agreement with Silver Screen Partners, granting HBO the right of first refusal in film selection and 5% of profits from non-pay-cable distribution.
November 1983: Variant of "HBO in Space" Introduced
In November 1983, a variant of the "HBO in Space" opening sequence, beginning with a dark cloudscape fading into the city sequence, replaced the early version.
1983: HBO Premiere Films founding
In 1983, HBO Premiere Films was founded, marking the origins of HBO Films. The unit's first original movie 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. All three deals were approved under a U.S. Department of Justice review in June of that year.
March 1984: Non-Exclusivity Deal with Universal
In March 1984, HBO started its relationship with Universal when it signed a six-year non-exclusivity deal with the studio.
1984: First Choice Superchannel reused HBO Movie Intros
From 1984 to 1987, Canadian pay service First Choice Superchannel reused HBO's 1979-1984 movie intros.
1984: Focus on independent film production
In 1984, HBO Pictures scaled back its telefilm slate to focus on independent film production.
1984: Non-Exclusive Deal with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
In 1984, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1984: HBO Abandons Exclusivity Practice
In early 1984, HBO abandoned its exclusivity practice, citing internal research that suggested subscribers were indifferent to premium channels securing exclusive rights to recently released films. This decision followed the firing of HBO chairman Frank Biondi.
1985: HBO Premiere Films renamed
In 1985, HBO Premiere Films was renamed HBO Pictures.
1985: Release of "Fantasy"
In 1985, an extended pop rock version of the HBO theme, alternately titled "Fantasy", was released as both instrumental and lyrical tracks on Smith's album "Music Made for Television".
1985: Start of Fox films released
In 1985, the 20th Century Fox film releases began that were covered in the non-exclusive deal with HBO, established in January 1986.
January 1986: Non-Exclusive Deal with 20th Century Fox
In January 1986, 20th Century Fox first signed a non-exclusive deal with HBO, covering Fox films released between 1985 and 1988, along with a production co-financing agreement.
June 1986: Columbia Pictures releases
In 1983, HBO entered into three exclusive licensing agreements 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, costing between $300 million and $600 million.
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 and granting HBO rights to up to 75 New World films that Showtime would not acquire.
August 8, 1986: Agreement with Lorimar-Telepictures
On August 8, 1986, HBO inked a non-exclusive agreement with Lorimar-Telepictures for a package of theatrical films up to 1989, involving Lorimar-Telepictures as a production partner on HBO television movies.
September 1986: Agreement with MGM/UA Communications
In September 1986, HBO signed a five-year agreement with MGM/UA Communications Co. for up to 72 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and United Artists films. HBO also signed a pay cable and home video agreement with Kings Road Entertainment that same month.
October 31, 1986: Abbreviated Version of "HBO in Space"
Until October 31, 1986, an abbreviated version of "HBO in Space" was shown during most non-prime-time programming, and thereafter for early-prime-time movie telecasts.
November 1, 1986: Discontinuation of "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, plus a three-year home video rights contract for HBO/Cannon Video.
December 1986: Pact with Poseidon Films
In December 1986, HBO signed a pact with Soviet Union producer Poseidon Films, gaining US and Canada rights to Soviet-based films.
1986: HBO Showcase created
HBO Showcase was created in 1986 and after it's restructuring in June 1996, occasionally produced drama series for the network.
1986: HBO Broadcasts Comic Relief USA
In 1986, HBO began serving as the primary broadcaster of Comic Relief USA's fundraising specials, which aimed to support health and welfare programs for America's homeless population.
1986: Showtime Championship Boxing Telecasts Premiered
In 1986, Showtime Championship Boxing telecasts premiered, carrying Evander Holyfield's matches under an agreement with promoter Dan Duva.
1986: Non-Exclusive Deal with The Samuel Goldwyn Company end
In 1986, The Samuel Goldwyn Company ended its non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
January 1987: Warner Bros. film distribution agreement begins
In January 1987, the five-year distribution agreement between HBO and Warner Bros., signed in June 1986, began.
May 24, 1987: Standing Room Only Series Ends
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: Deal for Paramount Pictures Films
In July 1987, HBO signed a five-year, $500 million deal for exclusive rights to 85 Paramount Pictures films released between May 1988 and May 1993.
August 15, 1987: Debut of 'HBO Comedy Hour'
On August 15, 1987, the HBO Comedy Hour debuted with Martin Mull: Live from North Ridgeville, a variety-comedy special.
1987: Boxing Telecasts Move to Saturdays Full-Time
In 1987, HBO boxing telecasts moved to Saturdays full-time.
1987: Exclusive Deal with Hemdale Film Corporation
In 1987, Hemdale Film Corporation maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
January 1988: Tri-Star deal becomes non-exclusive
In January 1988, the Tri-Star deal became non-exclusive, although Showtime elected not to acquire titles from HBO's film rights lessees.
May 1988: Start of Paramount Film Releases
May 1988 marks the tentative release date for Paramount Pictures films as part of the five-year deal signed in July 1987, granting exclusive rights to 85 Paramount films.
1988: Exclusive Arrangement with 20th Century Fox
By 1988, the non-exclusive deal with 20th Century Fox transitioned to an exclusive arrangement with the renewal of the contract.
1988: Non-Exclusive Deal with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
In 1988, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group maintained a non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
November 15, 1989: The Comedy Channel launch
On November 15, 1989, HBO launched The Comedy Channel, a basic cable network focused on comedy, as part of Time Inc./Time Warner.
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.
1989: End of Lorimar-Telepictures agreement period
By 1989, HBO's non-exclusive agreement with Lorimar-Telepictures enabled a package of various Lorimar-Telepictures theatrical films up to 1989, and Lorimar-Telepictures would be involved as a production partner on several made-for-HBO television movies.
1989: Non-Exclusive Deal with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment end
In 1989, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ended its non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1989: Universal Release
In 1989, Universal elected to sign a deal with CBS for the licensing rights to a package of the studio's ten 1989 releases.
April 1990: Universal Bypasses Pay-Cable Window
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.
December 1990: HBO Expands to Pay-Per-View Boxing
In December 1990, HBO created TVKO, a production arm for distributing and organizing marquee boxing matches on pay-per-view.
1990: End of De Laurentiis Entertainment Group agreement period
By 1990, HBO's agreement with De Laurentiis Entertainment Group for films that ran between 1987 and 1990 came to an end.
1990: Non-Exclusive Deal with ITC Entertainment end
In 1990, ITC Entertainment ended its non-exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1990: Time Warner Sports Management
In 1990, Time Warner Sports managed HBO Sports production division.
April 1, 1991: Comedy Central launch
On April 1, 1991, Comedy Central was launched as a consolidation of The Comedy Channel and Ha!, which was owned by Viacom.
April 1991: MoreMax Launch
In April 1991, MoreMax launched as Cinemax 2, in conjunction with HBO2's rollout.
April 19, 1991: TVKO's First Boxing Event: Battle of the Ages
On April 19, 1991, TVKO's first boxing event was the "Battle of the Ages" bout between Evander Holyfield and George Foreman.
May 8, 1991: Home Box Office Inc. Announces Additional Channels
On May 8, 1991, Home Box Office Inc. announced plans to launch two additional channels of HBO and Cinemax, becoming the first subscription television services to launch multiplexed companion channels.
August 1, 1991: Test Launch of Additional Channels
On August 1, 1991, 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 in a test launch of the three channels.
August 1991: HBO Launches Multiplex Channels
In August 1991, HBO, along with Cinemax, became one of the first American pay television services to offer complimentary multiplexed channels. This provided subscribers with more programming choices.
November 1, 1991: Cinemax 3 Plans Shelved
On November 1, 1991, plans for Cinemax to launch a tertiary channel, Cinemax 3, were shelved until 1996.
1991: Launch of HBO Europe
In 1991, HBO Europe was launched in Budapest in partnership with Sony.
1991: Exclusive Deal with Hemdale Film Corporation end
In 1991, Hemdale Film Corporation ended its exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1991: International Expansion Oversight
Since 1991, Home Box Office, Inc. oversaw the expansion of HBO's service to international markets, establishing subsidiaries and distribution partnerships outside the United States.
June 6, 1992: Weekly movie premieres on HBO
Starting June 6, 1992, HBO began 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", recorded on the first leg of his 1992-93 Dangerous World Tour, premiered on HBO, becoming the network's highest-rated special with 3.7 million viewers.
December 1992: Warner Bros. film distribution agreement ends
In December 1992, the five-year distribution agreement between HBO and Warner Bros., signed in June 1986, ended.
1992: Launch of HBO Asia
In 1992, HBO Asia was launched in Singapore as a partnership with Singtel.
1992: Exclusive Deal with Savoy Pictures
In 1992, Savoy Pictures maintained an exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
1992: Race for the Pennant Ended
In 1992, the MLB-focused "Race for the Pennant" ended.
1992: HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival
Since 1992, the HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival has been held annually near HBO's former New York City headquarters, featuring a movie introduction using variants of the "HBO in Space" sequence.
May 1993: End of Paramount Film Releases
May 1993 marks the tentative end date for the Paramount Pictures films included in the five-year deal signed in July 1987, granting exclusive rights to 85 Paramount films.
September 1993: Discontinuation of Movie Versions and Reintroduction of Full-Length Version
In September 1993, the "Saturday Night Movie" and "Sunday Night Movie" versions were discontinued, and the "Feature Presentation" variant was extended to all films aired in early prime time, with the full-length version being reintroduced for Saturday premieres and Tuesday re-broadcasts.
1993: HBO2 Adopts Program Grid Layout
By 1993, HBO2 replaced its channel-specific on-air look with a spartan 'program grid' layout during promotional breaks, similar to the visual appearance then used by the Prevue Channel.
1993: Enlargement of Thailand and the Philippines
In 1993, HBO Asia expanded to Thailand and the Philippines.
January 1994: Showtime acquires contract
After the exclusive contract transferred to Showtime in January 1994, in July 1995, HBO preemptively signed a five-year deal with the studio that took effect in January 2000, in conjunction with a five-year extension of its existing deal with Columbia Pictures.
January 1994: HBO promotes Saturday premiere night
Starting in January 1994, HBO began highlighting a "guarantee" in promotions for its Saturday premiere night.
June 16, 1994: Premiere of 'HBO Comedy Half-Hour'
On June 16, 1994, the HBO Comedy Half-Hour premiered with Chris Rock: Big Ass Jokes, a short-form comedy special.
August 1994: Cablevision purchase of Madison Square Garden
In August 1994, Charles Dolan, through Cablevision, purchased Madison Square Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, in a joint bid with ITT Corporation.
September 1994: MultiChannel HBO Marketing
In September 1994, Home Box Office, Inc. began marketing the HBO channel suite and related coastal feeds under the brand "MultiChannel HBO".
1994: Expansion to Taiwan and Indonesia
1994: Expansion to Czech Republic
In 1994, HBO Europe expanded to the Czech Republic.
1994: Launch of Brazilian Channel
In 1994, the Brazilian HBO channel was launched.
1994: Viacom's Purchase of Paramount
Viacom's 1994 purchase of Paramount from Paramount Communications had an effect in HBO's deal with paramount, which let Showtime assumed the pay-cable rights to the studio's films in January 1998.
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, becoming the network's flagship sports newsmagazine.
July 1995: HBO signs deal with TriStar
In July 1995, HBO preemptively signed a five-year deal with TriStar 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 as Cinemax 3.
1995: Expansion to Hong Kong and Malaysia
In 1995, HBO Asia expanded to Hong Kong and Malaysia.
January 1996: Start of DreamWorks Releases
January 1996 marks the tentative start of DreamWorks releases under the ten-year deal signed with HBO 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 with title fights involving contenders in the junior featherweight and junior bantamweight classes.
February 1996: Home Box Office Inc. Announces Plans to Expand Multiplex Services
In February 1996, Home Box Office, Inc. announced plans to expand its multiplex services across HBO and Cinemax to twelve channels, encompassing a fourth HBO channel and two additional Cinemax channels, originally projected for a Spring 1997 launch.
June 1996: HBO Showcase restructuring
Following its June 1996 restructuring, HBO Showcase (created in 1986) occasionally produced drama series for the network.
June 1996: Saturday Night Guarantee
From June 1996 until September 2006, HBO's Saturday movie premieres were marketed as the "Saturday Night Guarantee," promising a new movie every Saturday night.
December 1, 1996: HBO Family Launches
On December 1, 1996, HBO Family launched, focusing on family-oriented feature films and television series aimed at younger children. This coincided with the launch of Mountain Time Zone feeds of HBO, HBO2, Cinemax, and Cinemax 2.
1996: Decreased Airings of "HBO in Space"
From 1996, the regularity of the airings of "HBO in Space" decreased as the later HBO Movie intro took prominence.
1996: Disney Joined HBO Europe
In 1996, Disney joined the partnership in HBO Europe.
1996: Original series filmed in widescreen
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.
June 12, 1997: Announcement of high-definition simulcast feed launch
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" program opening sequence was discontinued after being used since 1982.
November 1997: Adoption of Audio Logo
In November 1997, the twelve-note musical signature of the "HBO in Space" sequence's orchestral fanfare 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 to about September 1998, the Feature Presentation intros were preceded by an intro prelude called "Now."
December 1997: End of Paramount Package with HBO/Cinemax
In December 1997, the Paramount package remained with HBO/Cinemax came to an end. Showtime assumed the pay-cable rights to the studio's films in January 1998.
1997: Replacement of the 1997 Bumpers
By January 2000, the CGI feature presentation was standardized on the network, replacing the 1997 bumpers.
1997: Availability in other Southeast Asian countries
From 1997 to 2020, HBO Asia was available in other Southeast Asian countries.
1997: Planned Multiplex Expansion
In 1997, Home Box Office, Inc. planned to expand its multiplex services across HBO and Cinemax to twelve channels, encompassing a fourth HBO channel and two additional Cinemax channels. The expansion was initially projected for Spring 1997 launch.
1997: Exclusive Deal with Savoy Pictures end
In 1997, Savoy Pictures ended its exclusive first-run pay-cable contract with HBO.
January 1998: Showtime Assumes Paramount Rights
In January 1998, Showtime assumed the pay-cable rights to Paramount films under a seven-year deal, a byproduct of Viacom's 1994 purchase of Paramount.
January 23, 1998: End of 'HBO Comedy Half-Hour'
On January 23, 1998, the HBO Comedy Half-Hour ended its run.
April 1998: HBO The Works Rebranding
In April 1998, the package was rebranded as "HBO The Works", now exclusively classified to the four HBO multiplex channels and later applied to the three thematic channels that were launched afterward. Concurrent with the adoption of the brand, HBO2 was rebranded as HBO Plus, and HBO3 was relaunched as HBO Signature.
September 1998: End of "Now" Prelude
Around September 1998, the "Now" prelude was discontinued from the Feature Presentation intros.
October 1, 1998: HBO2 Rebrands as HBO Plus
On October 1, 1998, HBO2 was rebranded as HBO Plus, concurrently adopting a distinct on-air look from the primary channel.
1998: Plans for rollout to television providers
Home Box Office, Inc. announced plans to launch a high-definition simulcast feed on June 12, 1997, with initial plans for a rollout to television providers as early as the Summer of 1998.
1998: Conclusion of Silver Screen Agreement
In 1998, the Silver Screen agreement between HBO and Silver Screen Partners concluded upon the studio's cessation.
February 6, 1999: You Are All Diseased premiere
On February 6, 1999, the George Carlin-headlined comedy special "You Are All Diseased" premiered, marking the end of the "Comedy Hour" banner for HBO's comedy specials.
March 6, 1999: HBO begins transmitting a high definition simulcast feed
On March 6, 1999, HBO began transmitting a high definition simulcast feed, becoming the first American cable television network to begin simulcast their programming in the format.
March 1999: Launch of HBO HDTV
From March 1999 until April 2006 HBO HD was called HBO HDTV. HBO HD is a high definition simulcast feed of HBO that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format.
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 to End 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.
September 1999: Rebrand Replacing Logos
In September 1999, a new rebrand replaced everything, with the exception of the various bumpers shown.
October 1999: HBO Films unit formed
In October 1999, the current HBO Films unit was formed through the consolidation of HBO Pictures and HBO NYC Productions.
November 6, 1999: Debut of CGI Feature Presentation Bumper
On November 6, 1999, a CGI feature presentation bumper, designed by Pittard Sullivan, debuted. This coincided with the exclusive premiere of Saving Private Ryan.
1999: Real Sports Airs Monthly
Until 1999, Real Sports aired quarterly, after which it began airing monthly.
January 2000: Standardization of CGI Feature Presentation
By January 2000, the CGI feature presentation was standardized on the network, replacing the 1997 bumpers.
January 2000: HBO-TriStar deal takes effect
In January 2000, the five-year deal between HBO and TriStar, signed in July 1995, took effect, in conjunction with a five-year extension of HBO's existing deal with Columbia Pictures.
January 23, 2000: Turner and NBC Reach Wimbledon Contract
On January 23, 2000, Turner Broadcasting System and NBC reached a joint three-year contract with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the Wimbledon tournament rights.
May 6, 2000: KO Nation Premieres
On May 6, 2000, KO Nation premiered, attempting to incorporate hip-hop music performances between matches involving up-and-coming boxers to attract younger viewers.
November 1, 2000: HBO Latino Launches
On November 1, 2000, HBO Latino, a Spanish language network, was launched, featuring a mix of dubbed simulcasts of programming from the primary HBO channel as well as exclusive Spanish-originated programs.
2000: HBO South Asia Formed
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 Available 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, marking the start of original programming being made available in HD.
January 2001: Delay of original series in high definition
In January 2001, Bob Zitter disclosed that HBO elected to delay offering its original series in high definition until there was both 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.
May 2001: MovieMax, Cinemáx, 5StarMax and OuterMax Launch
In May 2001, MovieMax, Cinemáx, 5StarMax and OuterMax, were launched.
July 1, 2001: Launch of HBO on Demand
On July 1, 2001, HBO on Demand, the first SVOD service to be offered by an American premium service, launched over then sister company Time Warner Cable's Columbia, South Carolina, system.
August 11, 2001: KO Nation Ends
On August 11, 2001, KO Nation ended its run after drawing low ratings.
2001: Expansion of theatrical films
By early 2001, 60% of available feature films were accounted for in the format.
2001: HBO and NFL Films Begin Producing Hard Knocks
In 2001, HBO and NFL Films began jointly producing the documentary series Hard Knocks.
2001: On the Record with Bob Costas Launched
In 2001, On the Record with Bob Costas was launched.
September 2002: HBO Plus Reverts to HBO2
In September 2002, HBO Plus reverted to the "HBO2" moniker.
2002: CNN/SI Moved to CNNfn
In 2002, CNN/SI moved to the now-defunct CNNfn after CNN/SI's shutdown.
2002: Rebrand for the Network
Starting in 2004, the 2002 rebrand for the network was simultaneously standardized for all of the other channels, except HBO Family. Voiceovers were omitted from the outer channels.
January 2003: HBO Latino Premieres Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro
In January 2003, HBO Latino premiered Oscar De La Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro, a showcase of up-and-coming boxers represented by Golden Boy Promotions.
2003: ESPN Holds Wimbledon Cable Rights
Since 2003, the Wimbledon cable rights have been held by ESPN.
September 25, 2004: Sports Telecasts Upgraded to HD
On September 25, 2004, HBO upgraded sports telecasts to HD, starting with an HBO World Championship Boxing fight card headlined by Roy Jones Jr. and Glen Johnson.
2004: DreamWorks Animation Spin-Off
In 2004, DreamWorks Animation was spun off into a standalone company, leading to separate contracts for distribution rights, the studio's pay-cable distribution rights were split up into separate contracts.
2004: Real Sports Wins Emmy for Slavery Report
In 2004, Real Sports won a Sports Emmy for its report on slavery and torture in UAE desert camps.
2004: Standardization of the 2002 Rebrand
Starting in 2004, the 2002 rebrand for the network was simultaneously standardized for all of the other channels, except HBO Family. Voiceovers were omitted from the outer channels.
2005: On the Record with Bob Costas Ended
In 2005, On the Record with Bob Costas ended and Costas Now launched.
April 2006: HBO HDTV renamed to HBO HD
In April 2006 HBO HDTV was renamed to HBO HD.
April 2006: HBO Latino Premieres Generación Boxeo
In April 2006, a second boxing series for HBO Latino, Generación Boxeo, premiered on the multiplex channel.
September 2006: "Saturday Night Guarantee" ends
In September 2006, HBO ended the "Saturday Night Guarantee" marketing for its Saturday movie premieres, which had been in place since June 1996.
December 2006: End of DreamWorks Deal with HBO
December 2006 marked the end of the ten-year deal between HBO and DreamWorks SKG.
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 University Award for Slavery Report
In 2006, Real Sports won a duPont–Columbia University Award for its report on slavery and torture in UAE desert camps.
January 2008: Prototype HBO on Broadband service launched
Based on the prototype HBO on Broadband service, in January 2008, was originally launched to linear HBO subscribers of Time Warner Cable's Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, systems.
January 2008: Showtime's Exclusive Rights to Summit Entertainment Films
From January 2008 until December 2012, Showtime had exclusive rights to Summit Entertainment films before HBO replaced them as the studio's pay-cable output partner.
February 2008: Inside the NFL Ends HBO Run
In February 2008, Inside the NFL ended its HBO run after 31 seasons.
September 1, 2008: HBO Multiplex Channels in High Definition
On September 1, 2008, HBO began transmitting its six multiplex channels in high definition, with DirecTV 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 arrangement with CBS Sports.
December 2008: End of Showtime's Paramount Deal
In December 2008, Showtime's seven-year deal for pay-cable rights to Paramount films concluded.
2008: HD Simulcasts for HBO multiplex feeds
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, with HD carriage of the multiplex channels varying by market.
2008: Development of HBO Sports Logotype
In 2008, HBO internally developed a proprietary typeface adapted from ITC Avant Garde, featuring bullseye-like glyphs, as a logotype for HBO Sports, HBO high-definition and VOD services, and later HBO Go.
2008: Sony and Universal Left Joint Venture
In 2008, Sony and Universal left the HBO Asia joint venture.
March 2, 2009: HBO Broadcasts BNP Paribas Showdown
On March 2, 2009, HBO broadcast the inaugural edition of the BNP Paribas Showdown as a one-off special presentation, marking a brief return of professional tennis to HBO.
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 films upon its launch.
2009: Costas Now and Joe Buck Live Ended
In 2009, Costas Now and Joe Buck Live ended.
2009: Expansion to Northern Macedonia
In 2009, HBO Europe expanded to Northern Macedonia.
February 18, 2010: Nationwide Launch of HBO Go
HBO Go launched nationwide on February 18, 2010, initially available to existing HBO subscribers signed with Verizon FiOS, carrying 1,000 hours of program content available for streaming.
March 2010: Showtime Acquires DreamWorks Live-Action Rights
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 initial Universal output deal with HBO
December 2010 represents the end of the initial eight-year agreement between HBO and Universal, that originally lasted through December 2010.
2010: Disney and Sony Left Shareholding
In 2010, Disney and Sony left the shareholding in HBO Latin America.
2010: HBO Bought Shares of Sony and Disney
In 2010, HBO bought the shares of Sony and Disney in HBO Europe.
2010: HBO Broadcasts Comic Relief USA
In 2010, HBO broadcasted Comic Relief USA. Between 1986 and 2010, HBO served as the primary broadcaster of Comic Relief USA's fundraising specials, which aimed to support health and welfare programs for America's homeless population.
January 3, 2011: HBO Offers 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 DreamWorks Live-Action Deal Begins
In January 2011, Showtime's deal to air DreamWorks live-action films commenced, following the March 2010 acquisition of those rights.
April 1, 2011: Discontinuation of CGI Feature Presentation Bumper
On April 1, 2011, the CGI feature presentation bumper, which debuted in 1999, was discontinued.
April 2, 2011: Previous Opening Sequence Timeline
Between April 2, 2011, and March 3, 2017, sequences by Viewpoint Creative were used and modeled on the network's graphical imaging.
August 2011: Strike Back debut
In August 2011, Cinemax began premiering original action series, starting with the debut of "Strike Back", which became the channel'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.
August 15, 2012: Renewal of First-Run Film Output Agreement with Fox
On August 15, 2012, HBO renewed its first-run film output agreement with Fox for ten years.
December 2012: Netflix DreamWorks Animation Deal Begins
December 2012 marked the expiration of the HBO deal, where Netflix started its acquired Dreamworks Animation contract.
December 2012: End of Showtime's Rights to Summit Entertainment
In December 2012, Showtime's exclusive rights to Summit Entertainment films came to an end.
2012: Availability in the Netherlands
From 2012 to 2016, HBO Europe was available in the Netherlands through a partnership with the Dutch cable operator Ziggo.
2012: ESPN Assumes Full U.S. Television Exclusivity Over Wimbledon
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
In 2012, the HBO Sports logotype was extended for use with Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
January 6, 2013: Renewal of Universal Output Deal
On January 6, 2013, the current Universal output deal was renewed for ten years. The current deal gives HBO right of first refusal over select Universal titles.
2013: Paramount sub-run agreements
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) for films released prior to 2013.
2013: HBO PPV Rebranded as HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View
In 2013, HBO PPV was rebranded as HBO Boxing Pay-Per-View.
2013: HBO Replaces Showtime as Summit Output Partner
In 2013, HBO became Summit Entertainment's pay-cable output partner, replacing Showtime.
2013: A24 film releases
In 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.
April 2014: Introduction of Minimalist Intro
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" Logos
Until April 2014, channel-specific on-screen bugs were shown during promotional breaks between programs on the six thematic HBO multiplex channels, but these were discontinued when their respective "The Works"-era logos were discontinued.
October 15, 2014: HBO announces OTT subscription streaming service
On October 15, 2014, HBO announced plans to launch an OTT subscription streaming service in 2015, which would be distributed as a standalone offering that does not require an existing television subscription to access the content.
April 7, 2015: HBO Now Launched
On April 7, 2015, HBO Now launched, initially available via Apple Inc. to Apple TV and iOS devices for a three-month exclusivity 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 deal was prompted by financial difficulties at Sesame Workshop. Although Sesame Street was to remain on PBS, HBO gained first-run rights and exclusive streaming rights to Sesame Workshop's programming library.
2015: HBO Now Launch and Distribution Restrictions
Before the 2015 launch of HBO Now, HBO required its studio output partners to suspend digital sales of their movies during their exclusive contractual window with the network.
2015: Planned Launch of OTT Streaming Service
In 2015, HBO planned to launch an OTT subscription streaming service.
2015: James L. Dolan Ownership
In 2015, James L. Dolan has owned the Knicks and Rangers through The Madison Square Garden Company.
2015: End of Disney's Pay-Cable Deal with Starz
In 2015, The Walt Disney Company has not distributed their films over a traditional pay-cable service since the studio's agreement with HBO rival Starz ended.
2015: Domestic version of HBO on Demand launched
In 2015, a domestic version of HBO on Demand was launched in the United Kingdom to subscribers of IPTV provider TalkTalk TV.
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 then distributed to PBS after a nine-month exclusivity window.
March 1, 2016: Renewal of Summit Entertainment Deal
On March 1, 2016, HBO renewed its first-run output deal with Summit Entertainment for an additional four years.
2016: End of Availability in the Netherlands
From 2012 to 2016, HBO Europe was available in the Netherlands through a partnership with the Dutch cable operator Ziggo.
2016: Downconverting to 720p60
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.
March 3, 2017: Previous Opening Sequence Timeline
Between April 2, 2011, and March 3, 2017, sequences by Viewpoint Creative were used and modeled on the network's graphical imaging.
March 4, 2017: Debut of New Opening Sequence
On March 4, 2017, a new opening sequence designed by Imaginary Forces, and accompanied by a theme arranged by Man Made Music, debuted, replacing the previous intro introduced in April 2014.
December 2017: Initial End Date of Summit Entertainment Deal
December 2017 was the initial end date of HBO's first-run output deal with Summit Entertainment before it was renewed.
2017: HBO partners 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: Usage of Eight-Second Variant
Since September 2018, an eight-second variant of the new opening sequence has been used for most film presentations.
September 27, 2018: HBO Announces Discontinuation of Boxing Telecasts
On September 27, 2018, HBO announced it would discontinue its boxing telecasts after 45 years, marking the end of live sports on the network.
December 8, 2018: Last Additional World Championship Boxing/Boxing After Dark Cards
On December 8, 2018, one of the two additional World Championship Boxing/Boxing After Dark cards aired.
December 2018: Discontinuation of HBO boxing telecasts
In December 2018, HBO discontinued its boxing telecasts, which had occasionally caused variances in the start time of premiered films.
December 2018: HBO Sports stops broadcasting sports
In December 2018, HBO stopped broadcasting selected sports event telecasts produced by HBO Sports.
2018: Removal of "Max After Dark" content
In 2018, Cinemax removed "Max After Dark" content from its linear and on-demand platforms as part of a broader exit from the adult genre across Home Box Office, Inc.'s platforms.
February 2019: HBO Now Subscribership Reaches Over 8 Million
By February 2019, subscribership of HBO Now subscribers had reached over 8 million customers.
March 2019: Disney Acquires 20th Century Fox
In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
April 2019: Discovery announces new venture
In April 2019, Discovery officially announced its new venture, which would launch sometime in 2020, replacing DIY Network.
October 2019: HBO Max contract renewal
In October 2019, HBO and WarnerMedia agreed on contract renewal terms that would shift Sesame Street and other Sesame Workshop content from the linear television service to the streaming-based HBO Max in May 2020.
2019: World Premiere Presentation Variant
In 2019, a seldom-used "World Premiere Presentation" variant of the "HBO in Space" sequence 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+", remaining in use on a multiplex channel of HBO Latin America.
2019: A24 Showtime deal
On December 6, 2023, A24 announced a multi-year output deal to distribute its films on HBO and Max following their theatrical release. The deal succeeded a pay-one exclusivity agreement A24 had maintained with Showtime since 2019, which concluded at the end of 2023.
May 2020: Sesame Street moves to HBO Max
In May 2020, with the launch of HBO Max, Sesame Street shifted from the linear television service to the streaming service HBO Max under a contract renewal agreed upon in October 2019.
May 2020: Four-Second Variant on HBO Max
Since its launch in May 2020, HBO Max has used a four-second variant to open films on its main HBO content portal.
May 2020: Starz holds rights to televise
As of May 2020, Starz holds rights to televise all recent releases from either studio through December 2021, after which in January 2022, under a five-year agreement signed in April 2021, Netflix will assume pay television rights to its newer Sony films—after HBO declined a request by Columbia during contract negotiations to allow the studio to experimentally distribute its theatrical films via streaming video during its contract window.
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.
September 2020: Reduced theatrical premieres due to COVID-19
In September 2020, HBO reduced the frequency of scheduled theatrical premieres due to COVID-19-related postponements of theatrical releases. The Saturday 8:00 slot was occupied by original specials, documentaries, and older hit movies.
November 2020: HBO streaming service serves as default OTT platform
Until its replacement by HBO Max on those platforms in November 2020, the HBO streaming service served as a default HBO OTT service for Amazon Fire and Fire TV customers.
December 2020: HBO formally named HBO
HBO Now was formally named HBO from August to December 2020
December 2020: Airings of older movies begin
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 Discontinued
On December 17, 2020, the HBO streaming service was discontinued as a consequence of an agreement with WarnerMedia to offer HBO Max on Roku devices.
2020: Real Sports Receives 33 Sports Emmy Awards
As of 2020, Real Sports has received 33 Sports Emmy Awards throughout its run.
2020: Providers transmit all seven HBO 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: Madison Square Garden spin-off
In 2020, Madison Square Garden spun off its non-sports entertainment assets through Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
2020: Ole Communications Left Shareholding
In 2020, Ole Communications left the shareholding in HBO Latin America. HBO Max OTT service became available.
2020: New venture delayed
In 2020, the launch was delayed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the ability to produce the network's launch programming.
January 4, 2021: Magnolia Network Programming Debuts on Discovery+
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 Expiring
On March 2, 2021, it was announced that the deal with HBO through to the end of 2022 expires.
April 2021: Netflix agreement signed
As of May 2020, Starz holds rights to televise all recent releases from either studio through December 2021, after which in January 2022, under a five-year agreement signed in April 2021, Netflix will assume pay television rights to its newer Sony films—after HBO declined a request by Columbia during contract negotiations to allow the studio to experimentally distribute its theatrical films via streaming video during its contract window.
July 6, 2021: Universal Films to Peacock
On July 6, 2021, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group announced it would begin releasing its theatrical films on Peacock after its exclusivity 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 expansion of their output deal, extending it to the end of 2022.
December 2021: Starz rights ends
As of May 2020, Starz holds rights to televise all recent releases from either studio through December 2021, after which in January 2022, under a five-year agreement signed in April 2021, Netflix will assume pay television rights to its newer Sony films—after HBO declined a request by Columbia during contract negotiations to allow the studio to experimentally distribute its theatrical films via streaming video during its contract window.
2021: Cinemax Multiplex Service
As of 2021, The linear Cinemax multiplex service consists of the primary feed and seven thematic channels.
2021: A24 film releases
In 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.
2021: Elimination of Scripted Programming
In early 2021, Cinemax eliminated scripted programming, shifting the channel back to its original structure as a movie-exclusive premium service due to WarnerMedia reallocating its programming resources toward HBO Max.
January 5, 2022: Transition of DIY Network to Magnolia Network
On January 5, 2022, the transition of the linear DIY Network to the Magnolia Network occurred.
January 2022: Netflix assumes pay television rights
As of May 2020, Starz holds rights to televise all recent releases from either studio through December 2021, after which in January 2022, under a five-year agreement signed in April 2021, Netflix will assume pay television rights to its newer Sony films—after HBO declined a request by Columbia during contract negotiations to allow the studio to experimentally distribute its theatrical films via streaming video during its contract window.
April 7, 2022: Magnolia Network Leadership Reports to HBO and HBO Max CCO
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: HBO Go Remains in Southeast and South Asia
As of April 2022, the on-demand video program in Southeast and South Asia is still on the old HBO Go platform.
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 sub-run agreements
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) for films released prior to 2022.
2022: Expanded Deal extended until end of 2022
In 2022, the expanded deal between WarnerMedia and Disney would be expanded to the end of 2022, with an amendment that would allow 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: End of HBO's deal with Summit
The deal with HBO through to the end of 2022 expires.
2022: HBO to continue to release Universal's 2021 film slate
Through 2022, HBO will continue to release Universal's 2021 film slate under their existing contracts.
December 6, 2023: A24 announces distribution deal with HBO and Max
On December 6, 2023, A24 announced a multi-year output deal to distribute its films on HBO and Max following their theatrical release. The deal succeeded a pay-one exclusivity agreement A24 had maintained with Showtime since 2019, which concluded at the end of 2023.
December 19, 2023: Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel Ends
On December 19, 2023, Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel ended after 29 seasons.
2023: Walt Disney Studios sub-run agreements
HBO maintains sub-run agreements for theatrical films distributed by 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) for films released prior to 2023.
November 19, 2024: Rebranding to Max
The "HBO Go" moniker remains in use as the brand for HBO's streaming platforms in select Asian markets until it was also rebranded directly into Max on November 19, 2024.
December 4, 2024: HBO Linear Feeds on Max
On December 4, 2024, HBO began offering livestreams of most of its linear feeds (excluding HBO Family and HBO Latino) on the Max streaming app for American subscribers with Ad-Free and Ultimate Ad-Free tiers. Linear East or West Coast HBO channel feeds are also available via Max's a la carte add-ons sold through Prime Video Channels, YouTube Primetime Channels, The Roku Channel and virtual pay television providers Hulu and YouTube TV.
2024: Max planned for launch
Max is being planned for launch in late 2024 in Southeast and South Asia.
March 2025: Exclusive licensing agreements
As of March 2025, HBO and Cinemax maintain exclusive licensing agreements for film content from specific studios and their subsidiaries.
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