HBO, the first national cable network, turns 50 years old this week. The success of HBO broke barriers and changed the way TV is distributed, produced, and watched.
Going Live
Since its launch on November 8, 1972 when it aired the NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Rangers, HBO has been a pioneer for new TV technologies and bold stories.
Behind the Scenes: HBO was the first network to utilize satellite technology to be offered by cable TV nationwide (before this, TV networks had limited regional reaches).
- HBO is often credited as being the first modern cable network, especially once it aired live the infamous boxing match known as the “Thrilla in Manilla” in 1975 between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazer.
- The network built its early niche by broadcasting commercial-free feature films and live events (including the 1973 Pennsylvania Polka Festival) to subscribers.
- Those comparative differences led to HBO becoming a true competitor to traditional broadcast networks especially as it began developing original scripted programming.
An Impressive Legacy: Series like “The Kids in the Hall,” “Fraggle Rock,” “The Wire,” and “The Sopranos” had ambitious creative visions and didn’t have to worry about selling advertising space (and could use whatever language they wanted, or target any demographic), making HBO a magnet for top talent.
“It’s Not TV, It’s HBO”: HBO’s branding stands apart.
- The network’s slogan, introduced in 1996, clearly defined its space in the media ecosystem.
- HBO’s brand became something bigger and better than what was available on broadcast TV (then the kings of must-see-TV), leading the way to the current media landscape defined by high-quality and often high-concept programming.
Quantifiable Success: In 1997, HBO disrupted the TV market when it earned 90 Emmy nominations, surpassing broadcast networks for the first time. To this day, HBO continues to produce tons of award-winning programming that is beloved by critics and audiences alike.
- In 1999, the network made history when “Sex and The City” became the first cable show to win the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
- “Game of Thrones” holds the record for the most Emmy wins (59) for a drama series.
- Coupled with its streaming arm, HBO Max, the network received 140 nominations for the 74th annual Primetime Emmy Awards – marking the 20th time HBO received the most nominations of any network or platform in a single year.
- In 2022, “House of the Dragon” set a record for the largest audience for a series premiere in HBO history, garnering 9.99 million viewers.