Founding of HBO

Home Box Office, known as HBO, began broadcasting to subscribers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, with an ice hockey game and a film, and it was the first pay television service in the United States. It was set up by Charles Dolan and later run by Time Inc. In 1975, it began to distribute its programming by satellite, which allowed it to reach cable systems across the country. It moved from showing sport and films to producing original programmes, and became known for series such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire and Game of Thrones. The service was later rebranded as Max, and then returned to the HBO name.

Open on the timeline