Home Box Office Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
HBO
Type	Cable network (movies, sports)
Country
Availability	United States, national
Headquarters	New York City
Owner	Home Box Office, Inc. (Time Warner)
Key people	Bill Nelson - CEO
Launch date	November 8, 1972
Former names	None
Official website	http://www.hbo.com/

HBO (which stands for Home Box Office) is a well-known American cable television network. It shows many different kinds of programs. HBO is famous for showing movies that were first in movie theaters. They also create their own original TV shows.

Some of HBO's popular original series include The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Big Love, Oz, True Blood, Carnivàle, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Game of Thrones, Sesame Street, The Wire, Entourage, and Deadwood. HBO is owned by a large company called Time Warner.

What is HBO?
- When Did HBO Start?
- What Kind of Shows Does HBO Have?
  - Original Series and Movies
  - Documentaries and Sports
How HBO Changed Television
- Early Days of HBO
- HBO's Impact on TV Shows
Images for kids
See also

What is HBO?

HBO is a special kind of TV channel. Unlike regular TV channels that are free to watch, you usually pay a monthly fee to get HBO. This is why it's called a "premium" cable network. It was one of the first channels to offer this kind of service.

When Did HBO Start?

HBO first launched on November 8, 1972. This made it one of the very first channels to offer movies and special programs to people's homes for a subscription fee. It changed how people watched TV and movies.

What Kind of Shows Does HBO Have?

HBO is known for its wide variety of programs. They show popular movies that have been in cinemas. They also create their own TV series, which are often very popular and win awards. These shows cover many different topics and stories. HBO also broadcasts sports events and documentaries.

Original Series and Movies

HBO has produced many famous and award-winning TV shows. These shows are often praised for their strong stories and interesting characters. They also make original movies that you can only watch on HBO.

Documentaries and Sports

Besides fictional stories, HBO also creates many documentaries. These are non-fiction films that explore real-life topics and events. They also show live sports, like boxing matches, which are popular with many viewers.

How HBO Changed Television

HBO played a big part in changing how people watch television. Before HBO, most TV was broadcast for free. HBO showed that people were willing to pay for high-quality, exclusive content. This idea led to many other premium channels and streaming services we have today.

Early Days of HBO

In its early years, HBO focused on showing movies and sports. It was a new idea to bring these kinds of programs directly into homes without commercials. This made HBO very popular very quickly.

HBO's Impact on TV Shows

Over time, HBO started making its own TV shows. These shows were often different from what was on regular TV. They could tell more complex stories and explore topics in new ways. This helped to raise the quality of TV shows across the industry.

Images for kids

Original HBO logo, used from November 8, 1972, to April 30, 1975.
Filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi and former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey at the New York City premiere of Pelosi's HBO documentary about McGreevey, Fall to Grace, in March 2013.
Rotating logo segment from the "HBO in Space" feature presentation sequence, used from September 20, 1982, to October 31, 1997.
End card from "HBO City" feature presentation sequence, used since March 4, 2017. Bylines appearing beneath the logo differ by channel and daypart: "Movie Premiere" (for Saturday film premieres on the main channel), "Movie Presentation" (used by most HBO channels, except HBO Family, as a generic movie bumper) and "Presentación de Película" (for movies shown on HBO Latino).