HBO

HBO (The Home Box Office)

Signature Programming and Genre Trends

HBO's original programming is normally very critically acclaimed. HBO has had the most Emmy nominations of any network every year since 2001 Because it is a premium cable service, HBO is able to show programming with graphic nudity, violence, profanity, and other adult content. HBO's programming fits into 6 categories: drama series, comedy series, miniseries, original films, documentaries, sports, and performance.

Drama Series

HBO has had numerous critically acclaimed dramatic series throughout its broadcasting history. These shows touch on a variety of genres such as family life (Big Love, Six Feet Under), history (Deadwood, Rome), and crime (The Sopranos, Oz

Scheduling

HBO's schedule is divided between original programming and movies. HBO's premier original line-up airs Sunday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Normally this line-up consists of two half-hour comedies followed by one hour-long drama (or vice versa). Other original programming, such as talk/variety shows appear other nights during prime time. Special programs, such as miniseries, comedy specials, boxing events or HBO original films, appear during prime time at a heavily advertised date (usually during a weekend). Re-runs of original programming play frequently at different times. Often HBO will schedule a marathon of episodes from a series to let viewers stay up-to-date with the series. Because of the mature elements frequently present in HBO's original programming, it is rare that a series is sold into syndication. However, when this does occur (e.g. Sex and the City playing on TBS) the syndicated program will be edited to meet the regulations of the channel it is playing on.

Movies occupy the time in the schedule not taken by original programming. Feature films making their first appearance on television premier Saturday night. Usually films are played several times a day or week to give viewers multiple chances to watch a film (however DVR has diminished the importance of this feature). Additionally, HBO has an On Demand feature for much of its original programming. 

Related Channels

Seven channels fall under the HBO umbrella, not including Cinemax, which is HBO's sister network.

The channels are:

• HBO- the original channel, offered by some services in both a Eastern and Pacific feed.
• HBO 2- plays similar films as the original channel, as well as reruns of series.
• HBO Comedy- plays comedy films and reruns of comedy series and specials.
• HBO Family- plays films and specials aimed at children (with no films rated R). Also plays series aimed at children in the morning hours.
• HBO Signature- plays more critically-acclaimed films.
• HBO Zone- programming for a mature audience, with softcore pornography airing at night.
• HBO Latino- mostly plays the feed from the original channel dubbed Spanish, but also airs specifically Spanish-language films and sports events.