A division of Time Inc., Home Box Office has been a driving force in the cable television industry since it was launched in 1972. The HBO network, the company's primary service, boasts 20.8 million subscribers in the U.S. alone, and generates the highest prime-time ratings of all cable networks. Home Box Office's founded its second-leading network, Cinemax, in 1980. That channel currently offers over 170 movies every month, more than any other premium network. Home Box Office also owns 50 percent of Comedy Central, manages E! Entertainment Television, and produces its own programming through HBO Downtown Productions and HBO Independent Productions.

Since it founded Home Box Office, Time has grown into entertainment conglomerate Time Warner. However, in the wake of the parent company's expansion, HBO has not let the quality of its programming flag. In addition to presenting the cable premiers of blockbusters like Titanic and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, HBO continues to produce award winning original programming such as Mandela, And the Band Played On, and The Larry Sanders Show.

In 1999, HBO began to cash in on a three year effort to find and develop original drama series. Sex seems to be on everyone's minds these days, particularly with Sarah Jessica Parker, thanks to the success of her show "Sex and the City." But HBO is receiving even more hype for the popular mobster hit, "The Sopranos." After the show took home its fair share of Emmy's and Golden Globe's, it seems HBO can assume a long ride of success with this series. Other successful shows like the prison drama "Oz" and sports centered "Arli$$" aren't hurting the company either.

High-tech HBO

The kid-friendly HBO family channel, launched in 1996, features children's shows, "G" and "PG"-rated films before 9pm, and PG-13 rated films after 9pm. The service is available to HBO subscribers at no extra charge. In 1998, the company launched "HBO the Works" and "MultiMAX," two new 'multiplexing' services. With the increased capacity afforded by upgrades to digital services, the company can now offer larger suites of channels instead of just one or two versions (HBO has actually been multiplexing since 1991 - with HBO2 and HBO3). The HBO suite includes HBO Signature, featuring original films, theatrical pieces and documentaries; HBO Family; HBO Comedy; and HBO Zone, which shows independent films, music specials, and more 'edgy' original films. The latest addition is HBO Latino, which offers dubbed versions of HBO's regular series shows and movies, as well as new Spanish-language movies in their U.S. debut.