HBO was born out of the need for an alternative to traditional cable programming. It revolutionized the way we watch television by creating a subscription-based service outside the conventional channels. As a result, shows could challenge censorship required by FCC laws and cater to audiences in need of inventive content.
They explored otherwise taboo subjects like sex, drug use, and violence in a more graphic manner. These led to fresh premises in early shows like Oz, Sex and the City, and beyond.