Good morning! It's Sunday, Aug. 3. Cable TV platform HBO reverted the name of its streaming service back to HBO Max after two years under the shorter name "Max." To mark the shift, we explored the channel's dominance in prestige TV.
Scroll down to learn why cartoon characters wear gloves, how spiders are used for divination in Cameroon, and more. Or visit 1440 Topics for primers on Inflation, Earth, or 250 others.
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Dear Readers—Our Sunday edition delivers deep dives into interesting and relevant topics, helping you explore new ideas and feeding your curiosity.
Instead of the news—which we cover Monday through Saturday—today we’ll bring you deeply researched overviews and the human-curated articles, podcasts, videos, and more that most fascinated us this week. |
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What is HBO?
HBO is a premium cable network and streaming platform known for its highly acclaimed programming, which defies simple genre categorizations and features production values on par with feature films. In its five decades, the network has produced countless era-defining shows—including “The Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Succession”—and won over 200 Emmy Awards.
HBO was launched in 1972, primarily focusing on commercial-free movies and sports events. In 1975, the network began using satellite technology to distribute its programming nationwide and leaned into more original programming, starting with hourlong stand-up comedy specials. By the 1990s, it produced “Oz,” the network's first hourlong drama.
By the early 2000s, HBO established a model for viewer-controlled content, foreshadowing the binge-watch era. The network established itself as the home of prestige television, with a focus on cinematic storytelling and complex characters, a model it has continued exploring to this day.
... Read our full explainer on HBO here.
Also, check out ...
> What makes it "prestige television"? (More)
> HBO's biggest flops. (More)
> How HBO banks on shaping the cultural conversation. (More) |
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The Psychology-First Path to Wellness |
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*Based on a 6-month retrospective matched case-control analysis of 723 Noom users and 723 non-Noom members based on Aetna data for a Noom Health Customer. |
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The Watergate scandal, explained
The Watergate scandal was a major US political event in the early 1970s, triggered by a break‑in at Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex by operatives associated with President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign.
The subsequent investigation uncovered serious campaign finance violations and a cover-up by the Nixon administration, resulting in nearly 50 criminal convictions and Nixon’s resignation—the only time a US president has resigned. Federal prosecutors adopted the name "The Big Cheese" to refer to the president.
The scandal spurred significant reforms: new campaign‑finance laws, stronger ethics oversight, and tighter limits on presidential authority.
... Read our full deep dive on the scandal here.
Also, check out ...
> Gerald Ford is the only president not elected to the office. (More)
> Scandals that got the "-gate" treatment. (More)
> The wife of Nixon's attorney general was kidnapped. (More) |
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A 101 on IPOs
An initial public offering, or IPO, is the process of a private company becoming public. In an IPO, a company puts up shares of the company on the stock market for the public to purchase.
IPOs often have all the pomp and circumstance of a graduation ceremony, as they are one of the biggest milestones a company can achieve. From Apple in 1980 to Reddit in 2024, every public company has gone through an IPO at some point.
To begin the process, a company hires investment bankers (who earn roughly 7% of the IPO’s gross proceeds) to help set the organization’s target valuation range—an estimate of how much the company is worth—and schedule an IPO date. From there, the bankers market the IPO to hedge funds and other large potential investors.
Transitioning from a private to a public company allows an organization to more easily raise a significant amount of capital. This helps the company expand.
... Read our full take on IPOs here.
Also, check out...
> The 25 biggest IPOs of all time. (More)
> Inside the circus that is the opening day of an IPO. (More)
> How private companies can bypass the IPO process. (More) |
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Have you checked out our lineup of weekly 1440 Topics newsletters? You can sign up for any (or all) that pique your interest, always 100% free. Here's what's on deck this week:
Science & Technology: This Tuesday, we're unpacking the long-term science of climatology (sign up here).
Business & Finance: Thursday, we'll explore the rise of ETFs: exchange-traded funds (sign up here).
Society & Culture: Saturday, we dive into the origins of hip-hop music (sign up here).
Daily Digest: Our original newsletter focuses on what is happening in the world each day, Monday through Saturday. Join more than 4.5 million other intellectually curious readers—click here to join for free! |
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Historybook: Christopher Columbus sets sail on his first transatlantic voyage from Spain (1492); Former US Vice President Aaron Burr goes on trial for treason (1807); US businesswoman Martha Stewart born (1941); The NBA was formed as a merger of two leagues (1949); Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn dies (2008) |
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“You get to fail a lot before you find your story, and HBO really lets you do that, more than anyone else.” |
- Mickey Down, co-creator of "Industry" |
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*Disclosure: Real Noom user(s) compensated to provide their story. In 4 weeks the typical Noom user can expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Noom results involve maintaining a healthy diet and exercise changes. Individual results may vary.
Age & Metabolism Coursepack: Additional charges apply. |
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