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HBOHBO 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 more than 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.Explore HBO
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Peloton pays artists more for music than most streaming platformsSince the on-demand classes are technically live performances, Peloton has to pay both for the rights to the song itself and for the right to actually play the song. As a result, Peloton pays more money than many other streaming platforms to use artists' music, with some reports saying Apple Music reportedly pays 0.1 cents per stream and Peloton pays 3.1 cents per stream. InsideHookBillboard began incorporating streaming in 2007For nearly 50 years, the Billboard charts primarily relied on radio airplay and retail sales. But in 2007, the magazine began incorporating early streaming services AOL Music and Yahoo! Music into its methodology, and later worked with Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms. A single stream was not weighed as heavily as a purchase of a physical CD or vinyl record. Still, streaming’s impact became evident when songs with minimal radio airplay began climbing the charts, as seen with Baauer’s “Harlem Shake,” which did exceptionally well on YouTube. NPRStreaming helped propel Bad Bunny to the top of the chartsFor decades, labels believed Spanish-language artists had to sing in English to break into the mainstream. Metrics on YouTube and Spotify, though, have shown that listeners are interested in artists like Bad Bunny, who have intentionally made music in Spanish and have become immensely popular. Washington PostIs streaming the new novel?Ever since the rise of “prestige television” in the early 2000s, critics and viewers alike have argued that TV has replaced the novel by becoming the most significant storytelling medium, citing the cultural importance of shows like “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” and “Succession.” This essay notes that streaming has strengthened that argument, turning episodes into chapters, and explains why this has been bad for storytelling in both forms. FlavorwireWinning a Grammy significantly impacts an artist's sales and streaming2023 album of the year winner Harry Styles returned to the top 10 of the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, with "Harry's House." It's also not just the winners; Grammy performers also get a boost, like the 100% increase in Spotify streams that Bad Bunny's "Después de la Playa" saw after he sang it on the telecast. GRAMMYsWhy content disappears from streaming servicesThe early days of streaming suggested we'd have access to all the world's content whenever we wanted. Those days are now long behind us, with streaming companies removing hundreds of movies and shows from their services, including titles they funded. This explainer from the Guardian argues that the reasons behind this shift are both financial and cultural. The GuardianThe world's top streaming services (by subscriber count)With almost 270 million paying users, Netflix is the dominant force in streaming entertainment. But after enjoying a first-mover advantage for years, competitors are beginning to catch up. Most notable is Amazon, which leverages its Prime subscriptions to bundle Prime Video, and has amassed an estimated 200 million users. See an updated tracker of the world's biggest platforms by audience. FlixPatrolNetflix has sometimes struggled with technical aspects of live-streamingAnne Aaron, Netflix’s senior encoding tech director, spent a decade improving how Netflix streams its content. Then came the challenges of live events. Netflix has experimented with live content like stand-up comedy and sporting events. In this interview with The Verge, Aaron walks through the associated technical and coding challenges. The VergeNetflix is the dominant streaming serviceAs of 2025, Netflix had amassed more than 300 million subscribers globally and saw quarterly revenue over $11B. Digital Marketing InstituteStatcast runs machine learning models in the 23-second gap between every pitchThe same Hawk-Eye cameras that track spin rate, exit velocity, and sprint speed also feed proprietary team models that update in near-real time. Some organizations have built streaming pipelines to surface insights mid-at-bat before the next pitch arrives. Machine Learning Advocate'The Pitt' has found success following an old-school production modelHollywood reporter Matthew Belloni interviews John Wells, executive producer of "The Pitt," an HBO Max drama that's found both critical and commercial success by leaning into the broadcast television model that has largely grown unfashionable in the streaming era. According to Wells, who also worked on "ER" and "The West Wing," modern audiences are eager for broad but well-written "water cooler" weekly shows. The Town with Matthew BelloniOne critic argues opera needs a new business planChristos Makridis, a labor economist at Arizona State University, argues that the public has an appetite for the art form, but that the industry's business model is dated, relying too heavily on philanthropy and aging season ticket holders rather than embracing innovation. The ConversationFleetwood Mac's 'Dreams' reentered the pop charts thanks to a viral videoIn 2020, a man from Idaho named Nathan Apodaca filmed himself drinking cranberry juice while skateboarding and mouthing along to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” a hit from their 1977 album “Rumours.” The video’s popularity on TikTok introduced the song to a younger generation (and reintroduced it to older ones). In turn, listeners sought it out on streaming platforms, sending it back into the Hot 100. Grammy.comTikTok isn’t factored into a song’s rank on the Billboard charts, but it can have an impactBillboard ranks a song’s chart position based on its radio airplay, its physical sales, and its streaming numbers (across Spotify and other platforms), but doesn’t include user-generated content, meaning it doesn’t include TikTok videos. Keith Caulfield, Billboard’s managing director of charts and data operations, notes that TikTok still has an impact, though, because listeners will often stream the app’s most popular songs on other platforms. Billboard on the RecordMariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' is the longest-running No. 1 singleIn 2025, the 1994 track spent 20 weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. The song has been a popular Christmas number since its release, but streaming has elevated it to a perennial chart-topper: Every time someone plays the song on a service like Spotify (something that’s likely to happen every holiday season), they’re effectively casting a vote for it to hit the chart. NPRSuperfans of K-pop group BTS gamed the Billboard chartIn 2021, the boy band scored a number one hit with “Butter,” its second English-language track. As Stereogum writer Tom Breihan points out, though, it rose to the top of the charts without actually being the most popular song in the country. Other songs were considerably more popular on streaming platforms, but BTS’ hyperdevoted fanbase realized that purchasing digital downloads weighed more heavily in Billboard’s methodology. Recognizing an opportunity, BTS dropped the price of a download to 69 cents, securing their place on the top of the charts. StereogumViral pop artists create systems of participation, not just musicMusicologist (and Swift expert) Paula Clare Harper weighs in on the factors that make music go viral. Tracks designed for shareability that feed well into content algorithms on streaming platforms are able to grow in popularity, with traditional human gatekeepers sidelined. Big BrainsHockey romance novels have become an unexpected sensationThe combination was not an obvious hit, but books like "Hockey With Benefits," "Body Check," and "Puck and Prejudice" (a Jane Austen fan fiction) have grown popular thanks to a romance novel boom and an interest on TikTok. Now, HBO and Amazon are taking note with streaming adaptations. (Some readers may experience a paywall.) The Wall Street JournalMariah Carey earns millions each year from 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit has become a holiday cash machine, generating an estimated $2.5M–$3M in annual royalties. The song consistently tops the streaming charts each holiday season. ForbesA 2002 profile of unprofitable Netflix as it bet on a subscription modelThe streaming behemoth saw the potential in subscriptions early, and in this 2002 profile CEO Reed Hastings was already talking about plans to offer "downloadable" movies. The profile serves as a historical artifact confirming the startup's risky bets and showcases the contingent factors that led to its success. (Some users may experience a paywall.) WIREDOne man used an AI band to conduct an elaborate social experimentIn 2025, a Canadian using the pseudonym Andrew Frelon claimed to have used generative AI to create songs, an album cover, and a profile photo for a fake band he called The Velvet Sundown. Frelon eventually revealed that he lied, and his experiment highlighted the uncertainty surrounding AI. CBCSpotify took 18 years to reach profitability; 70% of revenue goes to rights-holdersThe music streaming company lost revenue for years as it sought to grow, but once it went public, investors pushed the company to expand into podcasts, cut costs, and prefer passive mood listening via algorithmic curation to increase value. Users have mixed feelings about using it. Morning BrewHikaru Nakamura became a chess star both on the board and onlineA five-time US champion, Hikaru Nakamura helped chess expand its popularity through streaming. His Twitch and YouTube audiences number in the millions, drawing younger fans and fueling the game’s surge in popularity worldwide. TwitchSoaps often air every day, leading to frantic production schedulesUnlike more typical primetime or streaming shows, soap operas often air every weekday. That means writers and actors often work every day to complete a new episode, making for a grueling schedule. It also explains why some of the dialogue and performances might seem a bit off-the-cuff. Backstage'The Life of a Showgirl' was Swift's 15th chart-topping albumThat places her second on Billboard's all-time list, though streaming has significantly changed how "sales" are interpreted. Prior to the shift to digital music, Billboard's album chart relied solely on sales of physical units. Since 2014, the chart has also considered streams from services like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. BillboardSome organisms are composed of a single cell visible to the naked eyeBy incorporating tough, cellulose-rich cell walls, rapid movement of molecules via cytoplasmic streaming, and other biological techniques, some unicellular organisms can bypass the physical limitations that restrict the size of cells. Organisms such as the Stentor coeruleus and Acetabularia can be seen without microscopes. SciShowNetflix's 'KPop Demon Hunters' is the streamer's most-watched original movieThe 2025 film, which combines K-pop music and Korean mythology, became a big hit on the streaming platform. It was equally successful in its limited theatrical release, shooting to the top of the box office rankings. AP NewsBy the 1980s, fantasy football was a national activityThe Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League was a private league, but by the end of the ‘60s, a bar in Oakland opened the first public fantasy football league. Over the next few decades, the game grew more popular, as evidenced by this how-to article from a 1980 issue of “Inside Sports.” Internet ArchiveHow the Discovery Channel was originally built for lifetime learnersFounder John Hendricks envisioned Discovery as a launchpad for educational content that was both informative and engaging. Since, the channel has spawned dozens of other channels, merged with major studios, and launched its own streaming platforms. Company ManHBO's business model is based on driving the cultural conversationHBO CEO Casey Bloys steered the network’s programming to critical acclaim and cultural relevance with hits like “Succession” and “The White Lotus.” Bloys discusses how the network’s programming evolved as it shifted toward streaming—and how the success of shows like “House of the Dragon” informs HBO’s future. Ringer NBAHBO inspired Netflix and vice versaNetflix’s pivot towards original, prestige content would not have been possible if HBO had not blazed that trail decades earlier. Ironically, HBO later used Netflix as a business model when reinventing itself as a streaming app. Business WarsWatch Alfred Hitchcock's 1940 film noir, 'Rebecca'"Rebecca" was Hitchcock's first American film and is the only Hitchcock film to win the Academy Award for best picture. The story, based on a 1938 novel by Daphne du Maurier, is about a widower (played by acting legend Laurence Olivier) and the haunting direction his life takes in her wake. Grandpa's Old Movie ChestTaylor Swift is one of the most successful artists in the worldFew musicians are more popular (or more influential) than Taylor Swift. that's not a broad generalization. The data from this music-industry report backs it up. Luminate not only breaks down Swift’s titanic streaming numbers but also analyzes the strength of her fandom, which the publication considers indicative of “influence.” Record of the DayThe 2022 best picture winner, 'CODA,' was an Apple+ originalStreaming has changed more than how we watch movies—it's changed the way we recognize them during awards season. When movie theaters shut down during the early days of the pandemic, studios had no choice but to release their films on streaming. Once the shift occurred, there was no going back. ABC NewsThe NFL makes most of its money through media licensing dealsThe NFL, which reportedly earned more than $20B in 2023, generates its revenue through several key streams. The largest comes from media licensing deals, where networks and streaming platforms pay billions for the rights to broadcast games. Corporate sponsorships are another major contributor. 1440Amazon is both a vendor for Netflix, via its cloud-computing arm, and its rivalAmazon's Prime Video is a subscription streaming service that includes a variety of original shows and movies for free with a paid Prime membership. This Rotten Tomatoes ranking details 100 of the best Prime Video shows available to watch, including the dramas “Fleabag” and “The Boys.” Rotten TomatoesThe Amazon Prime subscription service offers its members a variety of benefits, including free two-day shipping on eligible itemsPrime also offers members access to streaming video and music, and exclusive deals. As of this writing, its annual price tag is $139. A CNBC article sets out to address whether the subscription is worth that price, outlining the service’s key perks and who’s likely to benefit from it the most. CNBCAmazon expanded its business and diversified its offerings by acquiring companiesAmazon’s retail and cloud businesses have been key drivers of the company’s growth over the years, but they haven’t done all the work by themselves. Companies Amazon has acquired include the video doorbell maker Ring, the grocer Whole Foods, the streaming service Twitch, the shoe retailer Zappos, and the film studio MGM. StatistaWhy dystopian literature remains popularYale English professor Joe Cleary argues that dystopian literature’s continued relevance is due to a torrent of additional societal anxieties and that the streaming adaptations of dystopian classics "The Handmaid’s Tale" and "The Man in the High Castle" have expanded the genre’s popularity, introducing new audiences to its tropes. Yale UniversityYoutube, explainedYouTube began as a quirky site where users uploaded funny, random videos—a do-it-yourself television service. Today, it’s a global media powerhouse and home to everything from movie trailers to video podcasts, livestreams, and much more. Want to learn more about the streaming giant? Check out our 5-minute explainer here. 1440View a list of companies owned by Google's parent company, AlphabetThese companies include Google subsidiaries like YouTube, the biggest online video sharing and streaming platform, Nest, which manufactures smart products like speakers and thermostats, and Waymo, the technology company developing self-driving cars. Industry Leaders MagazineYouTube plans on embracing AI-powered featuresYouTube CEO Neal Mohan lays out a series of priorities and predictions for how the online video giant will continue to evolve. Mohan says the company wants AI to play a bigger role—in addition to figuring out how YouTube can evolve and improve the experience of streaming its content. YouTubeYouTube was acquired by Google for $1.65B in stock during its second yearIn 2006, Google acquired YouTube for $1.65B, only two years after its launch. Sequoia Capital, one of Silicon Valley's best-known venture firms, was an early investor in the streaming video platform, seeing it as the next step in the evolution of user-generated content that flourished online during the mid-2000s. Sequoia Capital YouTube occupies more US screen time than NetflixAs consumers continue to shift their viewing activity away from traditional cable and broadcast TV, they’re spending an increasing amount of time streaming content, much of it on YouTube. In fact, Nielsen data from August 2025, shows that YouTube accounted for 13.1% of US screen time, compared to Netflix’s 8.7%. NielsenNetflix, explainedFrom offering an internet-based, mail-order Blockbuster alternative to its eventual status as a market leader in streaming entertainment, Netflix has led nearly every major paradigm shift in the television and movie business since its inception. 1440How Netflix battled BlockbusterThe most consequential business stories involve intense rivalries. The story of Netflix versus Blockbuster is one of those: an agile upstart versus an entrenched incumbent. This nine-part podcast explores the key strategies and pivotal moments in the rivalry that upended the entertainment business, setting the stage for the streaming wars. WonderyThe spread of high-speed internet helped Netflix's riseWhen high-speed internet began spreading in the mid-2000s, Netflix launched its streaming platform. Without a robust broadband architecture, it would not have been possible. Pew Research CenterContrary to popular belief, Netflix didn't kill BlockbusterBlockbuster was definitely the loser in its years-long battle with Netflix, but the conventional wisdom that the streaming giant killed the established video store chain is incorrect. Blockbuster’s large debt load—and an activist shareholder who didn’t fully appreciate the threat Netflix posed—led the chain to squander its advantages. CNBCThe streamer no longer just offers TV and moviesAs a means of keeping existing subscribers engaged, and to add new users on the margins, the streaming service began releasing its own original video games. Many are based on existing Netflix titles and franchises. See their current offerings here. NetflixLSD was discovered accidentally after its inventor touched his face and hallucinatedUnlike many drugs, the first time a human ever tripped on acid was recorded first-hand by a scientist. Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, curious about the "not unpleasant intoxicated-like condition" that overcame him after an accidental exposure, set up a rigorous experiment to test the drug's effects on himself. Science History Institute
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