Inside the Rise of HBO: A Personal History of the Company That Transformed Television - Softcover

Bill Mesce Jr

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786497866 ISBN 13: 9780786497867

Publisher: McFarland & Co, 2015

Synopsis

There are two ages in the history of television: before HBO and after HBO. Before the launch of Home Box Office in 1972, the industry had changed little since the birth of broadcast network television in the late 1940s. The arrival of the premium cable channel began a revolution in the business and programming of TV. For the generation that has grown up with the vast array of viewing choices available today, it is almost inconceivable that our ever-expanding media universe began with a few hours of unimpressive programming on a single cable channel. This is the story of HBO's reconfiguration of television and the company's continual reinvention of itself in a competitive and dynamic industry.

About this title

Review:

"Inside the Rise of HBO has much to recommend it: the writing is engaging, the anecdotes are well chosen, and Mesce's fresh perspective adds a distinguishing personal touch to existing literature in the area of media industry studies. In Mesce, readers will find a lively author with a unique ability to illuminate media history from an insider's perspective"--Journal of Popular Film and Television; "Mesce brings a very special expertise to laying out an informed and informative history of one of the most influential companies the entertainment industry in general, and the television industry in particular, has ever known. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented...a truly extraordinary corporate history and very highly recommended...a powerful account of the advent, evolution and golden age of paid television. No media collection should be without this thorough detailed history"--Midwest Book Review; "tells the pay network's story as seen by a member of its communications staff for nearly 30 years"--Communications Booknotes Quarterly.

About the Author:

Bill Mesce, Jr, is a Consumer Affairs Manager for Home Box Office. He is also a screenwriter and novelist. He lives in Linden, New Jersey, USA.

About this edition

• Publisher: McFarland & Co
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0786497866
• ISBN 13: 9780786497867
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 292