Inside the Rise of HBO
A Personal History of the Company That Transformed Television
Published on 10. July 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
292 pages
978-0-7864-9786-7 (ISBN)
Description
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. Written by an insider, this is the story of HBO's reconfiguration of television and the company's continual reinvention of itself in a competitive and dynamic industry.
Reviews / Votes
"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.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
38 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
478 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-9786-7 (9780786497867)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Bill Mesce, Jr., is an adjunct instructor at several New Jersey universities and colleges, and an author, screenwriter, and playwright. He lives in Linden, New Jersey.
Content
Table of Contents
Preface delete?1
Introduction delete?5
Part I: Empire of the
1.?Towards Felix the Cat delete?11
2.?Baby Steps delete?15
3.?In the Beginning Was the Word: Radio delete?17
4.?The Numbers Racket delete?22
5.?The Wasteland delete?28
6.?Greener Grass delete?54
Part II: Wired
7.?Walson's Mountain delete?63
8.?The Green Channel delete?71
9.?Into the Skies, Junior Birdmen! delete?78
Part III: The Company
10.?Title Fights: The King of Pay TV delete?89
11.?The Movie Duels delete?97
12.?Fallout delete?108
13.?The Wall delete?116
14.?A Voice All Its Own delete?127
15.?Hard on Old Eyes delete?152
16.?Expanding the Brand delete?160
17.?Golden Age delete?185
18.?Fall and Rise delete?207
19.?Road Signs delete?224
Appendix A:?On the HBO Front Lines: Film Evaluator Youssef Kdiry delete?239
Appendix B:?Putting the Puzzle Together: Scheduler Jeff Kagan delete?243
Appendix C:?HBO Home Entertainment's Henry McGee delete?259
Bibliography delete?267
Index delete?271
Preface delete?1
Introduction delete?5
Part I: Empire of the
1.?Towards Felix the Cat delete?11
2.?Baby Steps delete?15
3.?In the Beginning Was the Word: Radio delete?17
4.?The Numbers Racket delete?22
5.?The Wasteland delete?28
6.?Greener Grass delete?54
Part II: Wired
7.?Walson's Mountain delete?63
8.?The Green Channel delete?71
9.?Into the Skies, Junior Birdmen! delete?78
Part III: The Company
10.?Title Fights: The King of Pay TV delete?89
11.?The Movie Duels delete?97
12.?Fallout delete?108
13.?The Wall delete?116
14.?A Voice All Its Own delete?127
15.?Hard on Old Eyes delete?152
16.?Expanding the Brand delete?160
17.?Golden Age delete?185
18.?Fall and Rise delete?207
19.?Road Signs delete?224
Appendix A:?On the HBO Front Lines: Film Evaluator Youssef Kdiry delete?239
Appendix B:?Putting the Puzzle Together: Scheduler Jeff Kagan delete?243
Appendix C:?HBO Home Entertainment's Henry McGee delete?259
Bibliography delete?267
Index delete?271