First published 2021
HBO transformed television by abandoning conventional formulas and creating bold original content. Award-winning journalist James Andrew Miller examines how the network built its empire through hits like The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, Sex and the City, The Wire, and Succession. Miller conducted over 750 interviews with key figures ranging from J.J. Abrams to Zendaya, plus every living HBO president and hundreds of other major players. His investigation uncovers the internal conflicts, boardroom battles, and creative risks that shaped the network's journey. The book reveals how HBO's willingness to think big and discard tired approaches opened doors for original programming across the industry. Miller traces the network's expansion beyond television into movies, documentaries, and sports journalism. This behind-the-scenes account shows how HBO's bold content strategy reshaped storytelling and changed how audiences consume entertainment.
Genres: history, business, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: behind-the-scenes, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, rise-to-success
Period: 21st-Century
995 pages · Hardcover · Henry Holt and Co.