HBO Is the brand new CBS–Now What?

greater than anything, Sunday’s Emmy Awards ceremony was once a tribute to the quick-changing, new-frontier-pushing nature of the tv landscape. Streaming services and products like Netflix and Amazon were neatly represented, with Amazon taking dwelling a handful of statuettes, including one for transparent director Jill Soloway. Viola Davis made historical past by using becoming the first African-American actress to win an Emmy for absolute best actress in a drama series (find out how to Get Away With murder). And host Andy Samberg reminded us how unattainable it is to maintain up with all there may be to watch in a hilarious skit that opened the convey.

but for all that used to be new and completely different and—for lack of a greater phrase—revolutionary concerning the Emmys, they were additionally a reminder that in many ways, it can be the establishment that’s profitable. Nothing epitomized this more than HBO, which had its own historical moment, taking house 14 statuettes, including best possible drama for sport of Thrones, and prominent comedy series for Veep. The closing time a network gained in each of these classes was once in 2002, when NBC won for The West Wing and pals. combined with its inventive Emmy wins remaining week, HBO notched forty three awards general, which is one lower than than CBS received in 1974, when it set the all-time report.

It feels somewhat abnormal to evoke those previous-defend networks when talking about HBO, which, finally, made its identify with groundbreaking, too-risqué-for-high-time displays like intercourse and town and The Soprano’s. From the very beginning, HBO promised to be a special kind of community. person who broke the foundations, pushed the boundaries, and was nothing like what networks like CBS, ABC, and NBC had been providing up. “it is no longer tv. it is HBO,” was its iconic tagline.

however as of late, as conventional tv and newfangled tv (like Netflix) have all stolen pages from the HBO playbook when it comes to programming, and as technology has created new models for each making and distributing tv shows, it’s HBO that appears like the conventional participant. indeed, when fascinated about how HBO tactics “content,” it appears positively un-disrupt-y. not like sure rivals, HBO does not call on algorithms to see whether or not a director or famous person is well liked by its viewers earlier than inexperienced-lights a undertaking. Nor, like another rival, has it ever taken an internet ballot asking individuals to vote on pilots. At HBO, a convey or film will get made if executives suppose it’s good and believes in its creators. This was what took place on game of Thrones, one of the community’s riskiest bets (the express is now its greatest hit ever), as we wrote about here.

at the same time as HBO has pushed extra on the technology entrance, launching HBO Now, its streaming provider that does not require a cable subscription, past this yr, it can be HBO’s programming that folks speak about. (you could read our function on that launch here.) just ask the particular person sitting subsequent to you what the difference between HBO Now and HBO Go is. Then ask about sport of Thrones, Veep, ladies, The Jinx, authentic Detective, or remaining evening With John Oliver. perhaps, you can get much more traction on the 2d query.

however as HBO has defined what tv is in 2015, turning into, essentially, the brand new CBS, what does that imply for its future? and even its id? If it’s not “no longer television,” then what’s it? And as upstarts make extra inroads, pushing into territory that used to be as soon as dominated by using HBO—five years in the past a show like transparent only will have gotten made at a handful of cable networks, HBO chief amongst them—will HBO be compelled to reinvent itself once more? Or out-part its new, edgy rivals?

Already there are indicators that this is happening. The community is speaking about new kinds of codecs for presentations on HBO Now—its expanded deal with Vice is yielding some interesting experiments—and president of programming Michael Lombardo has mentioned spreading the wealth, in order that Sunday evening is not essentially the very best and most effective time to tune in (or set your DVR).

but for now, the corporate can appreciate the fact that its tried-and-genuine format—hiring the very best skill, giving them creative reign, and taking dangers—is working moderately well for them. And making the corporate very fashionable on Emmy night.