Test
Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives

HBO Oral History Project

The HBO Oral History project (2013 – 2016) consists of thirty-eight wide-ranging interviews conducted with individuals responsible for the company’s founding and early development. Focusing roughly on HBO’s first decade of existence from 1972 to 1982, each interview runs one to two hours in length, and treats topics including business practices, affiliate relations, government regulations, technological development, pay-television competition, entertainment industry pushback, company culture, and big HBO personalities. The project was conceived by Howard Burkat, promotions director at HBO (1977-1982), and was undertaken with institutional support from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

The HBO Oral History Project was conceived, produced, written, and the interviews were conducted, by Howard Burkat.