HBO pioneered modern pay television upon its launch on November 8, 1972, becoming the first television service offered directly to individual cable systems without traditional advertising. Because the network wasn’t beholden to sponsors' preferences, most programming was aired without thorough editing for objectionable material. The creative minds behind the small-screen projects were allowed to include gritty subject matter featuring high amounts of violence, profanity, and sexual matter that basic cable channels were reluctant to air.

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