--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: HBO is the original subscription…" description: "\"HBO is the original subscription video-on-demand company. We were repurposing first-run movies, and then we added original programming.\" — Jeff Bewkes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/jeff-bewkes-34577_business_hbo-is-the-original-subscription-video-o_27093.jpg" --- # HBO is the original subscription video-on-demand company… ![“HBO is the original subscription video-on-demand company. We were repurposing first-run movies, and then we added original programming.” quote by Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/jeff-bewkes-34577_business_hbo-is-the-original-subscription-video-o_27093.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/jeff-bewkes-34577_business_hbo-is-the-original-subscription-video-o_27093.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56e/jeff-bewkes-34577_business_hbo-is-the-original-subscription-video-o_27093.jpg) > “HBO is the original subscription video-on-demand company. We were repurposing first-run movies, and then we added original programming.” [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. HBO pioneered the subscription model by first offering recent theatrical releases, then expanding into exclusive, original series to retain viewers. **In simple terms:** HBO shifted from movies to originals to stay ahead. Key Takeaway Original content secures subscriber loyalty. Themes media innovation subscription models content strategy original programming industry disruption Mood strategic visionary confident Type statement industry insight When to use this quote - launching a new streaming service - competing with ad‑supported platforms - re‑branding a legacy network - expanding a content library - securing exclusive talent Key Concepts first-run movies original series subscriber retention brand evolution Practical Applications - building a differentiated content slate - leveraging originals for subscriber growth Questions to Reflect On - How does original programming affect long‑term subscriber value? - What risks arise when a brand pivots its core offering? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) ## Related quotes > [The whole cable-TV original programming just changed the nature of television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-mount/the-whole-cable-tv-original-programming-just-changed-the-nature-of/) [Anson Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-mount/) > [I've spoken about the Premier League becoming the 'Netflix of football,' ie, the video on demand platform that controls its own product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jordan/i-ve-spoken-about-the-premier-league-becoming-the-netflix-of-football/) [Simon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jordan/) > [The rise of video on demand will make it possible for small movies to earn back costs via $9.95 24-hour rentals and for people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-edelstein/the-rise-of-video-on-demand-will-make-it-possible-for-small-movies-to/) [David Edelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-edelstein/) > [Obviously with the onset of cable and satellite, there are more opportunities for programming and original programming, so it creates more opportunities for actors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-michael-hall/obviously-with-the-onset-of-cable-and-satellite-there-are-more/) [Anthony Michael Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-michael-hall/) > [When people look at the ratings and they're bad, I think people can get an idea of "Why would they even make the show?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-aukerman/when-people-look-at-the-ratings-and-they-re-bad-i-think-people-can/) [Scott Aukerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-aukerman/) > [There are not going to be hundreds of cable networks doing original programming; they won't be able to sustain the model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/there-are-not-going-to-be-hundreds-of-cable-networks-doing-original/) [Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/) > [The expensive ones are for Starz. No. We decided, as part of our Encore strategy, to broaden and strengthen and help focus the Encore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-albrecht/the-expensive-ones-are-for-starz-no-we-decided-as-part-of-our-encore/) [Chris Albrecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-albrecht/) > [It feels like a totally different MTV now.Now they have all their own original series, and people are talking about going back to music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-elfont/it-feels-like-a-totally-different-mtv-now-now-they-have-all-their-own/) [Harry Elfont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-elfont/) > [Society would be a lot better if people watched Hulu's original programming and not just 'Mozart in the Jungle,' which everyone is watching, apparently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-eichner/society-would-be-a-lot-better-if-people-watched-hulu-s-original/) [Billy Eichner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-eichner/) > [And ultimately, it's good for all of us to have more original programming on the air. Business doesn't drive the creative. So, in identifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-tassler/and-ultimately-it-s-good-for-all-of-us-to-have-more-original/) [Nina Tassler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-tassler/) > [God is the original Mathematician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/god-is-the-original-mathematician/) Frenchqueen > [Better a decent remake than a bad original, don't you think?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/better-a-decent-remake-than-a-bad-original-don-t-you-think/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [Life is not a cliche - everything that's happening is completely original. No refunds, no exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-a-cliche-everything-that-s-happening-is-completely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I am pure and original from heart but dont judge my mind!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dheeraj-puthran/i-am-pure-and-original-from-heart-but-dont-judge-my-mind/) Dheeraj Puthran ## More by Jeff Bewkes > [I can say our strategy has always been and will continue to be getting our content in front of as many consumers around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/i-can-say-our-strategy-has-always-been-and-will-continue-to-be/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [AOL invented social networking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/aol-invented-social-networking/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [The obligation of every ethical management is to make sure we optimize the long-term value of the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/the-obligation-of-every-ethical-management-is-to-make-sure-we/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [When I came out of Stanford, I looked at my brilliant classmates, who were going into Wall Street high finance, Silicon Valley, advanced engineering,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/when-i-came-out-of-stanford-i-looked-at-my-brilliant-classmates-who/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [The usual reason companies are funded or valued on the stock market for not having a current profit is because the investors believe there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/the-usual-reason-companies-are-funded-or-valued-on-the-stock-market/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [Cultivating diversity in all its forms - of our content, products, and people - is one of our most important business imperatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/cultivating-diversity-in-all-its-forms-of-our-content-products-and/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [A program can be considered a success even if it is low-rated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/a-program-can-be-considered-a-success-even-if-it-is-low-rated/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [One of the ways I think you make more money is by creating more efficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/one-of-the-ways-i-think-you-make-more-money-is-by-creating-more/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [We have the First Amendment to rely on whenever an elected official tries to impinge on our rights to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/we-have-the-first-amendment-to-rely-on-whenever-an-elected-official/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [Television is taking over the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/television-is-taking-over-the-internet/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [We don't think U.S. consumers want less choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/we-don-t-think-u-s-consumers-want-less-choice/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [The investor world that looks at studios as part of media companies will say that the studio business is supposed to be erratic. 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