logos
This page only shows primary logo variants.
For other related logos and images, see:
1972–1973 January-March 1973 1973–1975 1973 1975–1981 1980–present
1972–1973 January-March 1973 1973–1975 1973 1975–1981 1980–present

Home Box Office

1972–1973

Prototype HBO 1972
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Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Unknown
Launched:  November 8, 1972

Home Box Office (HBO) launched on November 8, 1972, on the Teleservice Cable (now Service Electric Cablevision) system in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The network originally operated as a regional pay television service, distributed via microwave relay to cable television systems within the Northeastern United States.

January–March 1973

Home Box Office (1973)
Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Unknown
Launched:  January 9, 1973

1973–1975

HBO 1972 print
Designer:  Unknown
Typography:  Custom
Launched:  March 1, 1973

At this time, HBO identified itself with a still image of its original logo, a ticket stub, and the channel's full name, Home Box Office, surrounded by a minimalist marquee light design.

1973

1973 Home Box Office
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HBO

1975–1981

HBO 1975
Designer:  Betty Brugger
Typography:  Custom
Launched:  May 1, 1975

HBO's logo has looked essentially the same since May 1, 1975, utilizing a simple wordmark with a circle inside the "O", representing a camera lens. This version differs, however, in that it had the "O" overlapping the "B". In network IDs, the logo was often accompanied by three lines colored red, yellow, and blue, below or next to it. This logo was designed by Betty Brugger, then the art director for Time-Life.

HBO became the first television network to transmit via satellite on September 30, 1975, when it broadcast the "Thrilla in Manila" boxing match, which saw Muhammad Ali defeat Joe Frazier by corner retirement in the 14th round, via the Westar I to subscribers of UA-Columbia Cablevision's Fort Pierce and Vero Beach, Florida systems and American Television and Communications's Jackson, Mississippi system.

1980–present

HBO
Designer:  Gerard Huerta
Typography:  Custom
Launched:  April 1980

This logo was initially used in tandem with the previous version until July 1981. A major reason for this change was that the partially obscured "B" of the previous logo gave many the impression it was an "E". Also, the letters in the logo were trimmed to be slightly less bold, and the spaces between letters and around the circle in the center of the "O" were widened.

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