HBO's iconic theme song from the 80s created a sense of anticipation and nostalgia for viewers.
HBO's audio logo in the 90s represented the transition from regular TV to groundbreaking original programming.
Deep dives
The Magic of HBO in the 80s
In the 80s, HBO was a premium channel that only the wealthy could afford. It had a magical appeal to kids with its exclusive R-rated movies and captivating theme song that still resonates with millions of people today. HBO was one of the first cable TV channels to offer a monthly subscription instead of relying on advertising revenues. It played a pivotal role in the history of cable television, introducing new concepts like Pay Per View and satellite broadcasting.
The Creation of the Epic HBO Theme Song
The iconic HBO theme song was conceived by Ferdinand J. Smith, a composer known for his talent in creating memorable melodies. Working with an orchestra, Ferdinand composed a captivating and cinematic theme that perfectly captured the sense of anticipation before watching a movie. The theme was then played by a 65-piece orchestra and recorded, with Ferdinand adding extra parts on the spot to match the animation's length. The resulting theme became closely associated with HBO and evoked a feeling of nostalgia for millions of viewers.
The Evolution of HBO's Sonic Branding
As HBO evolved and started producing original shows in the 90s, they wanted a sonic logo that would unify their programming. They created an iconic audio logo to accompany their visual logo, starting with a TV turning on and transitioning into a resonating drone. The sound was carefully designed to reflect HBO's reputation for groundbreaking content. This audio logo became synonymous with HBO, representing the transition from regular TV to something special. It perfectly captured the essence of HBO's original programming and became one of the most recognizable audio logos in history.
In the 1980s, every movie that aired on HBO began with a truly epic theme song—a sweeping orchestral piece that triggers instant nostalgia for anyone who grew up with it. Then in the 90s, HBO introduced a 5-second audio logo for their original content. Today, we associate that sound with some of the most groundbreaking TV shows of all time. In this episode, we reveal the story behind the creation of these two iconic sounds. Featuring composer Ferdinand Jay Smith and former HBO Executive Vice President Bruce Richmond.
