25 Years Later, HBO’s Greatest Crime Series Is Back on Top of Streaming

HBO is regarded as the undisputed king of prestige television. The network regularly delivers smash hit TV shows that dominate conversation, influence culture, and sweep at award shows. From global hits like Game of Thrones to cult favorites like The Leftovers, HBO has positioned itself as the unrivaled home for high-quality storytelling. But the network was never the programming powerhouse it is regarded as today. For several years, it was a struggling experiment because it was still in the early days of establishing its identity. Things began changing in 1997 when HBO started airing its first hour-long scripted TV show. Titled Oz, the series began the network's rise into prestige popularity. Still, it wouldn't be until a short while later that the network would explode in popularity thanks to one TV show.