Cinemax is an American pay television network owned by Home Box Office, Inc., a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

Launched on August 1, 1980, as a "maxi-pay" service to complement the offerings of its sister premium network, HBO (Home Box Office), Cinemax initially focused on recent and classic films.

Today, its programming primarily includes recent and classic theatrically released films, original action series, documentaries, and special behind-the-scenes features.

[1][2]Home Box Office, Inc., owned by Time Inc.'s Time-Life Broadcasting unit, launched a movie-centered pay service called Take 2 on April 1, 1979, as a companion to HBO.

[5] Cinemax initially aired on 56 cable systems in the Eastern and Central time zones, with a West Coast feed launching on September 1, 1980.

In October 1983, Cinemax faced a trademark infringement lawsuit from Tulsa 23 Limited Partnership over its promotional slogan, "We Are Your Movie Star.

[12][13] As competition increased, Cinemax adjusted its programming strategy by including more adult-oriented films and launching the "Friday After Dark" late-night block in 1984.

The channel also introduced original music programming and series, including Second City Television and The Max Headroom Show.

[citation needed][23] In February 2011, Cinemax shifted its focus to original programming, launching action-themed series to compete with other premium and streaming services, and to rebrand its image from being primarily known for softcore pornographic content.

Adult programming on Cinemax and HBO's multiplexes, as well as on-demand services, nearly disappeared due to increased availability of such content online and competition from other providers.

[25] In January 2020, WarnerMedia announced that with the upcoming launch of HBO Max, Cinemax would cease commissioning original programming but would continue as a movie-focused service through existing distributors.

On May 8, 1991, Home Box Office Inc. announced plans to launch multiplexed companion channels for HBO and Cinemax, offering additional programming options at no extra charge.

The test launch on August 1, 1991, introduced Cinemax 2, HBO2, and HBO3 (now HBO Signature) to select TeleCable customers, providing distinct programming from their parent channels.

[32][33][34][35][36][37] John K. Billock, HBO's EVP of marketing, cited subscriber dissatisfaction with program scheduling as a reason for the multiplex expansion.

A November 1991 ACNielsen survey showed positive impacts from the multiplex channels, including reduced negative opinions on pricing and improved overall usage.

[46][47] Cinemax offers up to eight 24-hour multiplex channels, available in both standard and high definition, with regional feeds based on time zones.

The time zone-based feeds are usually packaged together, resulting in a maximum three-hour difference in local airtimes between geographic locations.

[64][65][66] On August 12, 2011, [citation needed] Cinemax expanded into original programming with the U.S. premiere of the British action series Strike Back.

[71][72] Cinemax's late-night block, Max After Dark, featured softcore pornographic films and original series with TV-MA or R ratings, primarily for strong sexual content and nudity.

The block's presence, alongside other HBO channels, was partly due to the FCC's content regulations not applying to cable networks.