How to Choose Between HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, or Starz

Most cable and satellite companies now offer a variety of premium movie channels. The most popular of these are HBO, Cinemax, Showtime and Starz. These can be ordered at an additional price to your normal channels. The typical price for these services are from $10-$15 per month.

With all of these choices, it can get quite confusing. I have created this guide to help you select the right programming for you and your family.

HBO:

HBO first aired in 1972. This is the oldest and largest of the premium movie services in the United States. Over the years it has changed from one channel of just movies to several different channels. These include a comedy channel, a family channel and a Latino channel. The HBO lineup now has movies, original series, documentaries, and sports.

HBO guarantees to premier a new movie to TV every Saturday night. This may be a new release movie, or an older classic. Either way, it is guaranteed to be the first time on TV. It now offers many film titles that are made exclusively for HBO.

HBO is the home to many award winning original series such as, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Deadwood and Oz. The original series tend are more risqué than what you will find on regular network television broadcasting. This is the due to the artistic freedom that is allowed to the cable production companies.

HBO has become one of the leaders in sports broadcasting. They have boxing and motor sports. They also offer in depth coverage many other sports. Typically the high profile boxing matches that premier on pay-per view will be offered on HBO the following week. This is a much cheaper alternative to spending $20+ on a pay-per view fight. If you can wait a week to see it I would defiantly recommend this alternative.

HBO offers a wide range of documentaries as well. These include many topics from the Iraq war to drug addiction.

Overall HBO tends to be geared towards the 20-35 year old demographic. This may not be the best choice for a family with young children.

Cinemax:

Cinemax is the sister company to HBO. It has been designed to compliment the programming already offered on HBO. Much like HBO, Cinemax also offer a selection of different channels. These include an action channel, a thriller channel and one dedicated exclusively to women.

Cinemax offers a never seen before on Cinemax movie every Friday night. The movies usually premier on HBO and run for a month then will play on Cinemax for the following month.

Cinemax will also show adult programming in the evenings. This is how it earned the nickname skinemax. If you have children in the home be sure to set up your parental controls to ensure this will not "accidentally" come on.

Showtime:

Showtime has the same outlook as HBO. It plays movies, original series, and sports.

Every Friday night Showtime will air a theatrical premier. This is a movie that earned at least $20 million in box office sales. On Sundays it will feature a new movie never before seen on television. Showtime guarantees no same day duplication on all of its movies.

Showtime has many award winning original series like Weeds, Dexter, The L Word, and Brotherhood. The original series tend to have very adult content. Many of them deal with issues of sexuality and drugs. The shows that they air are very unique and have a great writing style.

Showtime will also air boxing and ultimate fighting matches.

If you are looking for something different and unique I would recommend Showtime. However be sure to screen your programming before watching with the children.

Starz:

Starz is a movie channel. They play non-stop movies 24/7. They have many different channels that offer different genres of movies. They have a western channel, a comedy channel, a family channel, and many more.

With Starz you do not have to worry about the rating of the movies. They are all family safe. They will not show any adult programming. You do not have to be worried about being embarrassed with the kids in the room.

I highly recommend Starz if you want movies.