Crime "does" pay for Home Box Office (HBO). Boffo Mafia hit "The Sopranos" brought more viewers to the pay-TV channel than ever before. More than 40 million subscribers (including those for sister pay-TV station Cinemax) pay about $12 monthly to watch original series such as Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Its HBO Films unit produces original movies. HBO also broadcasts concerts, stand-up comedy, documentaries, theatrical movies, and sports. Known for its broadcasting freedom -- more blue language, nudity, and violence than traditional networks -- the commercial-free HBO is a critical favorite. The company is a unit of Time Warner.
