By Patrick Day, Todd Martens and Stephanie Lysaght
The proliferation of reality shows on cable is just the latest development in cable TV's long but steady march to the top.
1972-1975: HBO takes off
The world's first pay-cable station aired "Sometimes a Great Notion," starring Paul Newman and Henry Fonda, on Nov. 8, 1972. Time Inc.'s fledgling channel signified the cable industry's first step toward changing the way Americans viewed TV. Informally known as "Home Box" at the time, the cable channel started to come into its own three years later, when the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier "Thrilla in Manila" heavyweight bout was broadcast live via satellite.
