HBO Says It's Not Feeling the Effects of the Lousy Economy; Renews 'Hung,' Entourage,' 'Blood' LATimes

Top executives at Time Warner's pay cable channel HBO told TV critics gathered in Pasadena, Calif., this week that the network so far has been immune to the economic turmoil currently plaguing entertainment companies, the Los Angeles Times reports.

HBO Co-President Richard Plepler said at the Television Critics Assn. press tour Thursday that the network is "cautiously optimistic" it can endure the tough economic times owing to strong DVD sales and little evidence of subscribers' dropping the service as a cost-saving measure, the Times says.

Michael Lombardo, HBO's other co-president, added that the channel would not increase its programming budget anytime soon, and said the new series "Hung" would return for a new season next summer along with "True Blood" and "Entourage."

--Tom Gilbert