Can a cable network move beyond cable? That’s what HBO is trying to do with its HBO Now service, which lets people subscribe to the network over the Internet.

For insights into HBO’s strategy, and a possible look at the future of cable, The Wall Street Journal’s editor in chief, Gerard Baker, spoke with HBO Chief Executive Richard Plepler. Here are edited excerpts of their discussion.

A new vision

MR. BAKER: Just in the last year you’ve taken a really big step. A lot of companies have talked about cutting the cord, and what it all means for traditional cable-TV companies, traditional media companies.

But you went ahead this year pretty boldly, with the launch of HBO Now. I remember you launched with Tim Cook. Can you tell us the discussions that you went through, and how you came to that decision?

MR. PLEPLER: We sat back and took a look at where the ecosystem was going. You have 10½ million broadband-only homes in the United States. Millennials are fast cutting the cord and watching their television and getting their entertainment in myriad different ways. We just said to ourselves, “We want to be available where, when and how people want our service.”