WSJ: I want to start this discussion about the future of TV by looking at the recent past—specifically, when you took over HBO in 2012. How did you navigate the turbulence in your business and take advantage of new opportunities?

Richard Plepler: After “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City,” we hit a bit of a rough patch. When I came in, I thought it was important for us to hear from the creative community, so I went out to Hollywood and listened to people. I wanted to know what they thought of us. I wanted to know why we...