Editing Cinemax (section)

====Max After Dark====
Cinemax's late-night block, '''Max After Dark''', featured softcore pornographic films and original series with TV-MA or R ratings, primarily for strong sexual content and nudity. This block, which began on May 4, 1984, as "Cinemax Friday After Dark", expanded to seven nights a week by the late 1990s.<ref name="Cinemax makeover" /> Programs included ''[[Lingerie (TV series)|Lingerie]]'', ''[[Life on Top]]'', [[Femme Fatales (TV series)|''Femme Fatales'']], and ''Topless Prophet''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lengel |first=Allan |date=June 9, 2014 |title='Topless Prophet:' The Latest Detroit Entry in the TV World |url=http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/9542/topless_prophet_the_latest_detroit_entry_in_the_tv_world |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802002559/http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/9542/topless_prophet_the_latest_detroit_entry_in_the_tv_world |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |access-date=August 1, 2017 |work=Deadline Hollywood Detroit}}</ref> The block was known for its lenient scheduling around mainstream films and series and was often humorously referred to as "Skinemax".<ref name="skinemax">{{cite web |last=Burr |first=Ty |author-link=Ty Burr |date=February 19, 2006 |title='70's soft-core brought safe sex to cinemas |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/404992424 |access-date=August 1, 2017 |work=[[Boston Globe]] |id={{ProQuest|404992424}}}}</ref>

The adult content was not limited to the main Cinemax channel but also aired on multiplex channels like MoreMax, ActionMax, ThrillerMax, and OuterMax. However, channels like MovieMax and 5StarMax avoided adult programming. The block's presence, alongside other HBO channels, was partly due to the FCC's content regulations not applying to cable networks.

By 2013, Cinemax began reducing Max After Dark content to focus more on original programming, as internet porn's prevalence made the block's content seem relatively tame compared to HBO's original series.<ref name="Stealth" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Grobart |first=Sam |date=October 14, 2013 |title=Goodnight, Skinemax: The Death of Soft-Core Porn |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-10-14/goodnight-skinemax-the-death-of-soft-core-porn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418203319/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-10-14/goodnight-skinemax-the-death-of-soft-core-porn |archive-date=April 18, 2016 |access-date=August 1, 2017 |work=Bloomberg}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Shire |first=Emily |date=October 15, 2013 |title=The demise of Cinemax After Dark: How the internet killed softcore porn |url=https://theweek.com/articles/458896/demise-cinemax-after-dark-how-internet-killed-softcore-porn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801235012/http://theweek.com/articles/458896/demise-cinemax-after-dark-how-internet-killed-softcore-porn |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=August 1, 2017 |work=The Week}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=October 8, 2013 |title=Cinemax Has Become Uncomfortable in Its Skin |url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/cinemax-has-become-uncomfortable-in-its-skin-1200703748/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802002955/http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/cinemax-has-become-uncomfortable-in-its-skin-1200703748/ |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |access-date=October 8, 2013 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sampson |first=Mike |date=October 8, 2013 |title=RIP Skinemax: Cinemax Looking to Ditch "After Dark" Softcore Porn |url=https://screencrush.com/rip-skinemax/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402002609/https://screencrush.com/rip-skinemax/ |archive-date=April 2, 2019 |access-date=October 9, 2013 |work=ScreenCrush.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=December 9, 2016 |title=Cinemax Returns To Action, Pulpy Series & Co-Prods In New Programming Strategy |url=https://deadline.com/2016/12/cinemax-returns-action-drama-series-co-productions-new-programming-strategy-strike-back-rellik-outcast-warrior-1201864870/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817234809/http://deadline.com/2016/12/cinemax-returns-action-drama-series-co-productions-new-programming-strategy-strike-back-rellik-outcast-warrior-1201864870/ |archive-date=August 17, 2017 |access-date=December 9, 2016 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>