HBO's model actually somewhat aligns with Netflix's, only it's far more focused (and tends to be less ambitious). They want a single big hourlong prestige dram

HBO's model actually somewhat aligns with Netflix's, only it's far more focused (and tends to be less ambitious). They want a single big hourlong prestige drama as a tentpole (Game of Thrones, Westworld; in the past, True Blood, The Sopranos, The Wire), and a pair of highly-regarded and experimental comedies as more niche programming (Veep, Insecure, Girls). Keep subscribing to watch the big tentpole, and maybe get hooked enough on one of the niche shows that follow it to keep your subscription running in the times when the big shows are off. A show like Brooklyn 99 wouldn't survive very long on HBO, only because its style of comedy isn't catering to a specific niche (compared to something like Silicon Valley or Veep) and at the same time doesn't have a broad enough appeal to act as a tentpole.