Former HBO CEO Richard Plepler in Talks With Apple About Apple TV+ Production Deal

Former HBO CEO and chairman Richard Plepler is in talks with Apple about an exclusive Apple TV+ production deal, reports Deadline.

Plepler is planning to launch a production company and is currently negotiating a deal that would land him with Apple, producing content for Apple's streaming television service.

richard plepler

Image credit: REX/Shutterstock

Plepler, known for his showmanship, creative instincts and willingness to take risks, had been a key driving force behind HBO's success over the past couple of decades. He was elevated to HBO CEO in 2012. Before that he was co-president.

Plepler left HBO in February after spending 30 years at the company and has reportedly spent the last several months exploring different opportunities. According to Deadline, Plepler was not interested in returning to TV as an executive, but was instead looking for opportunities as a producer.

The talks are being conducted by Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg, two former Sony executives who have been spearheading Apple's television efforts.

Apple has already signed production deals with multiple companies, including A24, Imagine Documentaries, and Oprah Winfrey, plus it has established deals with producers and directors like Jason Katims, Alfonso Cuaron, and Justin Lin.

Top Rated Comments

CarlJ Avatar
51 months ago

People who keep slamming Apple TV+ for its so called "mediocre content" have to realize that Apple TV+ is only in it's infancy and has the potential, (in name alone really) to attract talent like this and in the future has the possibility to be GREAT!
This. They've shown that they're willing to do stuff that's not G-rated (an early concern many had), they're looking for unusual new shows (vs. dozens of cookie cutter sitcoms, dramas, etc., so industry types that have a show they always wanted to do have another place to pitch such projects), and they have more spare cash than some small nations. If they make a long series of correct decisions, they can potentially draw in a lot of really top notch production talent, and make some great shows in the long run.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
51 months ago
He’s no longer with HBO. Did he take good HBO talent with him?
30 years at HBO will have given him a huge collection of industry relationships. He doesn't have to take any HBO employees.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DotCom2 Avatar
51 months ago
People who keep slamming Apple TV+ for its so called "mediocre content" have to realize that Apple TV+ is only in it's infancy and has the potential, (in name alone really) to attract talent like this and in the future has the possibility to be GREAT! It's just getting started and I think Apple is going to do just fine especially if they keep the price competitive.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iJon Avatar
51 months ago
This would a home run partnership. HBO has been the leader in quality television for a long time.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
picaman Avatar
51 months ago
I worked at Time Warner back in the day. He’s the real deal. If true, this is huge for Apple. And AT&T should be kicking themselves for edging him out over short term revenue goals.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iMerik Avatar
51 months ago

He’s no longer with HBO. Did he take good HBO talent with him?
He shall cultivate new talent. ?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Details: Action Button, USB-C Port, Face ID, and More

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:34 pm PDT by
Significant changes are expected to arrive with Apple's fourth-generation iPhone SE, in terms of both design and hardware, MacRumors has learned. The iPhone SE 4, known internally under the codename Ghost, is expected to receive a new design derived almost entirely from the base model iPhone 14. According to our sources, the iPhone SE 4 will use a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis...
Multi Display CarPlay 1

All-New Apple CarPlay Launching Later This Year With These 5 New Features

Friday September 29, 2023 11:29 am PDT by
At WWDC 2022 last year, Apple previewed the next generation of CarPlay, promising deeper integration with vehicle functions like A/C and FM radio, support for multiple displays across the dashboard, personalization options, and more. Apple said the first vehicles with support for the next-generation CarPlay experience would be announced in late 2023, but it has still not shared any additional...
iOS 17

Everything New in iOS 17.1 Beta 1

Wednesday September 27, 2023 1:57 pm PDT by
Just a week after releasing iOS 17, Apple has seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers. iOS 17.1 adds some features that Apple promised were coming to iOS 17 in the future, plus it refines and improves some existing features. This guide covers everything new in the first iOS 17.1 beta. Apple Music Favorites You can favorite songs, albums, playlists, and artists in the iOS 17.1...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Concerns Highlighted in Two More Reports

Thursday September 28, 2023 6:25 am PDT by
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max overheating concerns continue to make headlines this week, with the topic highlighted by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. Both of the reports document anecdotal complaints from customers, and outline potential causes, but it's unclear how many devices are actually affected. Bloomberg said the overheating could be caused or compounded by the iPhone's setup...
iPhone 15 Pro lineup

Apple to Address iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Issue With iOS 17 Update

Saturday September 30, 2023 9:28 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an iOS 17 update to address a bug that may contribute to the reported iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max overheating issue, according to a statement the company shared today with MacRumors and Forbes reporter David Phelan. Apple also says some recent updates to third-party apps have overloaded the system and contributed to the overheating issue. The report notes that...
iPhone 15 USB C Port Keynote

Some USB-C Power Banks Fail to Work With iPhone 15

Thursday September 28, 2023 2:06 pm PDT by
Apple added a USB-C port to the iPhone 15 lineup this year, allowing it to work with USB-C cables, USB-C power banks, and more. It turns out that some USB-C battery packs are not working properly with Apple's iPhone 15, resulting in charging issues. As highlighted on Reddit and the MacRumors forums, not all existing USB-C power banks can be used with the iPhone 15 models, perhaps due to the...
iOS 17

Apple Releases iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 for All iPhones and iPads

Tuesday September 26, 2023 12:47 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates, with the software coming five days after the releases of iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1. Today's iOS 17.0.2 and iPadOS 17.0.2 updates arrive as build 21A351 and can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that iOS 17.0.2 was previously made available for iPhone...