Former HBO CEO Richard Plepler Inks Five-Year Apple TV+ Production Deal

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Former HBO CEO and chairman Richard Plepler has signed a five year deal with Apple to produce content for Apple TV+, reports The New York Times.

Under the terms of the deal, Plepler's newly formed company, Eden Productions, will make TV shows, documentaries, and films exclusively for the ‌Apple TV+‌ streaming service.

appletvplusrichardpleplernyt

Image via The New York Times

Plepler worked at HBO for 27 years before leaving in February 2019, eight months after AT&T became its owner, and under his leadership, HBO had hits like "Game of Thrones" and "Big Little Lies."

Rumors of talks between Plepler and Apple first surfaced in November, with Plepler making it clear at the time that he did not want to return to TV as an executive, but instead wanted to take on a new role as a producer.

In today's article from The New York Times, Plepler explained why he didn't want to continue working as a TV executive:

"It was instantaneously clear to me that I had a wonderful and very privileged run at HBO and I wasn't going to be able to duplicate that again," Mr. Plepler said in his first interview since leaving the network. "And I didn't want to try to duplicate that again. It felt very clear to me that I just wanted to do my own thing."

Plepler was drawn to Apple because he has been a "longtime admirer" of Eddy Cue, who runs Apple's software and services, including overseeing Apple's TV division. Cue got in touch right after Plepler left HBO and invited Plepler to "talk" when things settled after his departure.

According to Plepler, he had conversations with multiple people about his next step, but his only "serious" talks were with Apple. ‌Apple TV+‌ is new enough, said Plepler, that he felt he could "make a little contribution there."

Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, the two ‌Eddy Cue‌ hires who run Apple's TV business, will work with Plepler. Van Amburg said that he's looking forward to seeing Plepler "thrive" at Apple.

Along with Plepler, Apple has 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

bladerunner2000 Avatar
bladerunner2000
51 months ago

You don’t have a smart TV? My cheap 4K TCL Roku TV has the Apple TV+ app. I hardly ever use my Apple TV box anymore.
SmartTVs are still pretty dumb TV's, their user interfaces are always laggy, ugly and have a short lifespan considering support for them is typically limited to a couple years.

Just get a proper streaming device like an Nvidia Shield TV, Amazon Fire Stick 4k or at least an Apple TV.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
Rogifan
51 months ago
He was at HBO when it had some of its biggest hits - Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, Six Feet Under, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Veep. Hopefully he brings some of that talent with him in his Apple deal.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mdriftmeyer Avatar
mdriftmeyer
51 months ago

Until they release an Apple TV+ app for more devices it won't really matter. I want to watch shows on my big TV with great sound and I shouldn't have to buy a $200 apple TV device to do it. And I doubt many people will just for this use. So when I get home and I wan't to watch a show, my options are to stare at a small phone screen with headphones in, or fire up the TV and watch Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime... all services that realized that they needed apps for every device.
None of which offer a Gaming Platform integrated, dedicated applications other than watching your movies/shows on your tv, etc. The AppleTV is also a hub.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
cmaier
51 months ago
Looking forward to more content!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Larryzuluking Avatar
Larryzuluking
51 months ago

Until they release an Apple TV+ app for more devices it won't really matter. I want to watch shows on my big TV with great sound and I shouldn't have to buy a $200 apple TV device to do it. And I doubt many people will just for this use. So when I get home and I want to watch a show, my options are to stare at a small phone screen with headphones in, or fire up the TV and watch Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime... all services that realized that they needed apps for every device.
?.........Admit it. U just came here to hate on any thing Apple, didn’t u. LOL, if u did any research, even a simple google search u would have known that the Apple TV app is on tones of devices, Smart TVs, Roku TV, as well as your beloved Amazon fire Stick, & TV. The only reason u mentioned the Fire TV stick in your comments below, is because u probably thought it was one of the only devices that didn’t have the Apple TV + app, LOL. Your whole comment just has angry hater written all over it. Where do people like u even come from....? it’s a shame really.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Heelpir8 Avatar
Heelpir8
51 months ago

Until they release an Apple TV+ app for more devices it won't really matter. I want to watch shows on my big TV with great sound and I shouldn't have to buy a $200 apple TV device to do it. And I doubt many people will just for this use. So when I get home and I want to watch a show, my options are to stare at a small phone screen with headphones in, or fire up the TV and watch Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime... all services that realized that they needed apps for every device.
What devices are you waiting for an Apple TV app on? I enjoy Apple TV+ on the official Apple TV Roku app.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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