Former HBO CEO Richard Plepler has landed with Apple, signing an exclusive five-year production deal for Apple TV+.
Plepler’s newly-launched production company Eden Productions will create television series, documentaries and feature films for the newly-launched streamer, the tech giant confirmed. Eden will be based in New York and focus on “few select programs.”
TheWrap first reported Plepler was in talks with Apple in November.
“I’m excited to work with Zack, Jamie and the standout team at Apple who have been deeply supportive of my vision for Eden from day one,” Plepler said. “The shows that Zack and Jamie produced, ‘The Crown’ and ‘Breaking Bad,’ are among those I most admired. Apple is one of the most creative companies in the world, and the perfect home for my new production company and next chapter.”
Plepler left HBO last February as its new owner, AT&T, was re-fashioning Time Warner into WarnerMedia. Plepler’s departure came as former NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt was being installed to the same post atop WarnerMedia, which is launching its own streaming service, HBO Max, next May.
Plepler’s deal with Apple means he will be supplying one of his old company’s main competitors in streaming.
Plepler is one of the most significant figures in what has been dubbed the modern Golden Age of television. He had a storied three-decade tenure with HBO, helping the network earn a whopping 160 Emmys and climb to the top of the industry. During Plepler’s tenure, HBO greenlit critically-acclaimed hit series like “Game of Thrones” and “Veep.” He also oversaw the launch of primetime originals at sister network Cinemax and a successful segue into streaming with HBO Go and HBO Now.
Apple launched Apple TV+ on Nov. 1, 11 days before Disney debuted its streaming service, Disney+, which happened on Nov. 12. Both companies are set to report their first subscriber counts in late January/early February. In April, NBCUniversal launch Peacock, with HBO Max coming a month later.
The New York Times first reported the news of Plepler’s deal with Apple.