Richard Plepler, former HBO CEO and a key figure in turning HBO into a powerhouse, has signed a five-year exclusive deal with Apple TV+ to produce series, films, and documentaries, according to NYT.

Five-year exclusive deal
Richard Plepler spent 27 years at HBO and during his tenure the company created major hits like the Sopranos, The Wire, and Game of Thrones and won more than 160 Emmys. He left HBO earlier this after it was acquired by AT&T

- "New people came in and bought the company," Richard Plepler told NYT. "And it was just the right time for me to go on to the next chapter in my life."

Plepler has formed his own company, Eden Productions, that has now signed a five-year deal with Apple to produce TV series, documentaries and feature films exclusively for Apple TV+, according to an interview in the New York Times. He explained that amongst many potential partners "his only 'serious' talks were with Apple".

- "I thought that Apple was the right idea very quickly, just because it was embryonic enough that I thought maybe, you know, I could make a little contribution there," he said.



Apple TV+ launches in november 2019 shortly before Disney+ was launched. It is amongst a new wave of streaming services. Later this year, AT&T's WarnerMedia will launch HBO Max.

No projects were named in the interview.

At Apple, the former HBO chief will have a big budget and the opportunity to present his works in 4K HDR and object-based audio.

- Source: NYT