Former HBO CEO Richard Plepler Reportedly Joining Apple
As the tech giant looks to compete with Netflix and Disney+.
According to sources, Richard Pepler is looking to sign an exclusive production with Apple TV+ before the end of the year. The former HBO CEO and his new company, RLP & Co., is set to create original content for the tech giant’s newly launch subscription streaming service as it looks to compete with the likes of Netflix and Disney+.
Additional reports claim that Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht, heads of worldwide video in Apple TV+, are leading to sign the production deal with Pepler. If it pushes through, Pepler will be the latest high-profile production deal signed by the duo alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey and A24. The former CEO will also be the latest executive from a linear company to cross over to streaming, following ABC Studios president Patrick Moran who signed a pod deal with Amazon Studios, Bela Bajaria who moved from Universal TV to Netflix and Bob Greenblatt of HBO Max.
Pepler departed HBO in February 2019, shortly after AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner and its rebranding into WarnerMedia. Reports at the time claimed that HBO’s diminishing independence within WarnerMedia pushed Pepler’s resignation.
Elsewhere in entertainment, take a look at the redesigned version of Sonic the Hedgehog.
