Bill Simmons Will have a Weekly HBO Show Starting Next Year
It’s been over two months since Bill Simmons and ESPN parted ways, and people have been wondering since then who would employ him next. Would Yahoo pony up the big bucks? FOX? Would he start his own thing? There was even a rumor that he and Jon Stewart would work together. None of that turned out to be true, and today we learned Simmons is headed to HBO.
The former ESPN writer and commentator has signed a multi-year deal with HBO to host a weekly television new weekly series for the network that will air on the main HBO service, as well as the HBO digital platforms HBO GO® and HBO NOW. HBO said the show, which will debut in 2016, will feature stories and guests from across the sports and cultural landscapes.
HBO will be Simmons’ exclusive television home, which signals that he will land elsewhere for his digital writing. His agreement with the network begins in October. Among the elements of the deal: Simmons has been given a production deal to produce content and assets for the network and its digital platforms, delivering video podcasts and features. In addition, the network said in a release, Simmons will be consulting with HBO Sports, working closely with HBO Sports president Ken Hershman on non-boxing-related programming, including the development of shows and documentary films for the network.
This is a huge get for both HBO and Simmons. And while many have seen Simmons’ main shortcoming as being on TV, this is not TV, it’s HBO. So that should work out.
