While HBO yesterday announced its deal with Bill Simmons, his suitors "reportedly included" Fox Sports, as well as "talk of venture capital firms setting up Simmons in his own media entity," according to Stephen Battaglio of the L.A. TIMES. Simmons' HBO show will be shot in L.A. and will "likely have about 20 episodes in its first year" (L.A. TIMES, 7/23). MASHABLE's Jason Abbruzzese wrote this "marks one of the most ambitious moves in the history of HBO, which has been working to turn itself from a premium cable channel into a more expansive media company" (MASHABLE.com, 7/22). AD AGE's Anthony Crupi wrote Simmons' primetime series will "lean heavily" on his "two major touchstones, sports and pop culture." Meanwhile, it "would appear that he's free to contribute to outside digital-media outlets." If nothing else, this "could provide an opportunity" for Simmons to "contribute to online NBA coverage by HBO sibling TNT." Simmons begins Oct. 1, or "a year to the day after his ESPN contract was set to expire" (ADAGE.com, 7/22). RE/CODE's Peter Kafka reported Simmons "hasn't decided one way or another" if he will create a new Web presence like Grantland, but it is "possible that HBO could participate in that if he wants to build one, though it looks as though he'll need other partners if he goes that route." Kafka wrote he is a "little surprised that this is an HBO-only announcement and not a Time Warner deal that also encompasses the conglomerate's Turner networks." He will be "dead set on proving to ESPN that they screwed up" (RECODE.net, 7/22).
LET FREEDOM RING: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Lacey Rose wrote HBO is "poised to be a good fit for Simmons, whose colorful -- and at times controversial -- commentary will be welcomed at the premium cable network." HBO "launched its stand-alone service, HBO Now, earlier this spring, and is seeking more timely, younger-skewing content, like Simmons', that is likely cut through in an on-demand universe." Sources said that they "wouldn't be surprised to see the prolific columnist launch another Grantland-esque site for his written commentary moving forward." He also will "consult for HBO Sports, working closely" with President Ken Hershman. Simmons is "repped by Dixon Talent/WME and Hansen Jacobson" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/22). In N.Y., Richard Sandomir writes HBO will give Simmons "more freedom to speak his mind than ESPN did and a chance to develop a strong TV presence." His move to HBO "suggests that its management believes Simmons can succeed on television." Simmons had a "not-so-dandy stint as an analyst" on ESPN’s "NBA Countdown,” as his voice "did not translate well to the screen, with the medium’s time limits and craving for sound bites." With Simmons, HBO "might have found the key to reviving its stature in the documentary field." At HBO, "almost anything goes," and Simmons "could not have found a more welcoming place to say what he pleases about anyone in the sports world" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/23).
A HUGE COUP: SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch writes there is "no place you have more rope than HBO." If Simmons had "gone to NBC, every story would have been about ratings," and if he had "gone to Yahoo!, every story would have been about pageviews." At HBO, all that stuff is "far less important." It matters, but "it's not the primary way of keeping score." HBO "wants prestige," and is "premium." This is "no small matter." Simmons, for "all his power and his mostly unerring eye for talent, has a secret flaw of not bringing in the massive ratings equal to his influence on the media jungle" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 7/23). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Matthew Garrahan writes the deal "is a coup for HBO," which has "bolstered its programming" in recent years (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/23). ADWEEK's Jason Lynch wrote this will "allow Simmons to replicate the empire he had created at ESPN." HBO "landed one of the biggest names in sports journalism" (ADWEEK.com, 7/22). The Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint tweeted, "Bill Simmons, Real Sports, John Oliver, Bill Maher a newscast from Vice. Can HBO News be far behind?" Author James Andrew Miller: "Starting point for @BillSimmons deal w/ @HBO -- He will be able to say whatever he wants. Clearly wasn't the case w/ @espn." Fox Sports' Jimmy Traina: "Going from ESPN's over-the-top handcuffs to no-holds-barred HBO has to be exhilarating."
STILL A THORN IN NFL'S SIDE? PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Michael David Smith wrote the addition of Simmons is the "latest sign that HBO may become a thorn in the NFL’s side, with 'Ballers' painting an unflattering picture of the league while using team logos without permission." But while HBO has a relationship with the NFL through "Hard Knocks," it "doesn’t seem to worry about becoming the new NFL agitator" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/22).
